The first European Baseball Championship Played by Blind People it was held on 7 and 8 October 2023 in the world cradle of the discipline, namely the Casteldebole Technical Center, 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 Mel 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 When.
The decisive day opened with the first semi-finalfrom Italia e France and saw the impenetrable Italian defense prevent any possibility of scoring for the opponents, while the attack produced 10 runs on 12 hits, including the home run with the bases full Giuseppe Tocco which ended the race early.
The other one is of a very different nature semi-finalfrom Great Britain e Netherlandswhich ended 2-1 in the tie-break in favor of the Oranje in a dramatic sporting way: with GB missing the home plate area twice, to score the equalizer and the potential advantage, and the last batter, Ray Clements who, due to a slight injury, despite hitting in the valid zone, he is unable to reach first 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 elimination at home plate, saw the attack of the 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 combined 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, author of 3 of the 6 consecutive outs.
Italy starts with two hits from Oliver’s e Allegretta, therefore, on Napoli’s serve, 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.
Manager 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 Ambra Trefolello, who hits well on the right, but is eliminated by a long assist from the Dutch left winger. 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 Trombiniborn 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.
Day 2
Game 11: France vs Italy 0-10
Game 12: Netherlands vs Great Britain 2-1
Game 13 Bronze: France vs Great Britain 0-9
Game 14 Gold/Silver: Netherlands vs Italy 0-6
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.
Day 1
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.
2023-10-08 14:07:54
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