Team Italy unveils roster for Haarlem Baseball Week

Team Italy manager Gilberto “Gibo” Gerali is looking forward to taking 24 of his best Azzurri players—including Alessandro Maestri, Chris Colabello and Luis Lugo—to the Netherlands for Haarlem Baseball Week from July 13-22, 2018. Not only will the invitational international tournament featuring Japan, the Netherlands, Cuba, Chinese Taipei, and Germany serve as a tune up for Team Italy in preparation of  (which also takes place in the Netherlands from September 18-23, 2018), Haarlem Baseball Week provides a forum for powerhouse nations to test out their arsenal against some of game’s up-and-coming countries.

Before Japan can make amends to dethrone host and reigning Haarlem Baseball Week champion the Netherlands, the 2016 runner-up must first get past Team Italy in the tourney opener on July 13, 2018 at 8 am (EDT). The Italians return to play Euro rival the Netherlands on July 14 at 9 am (EDT). Team Italy then battles Cuba on July 16 at 8 am (EDT) and Chinese Taipei on July 17 at 8 am (EDT) during the single round-robin competition before the playoffs, which begin on July 20 and continue through July 22. 

Joining Team Italy skipper Gibo Gerali for Haarlem Baseball Week are coaches Rolando Cretis, Massimiliano Masin, Alberto D'Auria, Josè Augusto Medina Mondant, and Claudio Vecchi. Azzurri athletic trainer Gianni Natale, physical therapist Massimo Baldi, physician Oliver Dejana, and delegation manager Vincenzo Mignola round out the staff entourage.          

The following Team Italy players will report to Rome on July 10 for two days of intensive training prior to competing in Haarlem Baseball Week:  Angelo Palumbo Cordozo, P (Bolzano B.C.), Mattia Aldegheri, P (Baseball Team Verona), Andrea Pizziconi, P (Fortitudo B.C. 1953), Filippo Crepaldi, P (Fortitudo B.C. 1953), Alex Bassani, P (Rimini Baseball), Nicolò Clemente, P (Redskins Imola B.S.C.), Luis Lugo, P (Parma Baseball Club 1949), Gianfranco Rizzo Moronta, P (Reggio Rays Baseball), Alessandro Maestri, P (San Marino B.C.), Valerio Simone, P (Nuova Città Di Nettuno), Claudio Scotti, P (Nuova Città Di Nettuno), Alessandro Deotto, C (Parma Baseball Club 1949), Mario Trinci, C (Nuova Città Di Nettuno B.C.), Alex Sambucci, INF (Parma Baseball Club 1949), Alessandro Vaglio, INF (Fortitudo B.C. 1953), Robel Garcia Rodriguez, INF (Fortitudo B.C. 1953), Chris Colabello, INF (San Marino B.C.), Freddy Noguera, INF (Rimini Baseball), Mattia Mercuri, INF (Nuova Città Di Nettuno B.C.), Federico Celli, OF (Rimini Baseball), Nico Garbella, OF (Rimini Baseball), Sebastiano Poma, OF (Parma Baseball Club 1949), Leonardo Zileri, OF (Parma Baseball Club 1949), and Stefano Desimoni, OF (Parma Baseball Club 1949). Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

                                                                                       by Roberto Angotti