The Italian team won the title in the first European Softball Championship Under 22, thanks to an 8-1 victory in the final on Saturday against Russia. Eight teams participated in the tournament, which took place in Torino, Italy from Monday July 28th to August 2nd.
Italy decided the outcome in the final in inning three, when they broke a 1-1 tie through Andrea Montanari’s two-run homerun for a 3-1 lead. They added five more runs in the next two frames to seal the 8-1 win. Montanari homered twice, scored three times and drove in three runs. Lara Buila also hit a homerun for the host of the event. Marina Slyunchenko had evened the score for Russia in the top of the third with a RBI triple.
Greta Cecchetti picked up her third win during the week, allowing seven hits and a run in four innings. Vera Cherenkova was charged with seven runs (4 ER) on eight hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief to take the loss.
Box scores, stats and all results on official tournament website.
Final Standings:
- Italy
- Russia
- Spain
- Czech Republic
- Ukraine
- France
- Greece
- Croatia