Team Italy women's softball teams unite for Azzurre Spring Training in Pescara

Azzurre skipper Enrico Obletter wears two hats as manager for the Team Italy women's softball U19 Junior and Senior squads. So it should come as no surprise that he has put both teams together for Azzurre Spring Training in Pescara from March 11-17, 2018. Manager Enrico Obletter, along with coaches Federico Pizzolini, Lisa Birocci Banse, Giulio Brusa, and Marco Villani, athletic trainers Ulises Hernandez and Elio Paolini, and team physician Gaetano Schiavottiello, will spend seven days with the best Italian women softball players in the country. Their goal is to prepare for the U19 Women’s Softball European Championship at Ronchi dei Legionari, Staranzano and Cervignano del Friuli Fields in Friuli Venezia Giulia from July 16-21, 2018, and the 2018 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Championship in Chiba, Japan, from August 2-12, 2018. The WBSC event counts towards qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter said, "I wanted both teams to practice and play against each other. We have some players that are on the U19 squad that play with the senior team too. I think it is a great example for the younger players to be able to see and play against older and better players. Pescara has artificial turf so we should be able to play even in cold and wet weather. I recruited these kids from playing against them in the Italian Softball League (ISL) the last few years as Bussolengo's head coach." 

2018 Azzurre Spring Training invitees include Team Italy Seniors: Valeria Bortolomai (Bussolengo Softball), Priscilla Brandi (Cali Rome XIII), Ilaria Cacciamani (Sc Forli), Greta Cecchetti (Bollate Softball), Lara Cecchetti (Bollate Softball), Elena Chiesa (Crocetta Kids), Ambra Collina (Nuoro Softball / Bussolengo), Veronica Comar (Stars Ronchi / Bussolengo), Marta Gasparotto (Stars Ronchi), Chiara Giudice (ASD Pescara), Maria Lacatena (ASD ProRoma BSC), Giulia Longhi (Cali Rome XIII), Fabrizia Marrone (Bussolengo Softball), Alice Nicolini (Saronno Softball), Agnese Pietroni (ASD Unione Fermana), Silvia Refrontolotto (Dynos Verona/ Bussolengo), Sara Riboldi (Bollate Softball 1969), Beatrice Ricchi (SC Forlì), Alice Ronchetti (Milan Bas 46), Federica Tagliavini (US Collecchio Softball), and Alessia Zavaroni (Old Parma BSC); Team Italy Softball U19 Juniors: Chiara Bassi (US Youth Collecchio Softball), Sara Brugnoli (Saronno Softball), Sara Camisasca (Bollate Softball), Marta Chiodaroli (Bollate Softball), Sara Sarcole (Bussolengo Softball/Wild Pitch Softball Team), Alessia Colonna (Gioventino Collecchio), Elisa De Trombetti (San Martino Jun. Bas Soft), Noemi Giacometti (Thunders Castelfranco Veneto), Chiara Marazzi (Bollate SC), Beatrice Marroni (Valmarecchia / SC Forlì), Arianna Nicolini (Saronno Softball), Luna Oliveti (Pianoro Softball), Camilla Pellegrino (Saronno Softball), Alessandra Rotondo (Saronno Softball), Carlotta Salis (Thunders Castelfranco Veneto), Elena Slawitz (Old Parma), Susanna Soldi (Saronno Softball), Giorgia Telò (Cali Rome XIII), and Laura Vigna (Bussolengo Softball / La Loggia Softball).

Although Azzurre Spring Training lasts one week beginning Sunday, March 11, 2018, many of the U19 players have academic obligations which prohibits them from participating in the entire camp. Enrico Obletter explained, "The Juniors who still go to school will stay until Wednesday as I don't want them to lose too many school days." To compensate for the U19 Juniors' limitations, the innovative Italian softball manager Obletter came up with a solution. He said, "This year I will manage the U19 team against the ISL teams in mid-week games so they will have a lot of games to showcase themselves, get better as a team, and ready for the Euro Championships in Ronchi in July." Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti