30/06/2018 2 Minute Read

Team Italy makes valiant effort during Prague Baseball Week

Although a 7-5 loss to the International Stars on the final day of Prague Baseball Week was not exactly how Team Italy U18 Juniors manager John Cortese would have liked to have left the Czech Republic as fourth place finisher in the eight-team international tournament, the young and talented Azzurri squad demonstrated resiliency during the five-day competition from June 26-30, 2018

Although a 7-5 loss to the International Stars on the final day of Prague Baseball Week was not exactly how Team Italy U18 Juniors manager John Cortese would have liked to have left the Czech Republic as fourth place finisher in the eight-team international tournament, the young and talented Azzurri squad demonstrated resiliency during the five-day competition from June 26-30, 2018. Riccardo Bertossi in battuta contro il Nicaragua alla U18 BWC (ML Oldmanagency)

After Team Italy starting pitcher Angelo Cordozo Palumbo surrendered four runs in his three innings of work, reliever Mattias Zotti pitched a scoreless fourth inning. The Azzurri offensive fury began in the top of the fifth inning when Daniele Di Monte reached first base on an infield error and later scored on an RBI double by Giulio Da Re. After Tomasso Giarola walked, a two RBI triple from Riccardo Bertossi cut the Team Italy deficit to one run. Alex Serdà followed with an RBI single to tie the game up 4-4.

The Team Italy bullpen, powered by relief pitchers Nicolo Ioli and Gabriel Dall’Agnese, proved effective in keeping the International Stars off the board in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. A two-out rally in the top of the seventh inning yielded the go-ahead run for Team Italy. Walks to Tomasso Giarola and Riccardo Bertossi set the table for Alex Serdà, who once again came through in the clutch with an RBI single to give the Azzurri a 5-4 lead.

After Team Italy reliever Marco Pizzolini gave up one run in the bottom of the seventh inning and was replaced by Federico Virgadaula, the International Stars broke the game wide open in the bottom of the eighth inning with another two runs and went on to win the game by a score of 7 to 5.

Despite ending the tournament with only one win during Prague Baseball Week, fourth place finisher Team Italy played better than the 1-4 record indicates. The 3n2 International Stars beat host Czech Republic 10-1 to place first in the tourney. More important than taking home first place honors, Prague Baseball Week served as the final tune up for Team Italy to prepare for the U18 European Championship, which takes place in Grosseto from July 9-15, 2018. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti