Team Italy U15 squad endures 8-7 heartbreaking loss at Youth Rotterdam Baseball Week
Errors committed by the Italians in the fifth inning was the difference in the Kingdom of the Netherlands U15 squad’s 8-7 win over Team Italy on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 during Youth Rotterdam Baseball Week at the Neptunus Sports Complex
Having suffered an 11-7 loss to the Czech Republic in their Youth Rotterdam Baseball Week debut the day prior, the young and talented Italians did not deserve to lose again on day two of the international competition to the Kingdom of the Netherlands U15 team on Wednesday, July 10th. The slim 8-7 disappointment was overshadowed by the fact that Team Italy is gaining more valuable experience on the field before the U15 Baseball World Cup at Edgar Renteria Baseball Stadium in Barranquilla,Colombia from August 16-25, 2024.
Against the Kingdom of the Netherlands U15 team, Azzurri U15 manager Giuseppe Mazzanti called on starting pitcher Giacomo Tesio and relievers Leonardo Prizzon, Remus Ciubotaru and Matteo Chinello. The Team Italy lineup looked like this: Elia Plusigh (DH), Dario Lomi (LF), Pablo Suarez (2B ), Alessio Casasanta (RF), Patrick Silva (3B), Christian Tontini (1B), Federico Magalotti (CF), Mattia Angelucci (CF) and Giovanni Pucci (C).
The Team Italy offense produced 11 hits, seven of them for extra bases. Despite the 8-7 victory, the Dutch only had nine hits. The Italians were led by Dario Lomi (2-for-3, double, triple, BB), Alessio Casasanta (2-for-4, double, 4 RBI) and Giovanni Pucci (2-for-3, BB, RBI).
Team Italy U15 manager Giuseppe Mazzanti said, "We saw positive and negative sides. It was a good, tight game, and once again the offense was very positive. The team still needs to get a good run-in and play together, play this type of game with pressure and pure competitiveness. We reacted well, we were in the game and unfortunately we paid for the mistakes we made on defense. We lack experience, which will be acquired little by little”
Italian skipper Giuseppe Mazzanti continued, “I'm quite satisfied with the group. We just need to improve the strike rate of our pitchers and we are there. For us this is an experiment. We need to consolidate the team and carry out our experiments. There are still two games to go, we hope to raise the level and improve day after day. I'm interested in the boys taking part in this type of game to gain experience and do better in the coming days and in view of the World Cup."
On Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 2 pm (local time), Team Italy will return to play the Kingdom of the Netherlands U16 squad (a team which will not be included in the final ranking and therefore will not participate in the semi-finals).
The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, July 12th at 2 pm and 3.30 pm. The battle for the bronze takes place on Saturday, July 13th at 1 pm and the championship final follows at 5 pm.
