It was a week of intense work under the Arizona sun, more precisely in Scottsdale, for the Italia Baseball group ready to face the World Baseball Classic 2023 . The national team left last American evening to reach the Taipei airport, due to time differences, on Friday 3 and in the town of Taichung, after other training sessions and two friendlies, the countdown will start and will end on Thursday 9 March, when at 19 (noon in Italy) Italy will take the field against Cuba for the first game of its World Baseball Classic.
At the end of the week in Arizona the manager spoke Mike Piazza : “I am very satisfied with the work we have done and with what I have seen here. I want to thank Notre Dame Preparatory High School for the impeccable hospitality and support”
On the team he added: “Here the group is made up of great people, as well as excellent players and coaches and the environment is truly extraordinary. The whole team is enthusiastic about this experience and for what awaits us in Taiwan and we want this enthusiasm bring it to the field, for us and for what it means for all of Italian baseball”.
L’Italia per il World Baseball Classic
Italia Baseball is included in group A together with Cuba, China Taipei, Panama and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and takes on the challenge with a roster that includes a mix of emerging young players, players seeking redemption and professional baseball veterans, all ready to best honor their Italian origins.
Leading the blue team will be Mike Piazza, in his second international experience as manager of Italia Baseball after the bronze medal obtained at the 2021 European Championship. At his side will be Blake Butera (bench coach), Chris Denorfia (hitting coach), Jack Santora (infield coach), Mike Borzello (pitching coach), Michele Gerali (outfield coach), Jason Simontacchi (bullpen coach) and Joe Hsu.
THE CALENDAR OF THE FIRST PHASE
Thursday 9 March 2023: Italy – Cuba (at 12 Italian time, at 19 local time)
Friday 10 March 2023: Italy – China Taipei (at 12 Italian time, at 19 local time)
Saturday 11 March 2023: Panama – Italy (at 5 Italian time, at 12 local time)
Sunday 12 March 2023: Kingdom of the Netherlands – Italy (at 12 Italian time, at 19 local time)
THE FORMULA
The top two teams in the group will advance to the second phase which will be played at the Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan).
I quarter finals they will take place in Tokyo (March 15-16) with the winners of groups A and B and Miami (March 17-18), with the queens of groups C and D. From 19 to 21 March semifinals and finals at LoanDepot Park in Miami, which will have a record: it will be the first facility to host the three phases in a single edition.
THE STORIA DEL WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Il World Baseball Classic now in its fifth edition and recognized by the WBSC as Baseball World Championship will see for the first time the participation of 20 nations, 10 from the Americas, 4 from Asia, 1 from Oceania and 5 from Europe. L’ Italia he took part in all the Classics, qualifying for the second phase in 2013 and coming close to qualifying for the second phase in 2017, when Venezuela defeated the Azzurri in the play-off 4-3.
In 2023, the national team will be led by the manager, as well as a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Mike Piazza and for the first time it will be involved in a group of the first phase in Asia, to be precise at Taichung International Baseball Stadium in the locality located in the center of the island of Taiwan.
The United States are the reigning champions thanks to the success in 2017 obtained in the final against Puerto Rico . Among the winning nations at the World Baseball Classic are also the Dominican Republic (2013) and the Japan (2 times, in 2006 and 2009).
The editorial responsibility and content referred to in this press release rests with the Italian Baseball Softball Federation
