Team Italy women's softball squad plays doubleheader against Venezuela on June 1 in Caronno Pertusella

In addition to playing midweek games against some of the best Italian Softball League squads, Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter has been thinking outside the box to come up with ways to prepare his players for the fierce international competition awaiting in the 2018 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Championship, hosted by Japan (ranked #2) from August 2-12, 2018. After successfully taking Team Italy (ranked #9) to Australia for the 2018 Asia Pacific Cup to face the game's elite, the Italian skipper has arranged two games on June 1 at 3 pm and 7 pm in Caronno Pertusella against Venezuela (ranked #19), an up-and-coming softball nation that took seventh place at the 2008 Olympics. Venezuela is fast becoming a South American powerhouse after opening its first women’s softball school in Libertador, Carabobo. Bearing the name of Olympian and Venezuela National Team captain Maria Soto, the Maria Soto Softball School opened in 2016 to train the next generation of South American women softball players for the 2020 Olympic Games. Manager Enrico Obletter along with coaches Federico Pizzolini and Marco Villani know that the doubleheader against Venezuela will be no small feat and have worked diligently with their Azzurre players to ensure a strong showing. Team Italy will be represented by the following individuals: Mariel Bertossi (P, INF), Valeria Bettinsoli (OF), Priscilla Brandi (INF), Ilaria Cacciamani (P), Greta Cecchetti (P), Elisa Cecchetti (C, OF), Lara Cecchetti (INF), Veronica Comar (P), Amanda Fama (INF), Marta Gasparotto (INF), Giulia Longhi (INF), Fabrizia Marrone (OF), Alice Nicolini (P), Beatrice Ricchi (OF), Alice Ronchetti (P), Alessandra Rotondo (C, INF), and Laura Vigna (OF). Forza #Italia #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti