The Italians and the Lithuanians have dominated the competition at the 2007 European Cadets Championship Qualifier heing held this week in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Italy (4-0) blanked Great Britain (10-0), Switzerland (10-0), San Marino (19-0) and beat Israel 18-1. The details of their Friday night clash with Lithuania (4-0) are still unavailable.
The Italians are hitting .419 (39-for-93) and have outscored opponents 57 to 1. Alberto VARIN is the top hitter with a .667 (6-for-9) mark and seven RBI’s. Shortstop Mirko CARADONNA leads the team with 12 runs scored and is hitting .545 (6-for-11).
Italy pitchers have allowed only a single run on three hits in 20 innings for a 0.35 ERA. Young hurlers Tua LORENZO, Filippo CREPALDI, Yuri MORELLINI, and Michele MESCHINI lead a staff that has fanned 38 out of 62 hitters.
Lithuania (4-0) also possesses a potent offense and have outscored the competition 55-7. The team is hitting .379 (44-for-116) and is led by top hitter and pitcher Deividas VILBIKAS and speedster Lukas BRADAUSKIS (.500, 9R, 5 SB).
The talented youngster is hitting .563 (9-for-16) with five RBI’s and 12 runs scored. He is also 3-0 on the mound scattering four hits over 10 innings with one walk and 13 strikeouts.
Lithuania pitchers Arunas DANKOVSKIS and Lukas DEKSNYS help VILBIKAS anchor a staff with a 0.91 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
Israel (3-1) has claimed wins over San Marino, Switzerland, and Great Britain while San Marino (2-2) owns victories against Great Britain and Switzerland. Great Britain (1-3) nipped Switzerland (0-4) by one run, 8-7, for their only win.