After the completion of the Italian Baseball Week in Nettuno, defending champion Italy announced its 24-man roster for the upcoming European Championship. 23 of the 24 players were on the plane from Rome-Fiumicino to Amsterdam on Wednesday. Chris Colabello is coming straight from the United States, where he finished the season with the New Britain Rock Cats.
The coaching staff in the Netherlands will be led by manager Marco Mazzieri and includes pitching coach Bill Holmberg, hitting coach Mike Piazza (will join the team in Holland), third base coach Alberto D’Auria and first base coach Claudio Vecchi. The Italian team includes 20 players from the Italian Baseball League and four from abroad. Besides Colabello also Anthony Granato, Mariotti and Latorre are on the roster and not playing in Italy.
24-Man Roster Italy:
Pitchers: Mariotti (Quebec Capitales-CanAm League); Grifantini, Cicatello (Parma); Panerati, D’Angelo, Pugliese e Cillo (Fortitudo BO); Da Silva, Cooper (San Marino); Richetti, D’Amico (Nettuno).
Catchers: Latorre (Fresno-AAA San Francisco Giants); Reginato (San Marino).
Infielders: Colabello (New Britain-AA Minnesota Twins); Vaglio, Infante (Fortitudo BO); Santora (Rimini); Pantaleoni (San Marino); Granato
Outfielders: Avagnina (San Marino); De Simoni (Parma); Ambrosino (Nettuno); Chiarini (Rimini); Ermini (Fortitudo BO)