WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari celebrated the success of Baseball5 in Italy and commended the national baseball and softball federation for having the sport included in the nation's School Olympics during a speech as the guest of honour in the monthly dinner meeting of the Panathlon International Club in Parma, one of the baseball capitals of Italy.
After being introduced by the Club's president Artemio Carra, who shared memories of the baseball tournaments at the 1993 and 1995 Universiads and the FISU Baseball World Cups 2002 and 2006, Fraccari updated the Club's members on international baseball and softball, mentioning the importance of Baseball5 to develop diamond sports further.
The WBSC President congratulated the Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS) for having Baseball5 included in the programme of the Campionati Studenteschi, the Schools Olympics.
During the 2022-23 school year, 258 schools in Italy introduced Baseball5 among their activities, including 157 middle schools (kids in the 11-14 age range), 93 high schools (15-19) and eight comprehensive schools (both age groups).
The Festa Nazionale dello Sport Scolastico (National School Sports Festival) hosted the Baseball5 finals in Roseto degli Abruzzi from 23 to 25 May. The winners of the local tournaments in 18 Regions competed in a 50-game event. The Lagonegro and Rivello School in the Basilicata Region won the title. Botacchi (Piemonte) finished second, and Grosseto 4 (Toscana) earned third place.
Former Italian Olympic baseballer Massimo Fochi and current national team players Matteo Bocchi and Alberto Mineo, together with coach Michele Gerali, participated in the Panathlon's meeting along with WBSC Scoring Commission chair Anna Maria Paini and Medical Commission chair Gianfranco Beltrami.
At the end of the night, Carra, on behalf of Panathlon, presented to Fraccari the Angiol d'Or (Golden Angel), one of the icons of the City of Parma.
