Italy national baseball team
Encyclopedia
The Italy national baseball team is the team that represents Italy
in international baseball
competition. The Italian national team is currently ranked 12th in the world.
Team Italia competed in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
in , though with a much more Americanized roster than the team ordinarily uses in international play. Of the thirty players on Italy's roster, at least 23 were born in the USA. A player is eligible to participate on a World Baseball Classic
team if:
, the Dominican Republic
& Australia
. All games during round one for Pool D were played at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports
in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
.
Italy secured an impressive 10-0 win over Australia
in its first game, invoking the mercy rule
after seven innings
. However, they dropped their next two games to Venezuela
, 6-0, and the Dominican Republic
, 8-3, and failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.
. With Canada
, the U.S.A. & Venezuela completing Pool C, it was arguably the toughest pool in the WBC.
Prior to the start of the WBC, Italy played two Spring training
games against the Washington Nationals
and New York Mets
. Italy trailed through most of the game against the Nationals until Chris Denorfia
and Michael Costanzo drove in a run apiece in the seventh inning
, and an eighth inning two run home run
by Valentino Pascucci tied the game at six. A ninth inning walk off three run home run by Roger Bernadina
capped off a late ralley in the Nats' 9-6 victory over Italy.
Against the Mets, Italy led 2-0 going into the ninth inning. Cory Sullivan
hit a two-run home run to tie the game at two, and Jeremy Reed
doubled in
Daniel Murphy to give the Mets a 3-2 victory.
Italy was again shut out by Venezuela in their first WBC game, 7-0 on March 7. Starter
Mark DiFelice
held Venezuela scoreless through the first four innings, however, Venezuela immediately took advantage of Italy's less experienced bullpen
, exploding for 4 runs in the fifth.
Against Canada
on March 9, Italy pulled off one of the more surprising upsets in the 2009 WBC, winning 6-2, and eliminating the heavily favored Canadian team. Italy led 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, until Canada jumped on starter Dan Serafini
for two runs. With the bases loaded and only one out, reliever
Chris Cooper struck out Peter Orr, then got Chris Barnwell
to fly out to center to end the threat, and keep Italy in the lead. In all, Italy's bullpen pitched six innings without giving up a run.
With this victory, Italy faced their nemeses, Venezuela, a second time. After three scoreless innings pitched by Italian starter Adam Ottavino, Venezuela again dominated Italy's bullpen, scoring four runs in the fourth, and five in the fifth to win 10-1, and eliminate Italy from the World Baseball Classic.
in Beijing
for the first time since baseball became an official Olympic sport in 1992
. Italy's best finish in an Olympics is sixth place, which they did in both 1996
& 2000
. The first time an actual baseball tournament was held at an Olympics in , Italy finished with a 1-2 record, with its only victory coming against the Dominican Republic. There was no official placing as Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
was a demonstration sport
.
At the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) meeting on July 8, , baseball and softball
were voted out of the 2012 Summer Olympics
in London
, becoming the first sports voted out of the Olympics since Polo
was eliminated from the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
's (IBAF) World Cup. Italy's best finish in a Baseball World Cup is also fourth place, which they did when they served as the host nation in . Italy also hosted the and games. The 2009 IBAF World Cup was hosted by Europe
. It is the first time in history the World Cup will has been hosted by a whole continent rather than an individual country.
their only loss in Team U.S.A.'s route to win the 2007 Baseball World Cup
in Taiwan
. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League Baseball
players and top minor league
prospects.
Both Italy and Panama
ended up with 3-4 records in the 2007 games; however, Panama
's 5.85 run ratio versus Italy's 4.73 placed them in fifth place while Italy settled for sixth.
The 2009 Baseball World Cup
took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries hosted and participant in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of twenty teams. Italy (Bollate
, Bologna
, Codogno
, Florence
, Godo
, Macerata
, Parma
, Piacenza
, Reggio Emilia
, Rimini
, San Marino
, Torino, Trieste
, Verona
and Vicenza
) and Netherlands (Rotterdam
, Haarlem
& Amsterdam
) serve as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups were as follows:
The group Italy hosts in the second round included Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles & the U.S.A.. Italy's first three match-ups against Chinese Taipei, Mexico and Australia all resulted in losses. Their first victory came against Japan on September 18. Italy lost two more to Canada and the U.S.A. before winning their final match against Netherlands Antilles. Italy finished the second round with a 2-5 record, and were eliminated.
Italy hosted the final round from September 22–27 in Grosseto
, Nettuno
, Anzio
, Matino
, Caserta
, Messina, Palermo
& Rome
, consisting of eight teams. Team USA won the gold medal game of the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Nettuno 10-5 over Cuba.
is another international baseball competition sponsored by the IBAF. Italy hosted the first ever Intercontinental Cup in , and finished in sixth place. Italy's best finish ever was fourth place, which they did in the games in Belgium
.
, Italy lost their next two to Japan and South Korea to end the round robin first phase of the tournament with a 2–5 record.
Italy came back to beat South Korea in the first game of the following round, 8-3. In the battle for fifth place, Italy lost to Australia, 3-2.
is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Europe, governed by the Confederation of European Baseball
(CEB). Italy won the inaugural European Baseball Championship
in . It is currently held every other year in odd-numbered years with a total of thirty European Baseball Championships having been played.
Italy has won nine gold medals in the European Baseball Championship, with their most recent being in 2010
. In total, Italy has won 27 medals (15 silver, 3 bronze). The only country to have fared better is the Netherlands (20 gold, 7 silver). Italy served as the host nation for the , , , , , and games.
competition. The others are Netherlands, Great Britain
, Spain, Germany, France
and Sweden.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in international baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
competition. The Italian national team is currently ranked 12th in the world.
World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
in , though with a much more Americanized roster than the team ordinarily uses in international play. Of the thirty players on Italy's roster, at least 23 were born in the USA. A player is eligible to participate on a World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
team if:
- The player is a citizen of the nation the team represents.
- The player is qualified for citizenship or to hold a passportPassportA passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
under the laws of a nation represented by a team, but has not been granted citizenship or been issued a passport, then the player may be made eligible by WBCI upon petition by the player or team. - The player is a permanent legal resident of the nation or territory the team represents.
- The player was born in the nation or territory the team represents.
- The player has one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the nation the team represents.
- The player has one parent who was born in the nation or territory the team represents.
2006
Italy competed in Pool D, which included VenezuelaVenezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic national baseball team
The Dominican Republic national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Dominican Republic.-World Baseball Classic Roster:- Dominican Republic:Manager: 17 Felipe Alou...
& Australia
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. They are ranked as the top team in Oceania, and are the Oceanian Champions, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. They...
. All games during round one for Pool D were played at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports
The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports
Champion Stadium is a 9,500 seat baseball stadium located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort. The stadium was built in 1997. It is the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves and is the home for the Rookie-league GCL Braves. The stadium has a capacity of...
in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake....
.
Italy secured an impressive 10-0 win over Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in its first game, invoking the mercy rule
Mercy rule
A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule , brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team...
after seven innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
. However, they dropped their next two games to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, 6-0, and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, 8-3, and failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.
2009
With only ten players on their roster with any major league affiliation, Italy was a heavy underdog in Pool C of the 2009 World Baseball Classic2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
. With Canada
Canada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...
, the U.S.A. & Venezuela completing Pool C, it was arguably the toughest pool in the WBC.
Prior to the start of the WBC, Italy played two Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
games against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Italy trailed through most of the game against the Nationals until Chris Denorfia
Chris Denorfia
Christopher Anthony Denorfia is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres.-Early life:...
and Michael Costanzo drove in a run apiece in the seventh inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, and an eighth inning two run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
by Valentino Pascucci tied the game at six. A ninth inning walk off three run home run by Roger Bernadina
Roger Bernadina
Rogearvin Argelo "Roger" Bernadina is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals. He was signed at age 17 as a nondrafted free agent in 2001....
capped off a late ralley in the Nats' 9-6 victory over Italy.
Against the Mets, Italy led 2-0 going into the ninth inning. Cory Sullivan
Cory Sullivan
Cory Sullivan is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.-Personal life:...
hit a two-run home run to tie the game at two, and Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Thomas Reed is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Reed graduated from Bonita High School in 1999, and went on to play college baseball at Long Beach State University...
doubled in
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
Daniel Murphy to give the Mets a 3-2 victory.
Italy was again shut out by Venezuela in their first WBC game, 7-0 on March 7. Starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Mark DiFelice
Mark DiFelice
Mark Andrew DiFelice is an American professional baseball pitcher.-Minor league career:DiFelice started his professional career as a part of the Colorado Rockies organization in 1998. He played his first season for their Class A affiliate, the Portland Rockies. In 1999, he advanced to the Class...
held Venezuela scoreless through the first four innings, however, Venezuela immediately took advantage of Italy's less experienced bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, exploding for 4 runs in the fifth.
Against Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on March 9, Italy pulled off one of the more surprising upsets in the 2009 WBC, winning 6-2, and eliminating the heavily favored Canadian team. Italy led 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, until Canada jumped on starter Dan Serafini
Dan Serafini
Daniel Joseph Serafini is a left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent and coach/owner of Throw Like a Pro Baseball Academy.-Minor league career:...
for two runs. With the bases loaded and only one out, reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Chris Cooper struck out Peter Orr, then got Chris Barnwell
Chris Barnwell
Christopher Edward Barnwell is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.-Career:...
to fly out to center to end the threat, and keep Italy in the lead. In all, Italy's bullpen pitched six innings without giving up a run.
With this victory, Italy faced their nemeses, Venezuela, a second time. After three scoreless innings pitched by Italian starter Adam Ottavino, Venezuela again dominated Italy's bullpen, scoring four runs in the fourth, and five in the fifth to win 10-1, and eliminate Italy from the World Baseball Classic.
2009 WBC Roster
Olympics
Italy failed to qualify for a team at the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the first time since baseball became an official Olympic sport in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. Italy's best finish in an Olympics is sixth place, which they did in both 1996
Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Baseball had its second appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, with games played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Eight nations competed, with the preliminary phase consisting of each team playing every other team. Playoffs were then held,...
& 2000
Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the third time an Olympic baseball tournament had been held as a full medal sport, and the ninth time it had been part of the Summer Olympic Games in any capacity. It was held in Sydney, Australia from 17 September through to the bronze and gold medal games...
. The first time an actual baseball tournament was held at an Olympics in , Italy finished with a 1-2 record, with its only victory coming against the Dominican Republic. There was no official placing as Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport. Although single exhibition games had been played in conjunction with five previous Olympics, it was the first time that the sport was officially included in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics...
was a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
.
At the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) meeting on July 8, , baseball and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
were voted out of the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, becoming the first sports voted out of the Olympics since Polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
was eliminated from the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
Amateur World Series
Italy's best finish in the Amateur World Series has been fourth place, which they did in . In , the event became known as the International Baseball FederationInternational Baseball Federation
The International Baseball Federation is the worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as overseeing, deciding and executing the policy of the bat-and-ball sport of baseball at the international level...
's (IBAF) World Cup. Italy's best finish in a Baseball World Cup is also fourth place, which they did when they served as the host nation in . Italy also hosted the and games. The 2009 IBAF World Cup was hosted by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is the first time in history the World Cup will has been hosted by a whole continent rather than an individual country.
2007 IBAF World Cup
On November 9, , Italy handed the U.S.A. teamUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
their only loss in Team U.S.A.'s route to win the 2007 Baseball World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players and top minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
prospects.
Both Italy and Panama
Panama national baseball team
The Panama national baseball team is the national team of Panama. They are currently the 16th ranked baseball team in the world.- Roster :PitchersManuel Acosta,Albenis Castillo,Bienvenido Cedeno,Bruce Chen,Manuel Corpas,Jorge Cortez,...
ended up with 3-4 records in the 2007 games; however, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
's 5.85 run ratio versus Italy's 4.73 placed them in fifth place while Italy settled for sixth.
2009
2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries hosted and participant in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of twenty teams. Italy (Bollate
Bollate
Bollate is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 10 km northwest of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 37,556 and an area of 15.9 km²....
, Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Codogno
Codogno
Codogno is a town and comune in the province of Lodi, Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on June 26, 1955....
, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Godo
Godo
Godo may refer to:*Several places in Boulkiemdé Province, Burkina Faso:** Godo, Nanoro** Godo, Pella*Gōdo, Gifu, a town in Japan...
, Macerata
Macerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
, Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
, Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
, Torino, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
and Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
) and Netherlands (Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
& Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) serve as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups were as follows:
- Group A (hosted by the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
in PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
): Czech RepublicCzech Republic national baseball teamThe Czech Republic national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Czech Republic. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.-2009 IBAF World Cup:...
, Australia, Chinese Taipei & MexicoMexico national baseball teamThe Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal... - Group B (hosted by SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
): SpainSpain national baseball teamThe Spain national baseball team is the national team of Spain. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation. It is a member nation of the Confédération Européenne de Baseball, or Confederation of European Baseball....
, CubaCuba national baseball teamThe Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
, Puerto RicoPuerto Rico national baseball teamThe Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
& South AfricaSouth Africa national baseball teamThe South African national baseball team is a baseball team which represents the Republic of South Africa in international baseball competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and formerly the Summer Olympics.-All-Africa Games:... - Group C (hosted by SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
): SwedenSweden national baseball teamThe Sweden national baseball team is the national baseball team of Sweden. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.- Placings :Baseball World Cup* 1994: 15th* 2005: 16th* 2009 : 19thEuropean Baseball Championship...
, Canada, KoreaKorea national baseball teamThe Korea national baseball team , nicknamed "Blue Bogy ", is the national baseball team of the Republic of Korea . It has participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, it won the gold medal in a final victory against Cuba...
& Netherlands AntillesNetherlands AntillesThe Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint... - Group D (hosted by RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
): RussiaRussia national baseball teamThe Russia national baseball team is the national baseball team of Russia. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.-Placings:Baseball World Cup : 16th : 13th : 14thIntercontinental Cup : 9th...
, FranceFrance national baseball teamThe French National Baseball team represents the French Federation of Baseball and Softball in international competitions, such as the European Baseball Championship or the World Cup of Baseball.-History:...
/Great BritainGreat Britain national baseball teamThe Great Britain national baseball team is the national baseball team of Great Britain. It is governed by the British Baseball Federation, which is a member nation of the Confederation of European Baseball.-History:...
, JapanJapan national baseball teamThe Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
& NicaraguaNicaragua national baseball teamThe Nicaragua national baseball team is the national baseball team of Nicaragua. Considered the best in Central America along with Panama It represents Nicaragua in international tournaments.- Placings :Olympic Games* 1992 : did not qualify... - Group E (hosted by GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in RegensburgRegensburgRegensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
): GermanyGermany national baseball teamThe Germany national baseball team is the national baseball team for Germany. They are a contender for the European Baseball Championship and have competed in the Baseball World Cup.-Placings:Baseball World Cup* 1972 : 16th* 1973 : 11th* 2007 : 14th...
, ChinaChina national baseball teamThe China national baseball team is the national representative team of the People's Republic of China.-Olympic Games:China secured qualification to the 2008 Summer Olympics automatically as host nation, giving the country its first Olympics berth....
, U.S.A. & Venezuela
The group Italy hosts in the second round included Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles & the U.S.A.. Italy's first three match-ups against Chinese Taipei, Mexico and Australia all resulted in losses. Their first victory came against Japan on September 18. Italy lost two more to Canada and the U.S.A. before winning their final match against Netherlands Antilles. Italy finished the second round with a 2-5 record, and were eliminated.
Italy hosted the final round from September 22–27 in Grosseto
Grosseto
Grosseto is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies 14 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain, on the Ombrone river....
, Nettuno
Nettuno
Nettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...
, Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
, Matino
Matino
Matino is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
, Caserta
Caserta
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
, Messina, Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
& Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, consisting of eight teams. Team USA won the gold medal game of the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Nettuno 10-5 over Cuba.
Intercontinental Cup
The Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (baseball)
The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999....
is another international baseball competition sponsored by the IBAF. Italy hosted the first ever Intercontinental Cup in , and finished in sixth place. Italy's best finish ever was fourth place, which they did in the games in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
2006
In the most recent tournament, held in Taichung, Taiwan November 9–19, , Italy finished sixth. They secured an impressive 13–3 victory over Chinese Taipei in their first game of the tournament, however, they lost their next three match-ups to Netherlands, Cuba and Australia (13 innings). After coming back with a victory against the PhilippinesPhilippines national baseball team
The national baseball team of the Philippines represents the country and competes in international matches and tournaments. It is organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association....
, Italy lost their next two to Japan and South Korea to end the round robin first phase of the tournament with a 2–5 record.
Italy came back to beat South Korea in the first game of the following round, 8-3. In the battle for fifth place, Italy lost to Australia, 3-2.
European Baseball Championship
The European Baseball ChampionshipEuropean Baseball Championship
The European Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Europe, governed by the Confederation of European Baseball . Italy won the inaugural European Baseball Championship in , and the competition has since been dominated by the Italian team and the...
is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Europe, governed by the Confederation of European Baseball
Confederation of European Baseball
The Confederation of European Baseball , is the governing body of baseball within Europe. The CEB was founded in 1953 with 5 members, which were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. As of today, there are 38 members, excluding Armenia...
(CEB). Italy won the inaugural European Baseball Championship
1954 European Baseball Championship
The 1954 European Baseball Championship was won by Italy with Spain finishing as runner-up.-Standings:-References:*'...
in . It is currently held every other year in odd-numbered years with a total of thirty European Baseball Championships having been played.
Italy has won nine gold medals in the European Baseball Championship, with their most recent being in 2010
2010 European Baseball Championship
The 2010 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball competition being held in Germany from July 23 to August 1, 2010. Originally the tournament was set to be held in 2009 with Russia as host. As of March 2008 the Confederation of European Baseball awarded the German Baseball and...
. In total, Italy has won 27 medals (15 silver, 3 bronze). The only country to have fared better is the Netherlands (20 gold, 7 silver). Italy served as the host nation for the , , , , , and games.
2009 European Baseball Championship
Italy is one of seven teams to already be qualified for the 2009 European Baseball Championship from the 20072007 European Baseball Championship
The 2007 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament held from September 7 to 16, between national baseball teams of the Confederation of European Baseball. The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain and served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Summer Olympic...
competition. The others are Netherlands, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Spain, Germany, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Sweden.