After suffering its first U22 Women’s European Softball Championship loss to the Netherlands by a score of 10-2 earlier in the day, Team Italy bounced back with a five-inning mercy-rule 10-2 victory over Israel for a rematch opportunity against the Dutch in the championship final on August 10, 2024.
Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini penned the following lineup in the U22 Women’s European Softball Championship Super Round game against Israel: Alice Spiotta, 3B; Anita Bartoli, SS; Virginia Mambelli, RF; Silvia Torre, 1B; Alexia Lacatena, CF; Lia Miller, DP; Sara De Luca, C; Ilaria Colepio, LF; Noemi Cortesi, 2B; and Marianna Zumerle, P.
The Azzurre scored eight runs
in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Alice Spiotta (2-for-3,
2 R, RBI) singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Anita Bartoli, and crossed the plate on
an infield error which allowed Virginia
Mambelli to get on base. After Alexia
Lacatena hit an RBI double down the left field line and Lia Miller reached first base on
another infield error, Sara De Luca
connected with a two-run double to give Team
Italy the 4-0 lead.
Then Ilaria
Colepio walked and scored on a two-run double by Noemi Cortesi. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Alice Spiotta and Anita
Bartoli put the Italians in front 8-0.
Starting pitcher Marianna Zumerle surrendered solo home runs to Edith Kaplan and Amanda Licht in the top of the second inning to make it a 8-2 game.
The Italians added another run in the bottom
of the second inning. After Silvia Torre
and Alexia Lacatena singled, an
outfield error allowed one run to score.
Team Italy
scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning when slugger Silvia Torre tripled and Alexia Lacatena brought her home with
an RBI single.
Starter Marianna
Zumerle pitched an easy 1-2-3 out fifth inning to secure the 10-2
mercy-rule win over Israel and advance Team
Italy to the U22 Women’s
European Softball Championship final.
ISRAEL-ITALY BOX SCORE
The Italians compete for their third consecutive Gold Medal (2018 and
2022) against the Netherlands in the U22 Women’s
European Softball Championship final on August 10th at 5 pm (local time).
SCHEDULE, RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
STANDINGS
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy's Alexia Lacatena, who went 3-for-3 (2B, R, RBI) against Israel on August 9, 2024 by Piotr Novak)
