The first European Baseball Championship Played by the Blind WBSC Europe rewarded the experience and technique of the Azzurri, authors of a clear path in the two days in Bologna which also witnessed the growth of the other participating selections.
In the photo above of Lauro Bassani, Italy BXC with medal and defender the European title.
The first European Baseball Championship Played by Blind People it was held on 7 and 8 October 2023 in the cradle of the discipline, namely the “Umberto Calzolari” Technical Center of Casteldebole, in Bologna, where many boys and girls have approached the diamond disciplines and where, 30 years ago now, a group of former Fortitudo players joined Alfredo Meli to put into practice his idea of a beat-and-run for the blind and visually impaired.
The event, assigned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe to FIBS and organized by the Italian Baseball Association for the Blind with the collaboration of the entire Fortitudo Baseball/Softball Group, saw on the field France, Germania, Great Britain, Italia e Netherlands.
The decisive day opened with the first semi-finalfrom Italia e France, which saw the impenetrable Italian defense prevent any possibility of scoring for the opponents, while the attack produced 10 runs with 12 hits, including the home run with the bases full Giuseppe Tocco which allowed the game to end early in the 3rd inning due to clear superiority.
The other one is of a very different nature semi-finalfrom Great Britain e Netherlandswhich ended 2-1 at the tie-break in favor of the Oranje in a dramatic sporting way: with GB missing the finish line at home plate twice (to score the equalizer and the potential lead) and the last batter (Ray Clements) who, due to a slight injury, despite batting in the valid zone, he is unable to reach second base and is the last out of the game.
The match for the bronzeafter the double defense closed without conceding points to the France by the British and a first point missed again due to an out at home plate, saw the attack of Great Britain take measures on the field and produce 4 points in the first offensive recovery.
The islanders’ second round was equally productive, with 5 points scored before the second out thanks to precise serves that the transalpine defense was unable to control.
Great Britain then conquered the podium with a round 9-0, without conceding anything to the French not even in the third attack. L’Italia and a very young and ‘feminine’ one When they then faced each other in the last and most important match of the competition.
The two joint innings of Dutch attack (called first and second ‘bite’ in BXC jargon) fly by in an instant, with Gaetano Casale absolute dominator of the shortstop zone and author of 3 of the 6 consecutive outs.
Italy starts with two hits from Oliver’s e Allegrettatherefore, on the beat of Napoli, well managed by the orange defense, the first point comes in. It is the start of a round that brings the Azzurri to reach the 5-point limit in no time, thanks to the hits of Bonomo (2), Oliver’s, Allegretta e Napoli.
He manages Fabio Azzaro makes some changes for the second round and this time the Dutch defense, concentrated and precise, with the right winger Mindy Krone on the shields, he eliminates three blue batters in sequence.
Having returned the favor, the Italian national team begins the third attack with Amber Trefolellowho hits well to the right, but is eliminated by a long assist from the Dutch left fielder. Giangiacomo Bonomo he then hits a valid shot deep to the left and Fabio Trombini he advances it with a precise long line to the left. AND Danny Oliveri who is then served on the bases the runner and the potential run worth the gold medal. The Umbria Redskins player does not miss the appointment and his validity determines the 6-0 which gives Italy the historic top step of the podium of the first BXC European Championship.
Even at an individual level, Italy stood out with 3 of the 4 prizes, with Fabio Trombini (born in 2006) who took home the awards as both best hitter and best prospect, while the MVP of the event went to Giangiacomo Bonomo.
Best defender the British Grant Mallabar.
Semifinal 1: France vs Italy 0-10
Semi-final 2: Netherlands vs Great Britain 2-1
Bronze final: France vs Great Britain 0-9
Final for Gold: Netherlands vs Italy 0-6
Day 1
Italy had emerged as the team to beat from the first day, closing with a clear path of 4 victories, all of them wide in the score and only the Netherlands capable of scoring 1 point against the Italian defense.
Close behind is Great Britain, very compact on the pitch, with a record of 3-1, followed by the Netherlands at 2-2. For France and Germany, both with 3 defeats and 1 draw, the Team Quality Balance calculation then decreed fourth place for the French.
Game 1: France vs Germany 0-0
Game 2: Great Britain vs Netherlands 5-0
Game 3: Italy vs France 13-0
Game 4: Germany vs Netherlands 0-1
Game 5: France vs Great Britain 0-2
Game 6: Netherlands vs Italy 1-10
Game 7: Great Britain vs Germany 11-1
Game 8: Italy vs Great Britain 9-0
Game 9: Netherlands vs France 4-0
Game 10: Germania vs Italia 0-10
All matches, broadcast in live streaming, are available on WBSCE YouTube channel.
The photos are available for download on profilo Flickr WBSC Europe.
All information on the European Championship can be found on the dedicated page of the WBSC Europe website (https://www.wbsceurope.org/en/events/2023-blind-baseball-european-championship/home).
From AIBXC therefore congratulations and thanks for their commitment to the new European Champions:
Giuseppe Allegretta (Lampi Milano), Giangiacomo Bonomo (Umbria Redskins BXC), Gaetano Casale (I Patrini Malnate BXC), Juan Davide Walkers (Thunder’s Five Milano), Giorgio Napoli (Fortitudo Bologna White Sox), Danny Oliver’s (Umbria Redskins BXC), Alfonso Sum (Roma All Blinds), Giuseppe Touch (Thurpos Cagliari), Amber Township (Umbria Redskins BXC) and Fabio Trumpets (I Patrini Malnate BXC),
directed and assisted by the manager Fabio Azzaro and by coaches Marco Armor (Roma All Blinds), Ilaria By Giulio (Fiorentina BXC), Giuseppe Claudio Molon (Lampi Milano) and Francesco Volo (I Patrini Malnate BXC
THANKS:
a WBSC Europe (represented at the closing ceremony by the Executive Board Member François Collet) e FIBS (represented at the opening ceremony by the President Andrea Marcon), for having approved the organization of the European Championship and for the economic and logistical support; al Municipality of Bologna for hosting the presentation press conference; a Fortitudo Baseball e Longbridge 2000for the great help provided in the material organization of the tournament; special thanks to the President of Longbridge 2000 Baseball (and manager of the Casteldebole Technical Centre) Roberto “Naso” Franceschinifor the enormous availability given personally and the attention to all the organizational details necessary for the success of the event; Diego Costapress officer of the event; to the Media Officer of WBSC Europe Elda Ghilardi and to the FIBS Communications Manager Marco Landifor the widespread media coverage of the event; a Kevin Senator of the FIBS Press Office for the supply of FIBS equipment for the live streaming of the matches on the WBSC Europe YouTube channel and to him and Matteo Briglia for the news and technical commentary of the races in streaming; ad Andrea Epifani for the creation of some videos on behalf of the AIBXC; a Lauro Bassani for the widespread photographic coverage of the event; to Arbitri FIBS Andrea Ferdinando Frabetti (Umpire in Chief), Corrado Pasquali, Biancamaria Casiraghi, Cristina Alberton, Fabrizio Bordi and Gaspare Carrani; ai FIBS Official Classifiers Alessandro Meli (Scorer in Chief), Carlo Mogliani and Alberto Carletti (responsible for Championship statistics);a Maurizio Imperiali (vice president of CNC), for the drafting of the traditional Daily Reports, published on the WBSC Europe website (with the supervision of the president of CNC Anna Maria Paini); CIP Emilia-Romagna and to Fortitude Baseball for the free supply of 9-seater minibuses for the various transfers drivers Maurizio “Ciccio” Carnevali, Carlo “Charlie” Monari and Roberto Zancaniwhich satisfied every mobility need of the teams and the various guests; a Valeria Turolla, Simonetta Zoni, the girls of Blue Girls Softball and all the volunteers who helped guarantee meals for everyone; for the volunteers Emilia Ammirato e Luisa Colosifor their invaluable work in media assistance and voiceover (as well as for assistance during the clinic); a Tom Nagelfor his important presence as a member of the WBSC Paralympic Commission;a Sun Yue-Fenfor his fundamental role as Chinese interpreter with the technicians who arrived from China for the pre-European Clinic; Angel Argentierifor the help provided especially during the Clinic on Friday afternoon; a Davide Miolaa very precious “Water Man” for all the protagonists on the field but also much more; Mia Officewho created the banners for the event free of charge; to the volunteers ofANTpresent with their own stand at the event; a Cesare Pezzolitireless factotum available for every logistical need (for setting up the camp, in collaboration with Adriano Costa and the Fortitudo staff); finally, “last but not least”, a huge thank you to Eva Trevisan e Priscilla Brandito whom we owe a notable part of the success of the event, on which they worked for months, taking care of every little detail.
We remind you for those who want to follow the weekly BXC STORIES appointment live on our Facebook page on Thursday 12 October at 9pm.
Below is the link to the event:
2023-10-09 17:16:31
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