With the interventions of the CONI President Giovanni Malagòof the President of the Italian Baseball Softball Federation Andrea Marcon and the manager of Italia Baseball Mike Piazzawas presented in the Giunta room at the Palazzo H of the CONI, “Mission Classic” which represents the first step towards the World Baseball Classic 2023, scheduled for next March.
13 players take part in the Classic Mission, including MLB players and high-level prospects engaged in minor leagues: Ben DeLuzio (OF, St. Louis Cardinals), Matt Festa (RP, Seattle Mariners), David Fletcher (IF, Los Angeles Angels), Dominic Fletcher (OF, Reno Aces, AAA Arizona Diamondbacks), Vito Friscia (C, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, AAA Philadelphia Phillies), Sam Haggerty (UTL, Seattle Mariners), Nicky Lopez (SS/2B, Kansas City Royals), Joey Marciano (RP, Sacramento River Cats, AAA San Francisco Giants), Miles Mastrobuoni (UTL, Tampa Bay Rays), Andre Pallante (RP, St. Louis Cardinals), Vinnie Pasquantino (1B; Kansas City Royals), Mitchell Stump (RP, Reno Aces, AAA Arizona Diamondbacks), Brett Sullivan (C / UTL, El Paso Chihuahuas, AAA San Diego Padres). To them is added the presence of an important level staff composed of Blake Butera (bench coach), Brian Sweeney (pitching coach), Jack Santora, Chris Denorfia e Michelle Gerali.
The manager of Italia Baseball Mike Piazza presented this first group that intends to participate in next year’s world event: “I would like to thank the Federation, CONI and IABF for their support to this project. We have a group with a lot of enthusiasm and passion that strongly wish to represent Italy. All those present at the first responded positively and others asked if there was the possibility to play in the blue uniform. We will not have much time to prepare and work together before the tournament, so we start this week to create the bond since immediately”.
The President of CONI Giovanni Malagò he brought greetings to the guests present and wanted to congratulate him on a unique initiative, also dedicated to the discovery of the origins of the families of the athletes involved. The President also greeted the audience Andrea Marcon who highlighted the importance of the approach towards Classic: “Given my Italian and Canadian origins this is an initiative with an important significance. Classic will be an important moment for baseball, being a World Cup, and we believe in the path. We will be in a particular situation, for the first time in Asia, with strong opponents including Holland. The goal of the expedition is to go as far as possible. “
As reiterated by the CT of Italia Baseball, it will be a good week to get to know each other, to experience the origins of their families, one of which is linked to historical figures (the cousin of the grandfather of Joey Marciano is the famous boxer Rocky Marciano), and to build a team spirit and a union of intentions that will be fundamental for the world event that will kick off on 8 March in Taichung (Taiwan) and will see the Azzurri on the field in the elimination round with Taiwan, When, Cuba e Panama. There will also be space for Italian athletes, in particular on the morning of Sunday 13 November, in which a group of young Italian talents will meet on the Arezzo field for the Future Stars Game.
November 9 is also a special date for Italian baseball because it marks the second anniversary of the death of Bill Holmbergwhich had a strong impact on the growth of Italian baseball and linked by a friendly relationship with the manager Mike Piazza.
On the occasion, the link between the FIBS and the Italian-American community was also strengthened. The institutional partners of the Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) with the president of the association Joe Quaglianothe vice-president Carmine Gangone e Mark Cardillo e Chris Vaccaro, members of the Board of Directors who presented the relationship between the Federation and IABF that led to the development of the Classic Mission and the new specific paths linked to scholarships reserved for Italian players to enter US colleges. Furthermore, the Italian Softball Baseball Federation has officially signed an agreement with We The Italiansrepresented on site by the founder and CEO Umberto Mucciwhich, on its tenth anniversary, becomes a media partner of Italia Baseball and Softball.
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Press Conference – Mission Classic 2023
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