The Italian National Team is competing at the second annual Italian Baseball Week against teams from the United States, Cuba, and Chinese Taipei in their final warm-up before the 2007 European Baseball Championships slated for September 7-16 in Barcelona, Spain.
Italy (2-1) used a 13-hit attack led by Joe MAZZUCA (3-for-4) and Matteo D’ Angelo fanned eight and scattered three hits and one run over five innings to defeat Team Miami 6-2. Mario Chiarini and Max DeBiase each had two hits for the 1997 European Championship winners.
Cuba (2-0) dealt the Italian squad an 8-5 loss in an entertaining game in which Italy raced out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame. But the tourney favorite from the tiny island nestled near the Florida shores responded with four scores in the bottom of the first to grab a 4-3 advantage.
Italy tied the game in the second with one run only to see the Cubans answer back with a pair of second-inning scores to regain a 6-4 lead en route to their second win. Cuba opened the tournament with a 9-3 victory over Team Miami.
The Italians picked up their second win with an 8-2 decision over Chinese Taipei in a game that saw Carlo RICHETTI pitch five scoreless innings to notch the win. Laidel CHAPELLI was 3-for-3 to lead a 15-hit attack. MAZZUCA, CHIARINI, and Davide Dallospedale all added two hits for Italy.
