Team Italy makes U18 Softball World Cup Group B debut against Japan on August 15, 2024
The Italians battle Japan in their U18 Softball World Cup Group B debut at Pingtan Softball Stadium in Fuzhou on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 11:30 am (local time). All U18 Softball World Cup Group Stage games are broadcast live on Gametime, the OTT platform of the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
2023 U18 European Softball Championship silver medal winner Team Italy, led by manager Andrea Longagnani, begins on its quest to advance to the 2025 U18 Softball World Cup Final Stage in Dallas by way of the Group Stage in Pingtan County (Fuzhou). The Azzurrine are in Group B with China, Japan, Peru, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Puerto Rico.
Team Italy arrived at the international competition after a long sprint that began in July with the Vittorio Pino Memorial in Legnano and then continued with ten days of training in Canada. The roster includes some players returning from the U22 European Softball Championship after a second-place finish.
The following players will represent Team Italy:
Last Name
First Name
POS
B
T
Date of Birth
Club Affiliation
Biffi
Alessandra
1B/P
R
R
04/06/2006
Bollate softball
1969 A.S.D.
Campioni
Alida
SS/2B
R
R
28/08/2009
Bollate softball 1969 A.S.D.
Colino
Giulia
2B/P
R
R
18/12/2008
Bollate softball 1969 A.S.D.
Cortesi
Noemi
SS
R
R
03/07/2007
Forlì Softball Club
Di Lauro
Chiara
2B/P
R
R
02/10/2006
Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Di Pancrazio
Felicia
OF
L
R
27/09/2006
Pianoro Softball A.S.D.
Forlani
Federica
P/OF
L
L
25/05/2008
Giovanile Collecchio Softball
Milano
Kylie
P/1B
L
R
13/11/2007
Forlì Softball Club
Moggi
Sveva
OF
L
R
17/08/2007
Pianoro Softball A.S.D.
Peyrani
Giulia
C/OF
R
R
09/06/2006
A.S.D. Avigliana Rebels
Polini
Lucia
C
R
R
03/10/2007
Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Rubanu
Ilaria
C/3B
R
R
26/05/2007
Forlì Softball Club
Silva
Emma
P
R
R
01/02/2007
Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Turci
Caterina
1B/3B
L
R
02/05/2009
Forlì Softball Club
Villa
Carlotta Maria
1B/OF
L
L
01/12/2006
Legnano Baseball Softball - Milano 1946 Baseball Softball
Zumerle
Vittoria
P/OF
R
R
15/01/2007
Thunders & Dragon Softball
The top two teams in the group will play the in final on
Sunday, August 18th. The winner of the contest will automatically advance to
Dallas in 2025, while the loser will have to play against the winner of the
third and fourth-place finishers to get the second ticket to Dallas.
Group A was played in Sao Paulo, Brazil recently with Chinese
Taipei and the reigning European champions Czech Republic earning the right to
compete in Dallas next year.
Group C features Australia, Canada, Philippines, Ireland,
Mexico and USA. The tournament will be played from August 29-September 2, 2024 in
Dallas.
Thursday, August 15, 11:30 am (local time), Japan - Italy
Friday, August 16, 9 am (local time), Italy - Peru
Friday, August 16, 2 pm (local time), China - Italy
Saturday, August 17, 9 am (local time), Italy - Netherlands
Saturday, August 17, 11:30 am (local time), Puerto Rico - Italy
Team Italy U18 softball skipper Andrea Longagnani will be assisted by coaches Simona Nava, Paola Marfoglia and Sara Dall'Alpi, team physician Dr. Emanuele Siano, physiotherapist Marta Cioni and delegation manager Bruno Gasparotto.
(Photo of Team Italy U18 captain Felicia Di Pancrazio celebrates after hitting a home run in the 15-0 win over Austria on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 during the U22 European Softball Championship by Piotr Nowak)
