Half a century on a diamond: the president of Thunders SalernoPascale Iannetta, is the man-symbol of city baseball. SalernoSport24 interviewed him exclusively.
Exclusive interview with the president of Thunders Salerno
An institution of city sport: i Thunders Salerno of president Pascale Iannetta – in business since 1976 – keep the passion for baseball alive in the capital, despite being forced to play their internal matches in Caserta. Before her victorious debut with Perugia in Serie C, Iannetta gave an extensive interview to our newspaper.
President, when does the history of baseball in Salerno begin?
«We have to go back to 1976, when a player from Fabriano he moved to Salerno for work reasons and gathered a group of people around him pioneers – to paraphrase the title of a famous article by «The morning» – who began to learn movements thanks to tennis balls. Passion did the rest: someone said that the baseball it’s like a woman who loves herself so much that she will never leave her again. After almost 47 years, we are still here at have funchasing and hitting a ball».
You might also be interested in: Who makes up the practitioner base?
«We are in fewunfortunately, because it is a very complex sport: first of all, we need two hectares of land to create a campo baseball. And, to my great regretwe have not yet managed to give the city a system that has the characteristics of a diamante. As a result, as has already happened in the last two seasons, we are forced to play Casertathe only city in the region that has a field approved by the federation. In truth, we had managed to set up a beautiful structure at the “Mary Rosy”, but the arrival of the Salernitana it changed our plans. In addition to the first team, which participates in the Serie Cthere is a youth sector that trains at the “Maurizio Calenda” school camp in Arbostella Park. Most of the boys who currently play with the first team were trained in our academy».
The “beat and run” has a very particular calendar, which is not always compatible with the needs of families.
«Yes, because the baseball season begins when all other competitive activities end. And it’s not easy to convince parents that our championship starts in April and ends in full estate, the season of rest and beach holidays for kids. Nonetheless, we take on it travel of hundreds and hundreds of kilometers to play championship matches, even at youth level: the closest opponent is at least 250 km from here. However, we feel we have done a good job in recent years: in addition to the Thunders, in fact, in Campania there are the Seagulls Salerno by Mario Pironti, the They whistle Baseball – which participates in the B championship – and Reggia Caserta Baseball and Softball».
President, tell us about the championship that has just started.
«A brief introduction: the Thunders have played in the tournament for many years cadet. An onerous commitment, because the FIBS (Italian baseball and softball federation, ndr) prescribes parameters very stringent not only for the size of the field, but also for the illumination of the diamond. We were included in the Umbria-Campania-Lazio group, in which 8 teams participate. After his debut with Perugia Baseball (defeated 16-6, ed.)we will find on our path very well organized companies like the Teramo project, Chieti Baseball and Montefiascone. The winners of each group will face the play-offs which will award 4 promotions Serie B. I remember that, unlike what happens in the higher leagues, only one match is played for each day of the championship».
Has winter brought any changes to the Thunders?
«We have hired a new coach, the Italian-American Frankie Russo, who had already collaborated with us in the past for some internships. The assistants Michelino Corbo and Pietro will work alongside him Iannuccithe latter also involved with the nursery. We have also included a 30-year-old from Italy on the roster Dominican Republicwith an excellent curriculum youth and a good wealth of experience that will be useful to the group. In our small way, we want to do well in the championship that has just begun: to participate in the play-off it would already be a great achievement».
Next summer, the renovation works on the “Arechi” stadium will begin, which will also have a significant impact on the facilities located nearby, starting with the PalaTulimieri. What are your considerations in this regard, also in light of the difficulties that many clubs may encounter which, in fact, represent the cornerstones of the Salerno grassroots sports movement?
«Allow me to make a proposal to the president of SalernitanaDanilo Iervolino: in some interviews, he declared that he wanted to give the city a sports Center expanded, which could also involve softball clubs and football americano. If this objective were to ever materialize and not remain confined among good intentions, the Thunders would gladly offer their contribution to the cause, even more so because Iervolino he spoke on several occasions about the need to involve clubs like ours in this project. Building a single plant would respond to the desire to sport which is well present in the city».
2024-04-15 18:06:30
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