After the conclusion of the regular season in the Italian Baseball League this weekend, the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) has released a 28-man preliminary roster for the upcoming 2010 European Championship in Stuttgart, Heidenheim and Neuenburg. As most, if not all of the other teams too, Italy doesn’t have any current Minor Leaguers on its squad. After the Italian Baseball Week with Spain, Sweden and the Czech Republic four players will be cut.
Besides the professional players out of the US, they are also missing several key players from the IBL like Davide Dallospedale, Leonardo Zileri, Francesco Imperiali, Andrea De Santis, Fabio Betto, Fabio Milano, Luca Martignoni, Max De Biase and Mark La Macchia. With Dallospedale not making the trip to Germany, Mario Chiarini of Telemarket Rimini will serve as the new captain.
New on board in comparison to the Baseball World Cup last September are infielder Anthony Granato, who received his Italian passport right in time for the tournament, Anthony Coromato, Roberto Corradini, Justin Cicatello, Carlos Pezzullo, Carlos Richetti, Valerio Simone, Chris Di Roma, Cody Cillo, Simone Albanese, Giuseppe Mazzanti, who was injured last year, Giovanni Pantaleoni, Stefano De Simoni, Lorenzo Avagnina and Laidel Chapelli.
The coaching staff will be formed by manager Marco Mazzieri and assistant coaches Claudio Vecchi, Alberto D’Auria, Gilberto Gerali and Bill Holmberg. Additionally the assumption around European Baseball is that former Major Leaguer Mike Piazza again will serve as hitting coach, but he wasn’t confirmed yet according to Baseball.it. Italy opens the European Championship on July 23 in Stuttgart against Spain, probably already a final for the top spot in Group B.
Complete Roster Italy:
Pitchers: Justin Cicatello, Roberto Corradini, Marco Grifantini (all three Cariparma), Carlos Pezzullo, Carlos Richetti, Valerio Simone (all three Danesi Nettuno), Christopher Cooper, Yovany D’Amico, Riccardo De Santis (all three Montepaschi Grosseto), Christopher Di Roma, Sandy Patrone (both Telemarket Rimini); Tiago Da Silva (T&A San Marino), Cody Cillo (UGF Bologna).
Catchers: Simone Albanese (T&A San Marino), Juan Pablo Angrisano (UGF Bologna)
Infielders: Giuseppe Mazzanti (Danesi Nettuno), Jack Santora (Telemarket Rimini), Anthony Granato, Giovanni Pantaleoni (T&A San Marino), Juan Carlos Infante, Joseph Mazzuca, Jairo Ramos Gizzi (all three UGF Bologna)
Outfielders: Stefano De Simoni (Cariparma), Paolino Ambrosino (Danesi Nettuno), Anthony Coromato (Montepaschi Grosseto), Lorenzo Avagnina, Laidel Chapelli, Mario Chiarini (all three Telemarket Rimini)