18U BWC: Italy gets a late rally to keep European supremacy

05/09/2013

The running European Champions scored 4 runs in the eighth to win the 11th-12th position game against Czech Republic

DOU-LIOU STADIUM. Italy defeated Czech Republic 4-0 and academically kept its leadership in Europe, after the European Championship gold medal they won back in July, in the 11th-12thposition final at the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup on Thursday morning.

It was a beautiful pitcher’s game until the eighth, when the Italians went on the scoreboard against reliever Ercoli, after Satoria had shut them up for six innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and strucking out 6.

A throwing error to third committed by Ercoli itself allowed the Azzurri to score the first two runs, then Valera (2 for 4) hit it long out of the left-field fences to set the score to 4-0.

Matteo Bocchi got the win for Italy delivering a complete 9-inning game, with 5 hits, 2 base on balls and 4 strikeouts), while Garbella went 3 for 4.

The Czechs had a 2 for 4, 1 steal performance from Vohanka.