Group B: Greece – Italy
Italy 504 302 7 21 15 0 Greece 000 020 0 2 5 3
Italy didn’t have any problems in their opening game at the European Championship in Hoofddorp. At ETO Ballpark they scored five runs in the first en route to a 21-2 blowout. They already led 14-2, when they added seven more runs in the seventh to end the contest. Greece only managed to avoid the shutout.
Mattia Reginato hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a double, a single, four runs scored and six RBI. Alessandro Vaglio and Erik Epifano also scored four times each. Alex Liddi also hit a home run. Georgios Thliveris drove in both runs for Greece.
Junior Oberto conceded five hits, two runs and a walk in five solid innings for the win. Gianfranco Rizzo and Ludovico Coveri closed it out with a pair of perfect frames. Jonathan Kountis gave up eight hits, nine runs (5 ER) and four base on balls in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Photo by FIBS