Bollate, softball: recognition to Guido Soldi, in the Hall of Fame… with Paola in mind.
Wonderful moments for the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/02/for-the-national-softball-spring-training-in-arizona-and-california/" title="For the National Softball Spring Training in Arizona and California”>Bollate Softball club in recent weeks with championships and cups won even at youth level, in addition to the icing on the cake of the 14th national championship. But to these victories was also added a prestigious recognition that went to president Guido Soldi, who was included in the “Hall of Fame” by the Baseball and Softball Federation as a great manager. The motivation given by the Federation states: “Guido Soldi wrote the history of baseball and softball in Bollate.
Guido Soldi in the Baseball Hall of Fame: his career
Born in Rudiano (BS) on 19 February 1942. After moving to Bollate with his family, he began playing baseball in 1959 but immediately began to develop a passion for teaching sports and in particular teaching young people the throwing technique. He shaped pitchers such as Giacomo Bertoni, Paolo Cherubini, Gianni Clerici, Gaetano Marazzi, Paolo Re and Roberto Radaelli. He acquired his coaching card in 1970 and created a masterpiece with the Ospiate franchise, taking it from Serie C to the historic promotion to Serie A in 1974. From 1975 he poured his attention into softball, founding the Blue Girls, Bollate’s first youth team leading it to reach Serie A in the mid-80s.
Subsequently, starting from the 90s, he developed one of the most numerous nurseries in Italian softball, continuing to coach on the field and taking care of the youth sector as general manager. Since then the Bollate Softball youth sector has won 71 Italian titles. As a coach he contributed fundamentally to the training of two great pitchers: Roberta Soldi and Greta Cecchetti. Now Guido has been the President of Bollate Softball since 2014: the Senior team has won championships, a Champions Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup and two Italian Cups under his presidency. He still dedicates himself to the maintenance of the fields and is always at work at all the events in Bologna together with his wife Paola, with whom he has been married for 58 years”.
Guido Soldi comments on his inscription in the baseball Hall of fame
This is Guido Soldi’s comment during his coronation which was held on the grounds of the Ospiato centre: “Naturally I am happy, even if I had already been included in the special coaches Hall of Fame, a position to which I feel closest. In fact, I have won 34 championships as a coach in 65 years of various activities. But receiving this nomination always makes your legs tremble if you think that you are among the best on the planet and in history. I was particularly moved by the phone call from the President of Coni Malagò, just as I was being celebrated by all my girls and our great collaborators to whom I dedicate a good part of this coronation. Beyond the emotion I felt for all the calls received from all over the world from people in the industry who wanted to compliment me in all languages.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone I have gotten to know throughout my career, but in particular my wife Paola. In fact, I always remind everyone that if a man is not supported in life by a great woman, he will never be able to achieve similar goals and feel so happy. Thank you so much dear….”.
