Prior to the first pitch In the U18 European Baseball Championship final game against host Germany on Sunday, July 14th, Team Italy watched a pre-recorded video of encouragement to win the gold medal from senior members of the Azzurri squad currently competing at Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands. The message paid off as the young and talented U18 Italian baseball won their seventh consecutive U18 European Baseball Championship game and ultimately earned the U18 Euro top prize.
Team Italy U18 manager Guglielmo Trinci put together a lineup card that looked like this: Edoardo Cornelli, SS; Lorenzo Barbona, 2B; Luca Magnani, RF; Giacomo Taschin, DH; Daniele Di Persia, 3B; Mattia Bernardis, 1B; Federico De Cristan, LF; Ricardo Staurenghi, C; and Ricardo Mazzanti, CF.
Team Italy starting pitcher Giacomo Taschin was lights out from the start (6 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 5 K). Reliever Diego Gergolet was just as effective in the top of the seventh inning ( IP, H, 2 K) to pick up the save.
The Italians put one run on the board early in the bottom of the first inning when Germany starter Paul Hoff had control issues and had to be replaced by reliever Jan-Luca Vogt. Team Italy leadoff hitter Edoardo Cornelli was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Lorenzo Barbona. Then Luca Magnani was hit by a pitch and Daniele Di Persia was issued a walk. Germany went to the bullpen after pitcher Paul Hoff threw a wild pitch which allowed Edoardo Cornelli to score from third base.
Team Italy added another run in the bottom of the third inning. Giacomo Taschin walked, got into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Daniele Di Persia and crossed the plate after an RBI double from Federico De Cristan.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Team Italy had a grand opportunity to get some insurance runs but came up short. Germany reliever Jona Widdman entered the contest and walked Azzurri spark plug Edoardo Cornelli. Lorenzo Barbona singled and Edoardo Cornelli moved on to third base. With runners on the corners, Luca Magnani reached first base on a fielder’s choice bunt when Edoardo Cornelli was called out at home plate. Then Giacomo Taschin was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pitcher Jona Widdman dug deep and struck out Daniele Di Persia to end the scoring threat and inning.
Team Italy would not be denied any scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth inning when Filippo Sabatini doubled, stole third base and touched the plate on an RBI single by Federico De Cristan to give the Azzurri a 3-0 lead.
Starter Giacomo Taschin appeared to get stronger as the game progressed and blanked Germany in the sixth inning before being replaced in the top of the seventh inning after surrendering a single to Pepe Stockhouse. Closer Diego Gergolet came in and registered two consecutive strikeouts before hitting Julian Siegert-Bomgard. Then Darion Richards connected with an RBI double. A groundout by Kenny Fermin ended all of Germany’s hopes for a miraculous comeback and secured both the 3-1 victory and the U18 European Baseball Championship title for Team Italy.
GERMANY-ITALY BOX SCORE
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS
Congratulations to the Azzurri U18 squad and staff, including Team Italy manager Guglielmo Trinci, pitching coach Gianluca Poli, coaches Claudio Corradi and Alessandro Fanfoni and bench coach Gianmario Costa.
Along with the Euro gold medal, Team Italy has earned the right to compete in the 2025 U18 Baseball World Cup.
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo for Team Italy after winning the gold medal at the U18 European Baseball Championship in Regensburg, Germany on July 14, 2024 courtesy of WBSC Europe Baseball)
