The manager of the national baseball team5 Maurizio Balla has made official the names of the eight athletes, four boys and four girls, who will be part of the Italian expedition to the under 18 European Championships in Clermont Ferrand, scheduled from 29 October to 2 November. The Italy of baseball5 has just returned from a fruitful last meeting in Pesaro, during which the coaches tried out the schemes to better deal with the continental experience.
«We did an excellent job – comments manager Balla – In putting together the group to take to France, I tried to choose a mix of assorted boys and girls: some know the game and others are strong players. Unfortunately I only have one male replacement and one female replacement in case of injury.”
In recent days, due to some sudden defections, the WBSC Europe has revised the program of the event. «Unfortunately we were placed in a group called Lithuania, Turkey, Finland, Romania, Germany and Poland. We will try not to rub shoulders with them and we are working on other aspects. We aim to play it against everyone, little by little we’ll see what comes out. However, it will be necessary to give continuity to the work.”
The eight players called up will meet again on Saturday in Aosta, leaving for France on Sunday. On Tuesday 29 October Italy will make their debut, playing three matches in one day, Romania, Lithuania and Germany.
Those summoned: Cristian Agresta (Rho Baseball), Irene Bellusci (Acli Rivello), Pierfrancesco Bernardi (Aosta Bugs), Cloe Bonomo (Aosta Bugs/Canavese), Alessandro Micheli (Bc Pesaro), Chiara Pecorelli (Acli Rivello), Federico Sana (Aosta Bugs) , Leila Sanna (Florence Softball).
Manager Maurizio Balla, coach Paolo Vannini, Isabella Dalbesio team executive.
