The conclusion of the Premier12 did not turn off the spotlight on world baseball. While waiting for the arrival of spring, there is still a lot of baseball to be played on the American continent, with several Italians protagonists in the various championships that form the confederation of Caribbean professional baseball.
Alberto Mineo is one of the protagonists of Leon Lionsfirst-place team (11-4) of the National Professional Baseball League (LBPN) of Nicaragua in which the “San Marino” Dimitri Kourtis and Jiandido Tromp also play. Mineo is among the best hitters of the league leaders as evidenced by the 10 hits in 36 innings and the average of .278/.447/.389 with one home run and three runs batted in in fifteen games. In the championship, which is preparing to reach the halfway point, the pitcher also competes Claudio Scotti who has already shown off on three occasions (two as a starter) with just one point earned on 9.1 shots thrown. The Roman pitcher plays for i Chinandega Tigerscurrently third in the rankings.
Azzurri and old acquaintances of our baseball protagonists in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), itself already at the halfway point. It’s about Tiago da Silva e JJ D’Orazio (in the Italian roster for the 2023 European Championship).
The veteran da Silva and the young D’Orazio play in the Aragua Tigerscurrently second to last in the general classification with a record of 15 wins and 18 losses and, after a period of stoppage, are looking for more space in manager Buddy Bailey’s roster.
In Venezuela, con i Cardinals of Laraalso had a brief interlude Michele Vassalottiprotagonist this summer in the ranks of San Marino. The doors of the world are opening for the Italian-Venezuelan Panama Professional Baseball League (LPBP or PROBEIS) starting from Friday 29 November. The pitcher with experience with the Italian national team will be one of the five foreigners of the Atlantic of Bocas de Toro and Colon.
In the Dominican Republic, in the Licey Tigers – that is, one of the two teams from Santo Domingo and the oldest and most renowned of the LIDOMLiga de Beisbol Profesional de la Republica Dominicana –, currently third force in the championship (15-14) is busy Robel Garcia with four appearances under his belt.
Fresh from College Series con Club Italia LA28, Christian Scafidiformerly UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna, is currently engaged in Colombian Professional Baseball League (LPB) with i Monteria Jeanscurrently second in the rankings (8-5) behind Caimanes de Barranquilla. Teammate of Carlos Quevedo, Scafidi has already appeared in seven games in relief and boasts a 2-1 record with 2 saves, 13 strikeouts, 5 bases on balls and 3 earned runs on 11.2 bases thrown.
Photo: A swing by Alberto Mineo in Ukraine-Italy on September 28, 2023 during the European Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic. Credit: Duck Foto Press.
