Italy defeated the Netherlands in the final, 6-0 , to win the inaugural Blind Baseball European Championship on home soil in Bologna.
Italy dominated the opening round, outscoring the opponents 42-1. Great Britain (3-1) and the Netherlands (2-2) finished second and third. France earned fourth place over Germany thanks to the Team Quality Balance (TQB).
Italy outscored France, 10-0, in the first semifinal.
The Netherlands earned their spot in the European Championship game with a dramatic 2-1 win against Great Britain in the second semifinal.
Italy shut out the Netherlands, 6-0, in the final. Gaetano Casale played outstanding defence, while Giangiacomo Bonomo led the offence with two hits in a five-run first at-bat that provided all the runs the Azzurri needed.
Great Britain beat France, 9-0, in the bronze medal game.
Bonomo earned MVP honours. Italy celebrated two more individual awards with 17-year-old Fabio Trombini (best hitter and top prospect). Great Britain's Grant Mallabar was awarded as the outstanding defensive player.
The event was co-organized by the Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS) and the Italian Blind Baseball Association (AIBxC, a WBSC Associate Member) with the support of the Fortitudo Bologna Baseball Softball Group.
The officicial Blind Baseball European Championship WEBPAGE
