Italy warm up for WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup with Palomino U-18 tournament triumph

The U-15 Italian Softball National Team defeated the Pirhanas Beroun (Czech Republic), 10-4, in the final of the U-18 Palomino Pony League tournament in Stuttgart, Germany. Sabrina Bottazzi earned the tournament's Best Pitcher award.

Head coach Maristella Perizzolo participated in an U-18 event with U-15 players to test the possibility of the Azzurre to compete at the next level.

Italy will host the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup 2025 in Caronno Pertusella and Legnano from June 27 to July 5.

World No. 7 Italy will compete in Group A and face No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 9 Mexico, No. 13 Spain and No. 64 American Samoa.

Group B includes No. 1 USA, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Canada, No. 8 Czechia, No. 10 Australia and No. 39 Singapore.

Italy finished in eighth place in the inaugural WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup in 2023.

Born in 1970, Maristella Perizzolo played until the 2006 season. Her highlight was the Serie A 1995 season with Bussolengo. She was also among the Torino Master players who won the World Masters Games 2013.

She started coaching at the youth level and became the head coach of the Piemonte regional selection in 2014. In 2015, Perizzolo was among the founders of the Jack Torino club. In 2016, she became Saronno's head coach in the Italian Softball League. She led her club to the Cadets' National Championship in 2016, earning Softball Coach of the Year honours.