In preparation for this July's World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Women’s Softball European Championship in Sant Boi, Spain, world No. 7 Italy has started a two-week camp in western United States under head coach Federico Pizzolini and special advisor Mike Candrea.
Training will begin at the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson until the team departs for the Palm Springs area on 23 February.
Pizzolini said: "This is a starting point for a new course. Despite the presence of some of our more seasoned players, the group is very young and comprises many athletes who are part of the U-22 and U-18 squads. Our task will be to evaluate their work, but also to focus on what the girls of these two national teams can contribute to the women's senior squad. This is the goal we have set for ourselves."
Italy's roster includes the following 17 players:
- Laura Bigatton (P/OF)
- Ilaria Cacciamani (P/OF)
- Elisa Cecchetti (C)
- Irene Costa (OF)
- Sofia Fabbian (OF)
- Amanda Fama (IF)
- Andrea Filler (IF)
- Agnese Giacometti (C/IF)
- Noemi Giacometti (C)
- Giulia Longhi (IF)
- Fabrizia Marrone (OF)
- Alessia Melegari (P)
- Alice Nicolini (P)
- Carlotta Salis (P)
- Melany Sheldon (IF)
- Elena Slawitz (IF)
- Silvia Torre (C/IF)
The roster includes six members of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team, and four veterans from the squad that finished 11th place in the 2019 U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup in Irvine, California.
