WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup 2024: Defending champions Italy looking for consecutive wins
"Italy will participate to win," said manager Mauro Corazza ahead of departing for London for the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup 2024, which takes place this weekend in the England capital from 27-29 September.
"I've been involved for the last 18 years," added Corazza. "I want to stress the improvement we have registered. We have blind players who can run home to first in 10 seconds."
Italy are the defending European champions and won the inaugural WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup in 2022 in the Netherlands ahead of Great Britain and USA.
"Many teams have improved," said Corazza, who earlier this year replaced Fabio Azzaro at the helm of the Italian squad. "I believe our strongest opponent will be Cuba. I can't wait to see Pakistan and China on the field, and I'm told the United States and Great Britain have really improved. I anticipate a high-profile tournament."
The late Alfredo Meli, a former Italian Baseball National Team player, developed the Blind Baseball format, which has blossomed in Italy and is now used internationally.
The Italian roster will feature players from the domestic Blind Baseball League (LIBCI).
Giuseppe Allegretta (Lampi Milano), Gaetano Casale (Ciechi Sportivi Varesini), Saliou Diane (Leonessa Brescia), Giorgio Napoli (Bologna BxC), Danny Oliveri (Ciechi Sportivi Varesini), Driss Sahli (Bologna BxC), Giovanni Santamaria (UniMessina), Giuseppe Tocco (Thurpos Cagliari), Ambra Trefolello, Fabio Trombini (Ciechi Sportivi Varesini).
Corazza's staff includes Ilaria Di Giulio, Francesco Volo, Lauro Lanzarini and Emilia Ammirato.
The WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup 2024 is an eight-team tournament with the Netherlands also returning from the inaugural edition.
Great Britain, Hungary, Pakistan and the United States will compete in Group A.
Group B includes Cuba, China, Italy and the Netherlands.
The opening games on Friday, 27 September, will feature Italy and China at 09:00 (local time) on Field 1, while Hungary will take on the USA on Field 2 at the same time.
The first two days of competition will see the participants complete the Opening Round before the semifinals take place on Saturday. The second-ranked team in Group B will play the top-ranked team in Group A, while the other semifinal will feature the second-ranked team in Group A against the top-ranked team in Group B.
Following the semifinals, the tournament will conclude on Sunday with the bronze medal game at 09:00, the gold medal game at 11:30 and a closing ceremony.