It is not enough for the Azzurrini to have beaten more hits (9 against 6): the difference is made by six Czech points in the third attack. L’Italy loses 7-3 a watershed game for the European path but nothing is compromised. The next two matches against will be decisive Hungary (today, 3 pm) e France (Thursday 12 August 12.15).
An unfortunate defeat for 7-3 (in spite of the result, the match did not show any qualitative inferiority on the part of the blue team) against Czech Republic complicates, but does not compromise, the path of Italy Baseball U-12 who pays dearly for a few too many carelessness but above all a negative day with the men on base, as evidenced by the figure of only one serve out of nine rounds with runners in point position.
The match begins with the Czech Republic trying to put pressure on the starter right away Federico Magalotti (2IP, 3H, ER, BB, 3K) and to the blue team: with one eliminated, a base on ball (Ondrej Bilek) and a single (Jakub Kliner) try to put Magalotti on the corner, but the pitcher chosen by Stefano Burato responds coldly first with a well-aimed fifth pitch that misses Richard Hladky for the second strikeout of his short exit, then with the play in the third of Matteo Chinello, one of the best, who takes care of the third out. Italy responds in kind and tries to drive people crazy Petr Fejt bringing the first two hitters to base thanks to a hit at the center of Dario Lomi and a damped of Elia Plusigh on the pitcher. It is here, however, that the leitmotiv that accompanies the whole game, the difficulties of Burato’s clubs with the men on base: then the Czech defense is saved with two fundamental strikeouts by Fejt on Patrik Silva (1-3) e Matteo Chinello (1-3, PBC), then sprinting to second base served by Magalotti (1-3).
Despite the apparent coldness of the clubs in the first inning, the game takes little to unlock: it happens immediately in the second inning, with two eliminated, thanks to a single of Adam Tosovsky on the eighth launch by Magalotti, who shortly after took only two throws to close the opponent’s attack. The blue answer, however, is in the air and arrives in the lower part: Mattia Pasotto e Alida Champions they go to base with four balls and, after the third strikes shot by Pablo Suarez e Francesco Carlini, it is a mistake of the shortstop on a rebounding of Dario Lomi to send home Pasotto. Near the launch limit, Magalotti does not return to the mountain for the third inning. In its place Thomas Cechet, with Magalotti moved to the right outside. The start looks good for the newcomer (strikeout on Ondrej Bilek) but then a single (Jakub Kliner) and three consecutive bases on ball lead to the point of the new Czech overtaking and to the entrance of Michele Dal Pozzo (2IP, H, 2R / 1ER, 2BB, 3K) which, also undermined by two defensive injuries in second base, and by a valid serve in the center winger by Adam Tosovsky, fails to stop the opponent’s attack, which yields another five points. Italy brings their heads back to the change with the second inside-the-park home run in two games of Matteo Chinello (the latter arrived on a long sprint that falls right at the corner between the center outside and the right outside). Chinello’s long line gives his teammates a boost who with three consecutive singles (Federico Magalotti, Mattia Pasotto e Alida Champions) also mark the point of 7-3 before an unfortunate double game beaten by Pablo Suarez which puts an end to the “rally”.
The Azzurri hitters get other good chances in the fourth inning (valid for From the Well e Silva) and in the fifth inning (line of Pasotto in the center) but do not materialize, effectively saving the Czech Republic, which in the sixth finds three quick outs to close the game. In the blue ranks excellent performance of Matteo Chinello which in addition to the home run also takes care of the last five out of the blue mountain (1.2IP, H, BB, 4K).
The next two matches are fundamental for Italy: againstHungary today at 15 and against the France (who defeated Poland 21-0 in the third inning this morning and will face the Czech Republic in the afternoon) tomorrow, Thursday 12 August, at 12.15.
CALENDAR, RESULTS AND LINKS TO PLAY-BY-PLAY
from Mortsel, Belgium, Luca Giangrande
Photo: Elia Plusig (13) takes the shot at first base. Credit: LG / FIBS
