The 2022 end-of-season press conference of the Oltretorrente baseball and softball group was held in the Auditorium of the Public Assistance in Parma on Wednesday evening 16 November in the presence of the presidents of the Gialloblù association Andrea Paini, president of the Oltretorrente group and president of the Oltretorrente baseball club, Paolo Poi vice president of the Oltretorrente group and president of Old Parma, Michele Reverberi, councilor of the Oltretorrente group and president of Parma 2001 as well as the regional councilor Matteo Daffadà, the president of the municipal council of Parma Michele Alinovi, delegate of Coni Point Parma Antonio Bonetti and Nicola Cesari, delegate to the sport of the Province of Parma.
Also present was Alessandro Massera, son of Tullo. The conference was held, moderated and presented by the journalist Gianluigi Calestani. During the conference, the Gialloblù presidents and the authorities spoke and the 2022 special baseball prizes were awarded to the Michele athletes (Italian Allievi champion 2012, Cadets 2014, Under 21 2016, Arizona Senior National Selection 2018-2019, MLB Camp 2015- 2016-2017) and Francesco Pomponi (U15 National Selection 2017, MLB Elite European Development Tournament 2019, Olympic Probable National Selection 2019), the 2022 special softball award to coach Corrado Borghi (who began playing baseball in Sorbolo at the age of 9 years driven by the passion of his sister Elisabetta softball player and his father then vice president of the company.In 1986 Juniores baseball champion and promoted from Serie B to A2, From 1987 in Poviglio for 3 years then Fidenza from 1996 to 1999 with career finished as a junior in Poviglio in 2004, Poviglio, Crocetta and Old Parma technician) the “Tullo Massera” prize – A life for the beat and run to Salvatore “Sal” Varriale former athlete of the Bernazzoli, Germal, Parmalat, World Vision and coach of Parma baseball and the Italian national team, delivers a plaque of recognition to Eugenio Boschi for his career as a manager for 35 years and for 12 years of one of the companies (Parma 2001) of the Oltretorrente group.
During the evening, medals of gratitude were also awarded to athletes of the Oltretorrente group who stood up for themselves in the regional, national and Italian youth baseball and softball teams. In detail, Elena Bonserio, Sofia Cenci (Little League athletes) and the Little League manager Stefano Cenci winners of the Regions tournament in Lombardy and the Emea tournament in Holland in Moergestel and participants in the World Series Little League tournament in Greenville (USA). Aurora Tossi Anastasi, Alessia Dazzi (also called up to the national Under 14 softball team for the Bianchi tournament), Arianna De Santis, Anna Manzelli (Junior League athletes) winners of the region tournament in Lombardy, runners-up to Emea in Moergestel (Holland). Sebastiano Catellani, Edoardo Cornelli and Marco Ragionieri participants in the Under 18 European Championship in Brno (quarters with Italy) and participants in the Under 18 World Championship in Bradenton (Florida, USA) tenths with Italy. Elia Zaccarini and Riccardo Squarcia participating with the Emilia – Romagna Senior League representative at the tournament of the regions in Lombardy (3rd place). Elena Slawitz (athlete) and Andrea Longagnani (manager) winners of the European Under 22 softball championship in Kunovice (Czech Republic). Paini’s intervention opened with a memory committed to his friend and sponsor of many years Corrado Marvasi who recently passed away. “ We have and have personally lost a second brother like Corrado Marvasi who is always in the front row for events, volunteering, sports, associations.
In 2023 he would have liked to celebrate 30 years of sponsorship with us, he will do so thanks to and through his family”. Paini wanted to take stock of 2022 and outline the guidelines for 2023: “2022 was an interesting year even if the acuteness of the championships was missing. This year we have returned to organizing the Due Torri youth baseball and softball tournament with 25 teams without foreign formations by our choice due to the Covid pandemic. We didn’t use the municipal gyms but I think it still worked out well. So we have returned to almost normality with the various championships, including youth championships and tournaments and events, also resuming promotional activities in the Corazza and Maria Luigia schools.
There have recently been council elections, Parma 2001 has a new president to replace Eugenio Boschi who is Michele Reverberi. In Boschi for what has been done with us over many years we thought of donating a plaque. We hope to expand the Oltre il Camp project which in 2022 lasted 2 weeks with also 2 physical education instructors already confirmed for the work done. We wanted to dedicate the “Massera” award to Salvatore “Sal” Varriale who needs no introduction. Thanks to him in 1972 I approached baseball. We then decided to reward the brothers Michele and Francesco Pomponi for baseball and for softball to coach Corrado Borghi. We want to confirm the categories Serie A, Serie C, Under 18, Under 14, Under 12, minibaseball and scuolabaseball, the promotional activity in schools, Oltre il camp, the 7/8 tournaments in addition to the Two Towers, the Special Olympics project, in November we will host the Unicef tournament and in December the Noi per loro. Above all, I would like to thank the girls and boys who distinguished themselves with the national and regional teams as well as the Under 18 provincial champion team”. Paolo Poi took stock of softball: “We decided to hold a press conference instead of a social party so as not to risk Covid. We want to relaunch for next year with the A1, Under 13, Under 15 and an Under 18 or B series to be evaluated.
In the name of continuity, we are trying to strengthen the teams. New technical director Andrea Longagnani. The Under 15 softball Ca Morganti first in the regional championship. I would like to thank the sponsors and the parents who take their sons and daughters to training sessions and matches. I think Parma can go back to its former glory as the capital of baseball and softball.” Reverberi explained how Parma 2001 takes care of “the young people and the promotional activities at Corazza and Maria Luigia, the baseball school or events such as for example the one recently held at the Eurotorri or in the Montanara district or the sports festival in the Cittadella”. Michele Alinovi conveyed the greetings of the councilor for sport of the Municipality of Parma Marco Bosi and of the mayor Michele Guerra. Paini has been a reference for us for many years. As the Municipality of Parma, I am proud to be here. Parma as a sport has been carrying on excellence for years, as a capital of sport where champions are produced but also as a social welfare for the important support to sporting activity. We are trying to reduce the energy costs of sports clubs. I too would like to mention the soul of Oltretorrente Corrado Marvasi, synonymous with parmigianita. One of us is gone. He left a seed that we all share, which has germinated in many initiatives, still among us.
Daffadà’s speech: “I thank Andrea Paini, I want to congratulate you for the activities and for everything you are doing in Parma. For the Region, sport is important, the regional council believes a lot in sport and in young people. I would like to thank the coaches who raise our children in addition to school “. Cesari brought the greetings of the President of the Province of Parma Andrea Massari. “I have deep esteem for what you do, you are a unique model company in all of Italy. Indeed, investing in young people represents an added value”. According to Bonetti “due to its history, the amount of events promoted, the number of people involved, the activities in schools, the integration with the Special Olympics, the Oltretorrente group represents an example for other companies”. After various anecdotes told by Varriale, 10 championships, 15 Champions Cup with Parma, 4 Italian Cup, 4 participation in the Olympics (1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens), in 2012 Merit Award from the American Coach Association in Los Angeles together with Mike Scioscia and Dave Winfield, in 2017 awarded the title of Cavaliere della Repubblica for Sporting Merit by President Mattarella, in 2020 elected Hall of Fame by the Italian baseball softball federation, in 2022 Palme d’Or by Coni the sports directors of softball and of baseball Andrea Longagnani and Maurizio Renaud illustrated the news for 2023: “
We’re working hard for 2023, we’ve changed the staff in all 4 categories, taking into account and putting the focus on girls who can grow a lot. We wanted to change the staff, we think we have included all perfect coaches for each category with technical and human bases. Every 15 days we exchange information to get the most out of each training session”. For Renaud “ the icing of the sporting result on the field was missing, we are starting again from school and Under 12, we have created a single group of coaches under 12 and Under 14 minibaseball school. The Under 18 this year has finished the cycle. Serie C / Under 18 our boys, many youngsters also form the seniors of Serie A. 2022 is important, let’s hope 2023 is also important with boys from 2006 included in our Serie A “.
