Against France in the U22 Women’s
European Softball Championship Opening Round on Tuesday, August 6th,
the Team Italy lineup looked like
this: Felicia Di Pancrazio, CF; Giluia Koutsoyanopulos, C; Virginia
Mambelli, RF; Silvia Torre, 1B; Alexia Lacatena, DP; Lucia
Polini, LF; Delia Manera, 2B; Anita Bartoli, SS; Alice Spiotta, 3B; and Silvia
Aroldi, P.
France starting pitcher Emma Liminier was chased out of the game early in the top of the
first inning by the powerful Team Italy
offense. Felicia Di Pancrazio led
off with a solo home run. After a four-pitch walk to Giulia Koutosoyanopulos, Azzurre
slugger Silvia Torre connected with
a two-run bomb over the center field fence to give the Italians a 3-0 advantage.
Reliever Jasmine Bouzirii-Vuong
surrendered a single to Delia Manera
but no more to limit the damage.
Team Italy starter Silvia
Aroldi (0.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB) was replaced by reliever Marianna Zumerle (7 IP, 12 H, 3 R, BB, 4 K) in the bottom of the first
inning when France answered with four runs to take a slim 4-3 lead.
The Azzurre
threatened in the top of second inning when Giulia Koutsoyanopulos walked and stole second base. However, she
was left stranding in scoring position. Team
Italy relief pitcher Marianna
Zumerle kept France off the board in the second and third innings.
The Italians scored twice in the top of the
fourth inning to take a brief 5-4lead
after Delia Manera hit an infield
single and Felicia Di Pancrazio belted
a two-run home run to the deepest part of center field.
France scored two runs to regain the 6-5 lead
in the bottom of the fourth inning. Emma
Liminier returned to the pitching circle in the top of the fifth inning and
nearly gave up the lead on control issues. Despite hitting Lucia Polini and allowing the baserunner to reach third base on two
ensuing wild pitches, she was able to keep Team
Italy from scoring.
Emma Liminier was not so fortunate in the top of the fifth inning when she was replaced by reliever Clelia Costes and gave up the lead. After Felicia Di Pancrazio was hit by a pitch, Giulia Koutsoyanopuls was issued a walk, and Virginia Mambelli was hit by a pitch, Silvia Torre collected an RBI infield single. Then Alexia Lacatena reached first on a fielder’s choice. An ensuing infield throwing error allowed two runs to cross the plate. After reliever Clelia Costes walked Lucia Polini, Delia Manera hit a two-run single to put Team Italy on top 10-6.
France scored one run in the bottom of the
fifth inning to make it a 10-7 game. The contest remained scoreless in the
sixth and seventh inning to seal the Team
Italy victory.
ITALY-FRANCE BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns for a battle against Austria on August
7th at 11:45 am (local time).
U22 WOMEN’S
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE. RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
U22 WOMEN’S
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy shortstop Anita Bartoli by Natalia Petrzak)
