Czech Republic – Italy 0-3
ITA 010 110 000 3 7 0 CZE 000 000 000 0 3 1
Defending champion Italy is returning to the Gold Medal Game. With one game left on the schedule in the second round, the Squadra Azzurri clinched the final with a 3-0 shutout over the Czech Republic on Friday evening in Haarlem. A solo homerun by Tyler La Torre, a RBI double by Juan Carlos Infante and a RBI groundout by Lorenzo Avagnina provided the necessary run support for a strong pitching staff. Luca Panerati was absolutely lights out in the first seven innings, allowing just one single and facing just the minimum of 21 batters. Yovani D’Amico and Marco Grifantini closed out the three-hitter. Marek Cervenka gave up five hits, three runs and four walks in four-plus innings to take the loss.