Despite losses to Dodgers and A’s, Team Italy gains valuable experience in Arizona Instructional League Exhibition Series
Team Italy manager Gilberto “Gibo” Gerali is doing all the right things to prepare his Azzurri squad for next year’s Olympic Qualifier. 
During the final days of a two-week camp and Instructional League Exhibition Series in the Phoenix, Arizona area, Team Italy played against some of MLB’s best prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics organizations.
Facing players awaiting their chance to join the Los Angeles Dodgers postseason roster in the “Stay Hot camp” in Glendale, Arizona, Team Italy stepped onto the field which featured 22-year-old budding superstar Alex Verdugo and three-year MLB veteran Andrew Toles in the outfield. Perhaps daunting at first sight, the fighting Azzurri pitching staff of starter Filippo Crepaldi along with relievers Alex Bassani, Diego Fabiani, Yomel Rivera, Michele Pompani and Samuel Aldegheri battled the Dodgers minor leaguers and kept the game close. The Team Italy offense was highlighted by extra-base hits and runs from Robel Garcia and Giovanni Garbella. In the end, however, Team Italy came up short in its 4-2 loss on October 9, 2018.
The Azzurri players returned the following day for a rematch against a group of Oakland Athletics prospects at Fitch Park in Mesa, Arizona. The A’s took the first of Team Italy’s seven Arizona Instructional League Exhibition games on October 3 by a score of 14-4. The Azzurri quickly rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers before being defeated by the LA Dodgers.
The losing streak continued when a group of promising Oakland Athletics prospects beat Team Italy 10-6 on October 10. 
Azzurri starting pitcher Andrea Pizziconi got rocked early and needed to be relieved by Mattia Aldegheri, who also fell victim to a strong Oakland offense. Relievers Ludovico Coveri, Valerio Simone, and Claudio Scotti picked up the pieces and held the Athletics scoreless for five innings. The Team Italy offense was fueled by Alberto Mineo (1-for-3, home run, and two RBI), Giovanni Garbella (2-for-3, stolen base, walk, and two RBI), Federico Celli (1-for-3, triple, and RBI), Robel Garcia (1-for-4, walk), Alessandro Deotto (1-for-1, double), Ricardo Paolini (1-for-2, stolen base), and Sebastiano Poma (walk, RBI).
With the loss to the Athletics, Team Italy dropped to 2-3 in the Arizona Instructional League Exhibition Series. The Azzurri conclude their overseas road trip with a contest against the Chicago White Sox in Glendale on October 11 and a finale with the Kansas City Royals in Surprise on October 12. Team Italy manager Gibo Gerali's squad is getting better in each and every game. With the exception to the injury which has ended "Grande" Leo Seminati's 2018 season, the two-week Arizona camp and Instructional League Exhibition Series has been a great experience. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
