The Italian Federation announced that the ‘Azzurri’ will play six preparation games against teams of the Dominican Professional Winter League.
The Wbsc article.
The Italian Baseball and Softball Federation announced that the Baseball National Team will prepare for the WBSC Premier 2027 Barcelona Qualifier presented by RAXUS at the New York Mets Performance Centre and Development Facility in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.
The Italian delegation will travel to the Dominican Republic on Sunday, 20 September and train from 21 to 25 September.
From 26 September, the Azzurri will face teams of the Dominican Professional Winter League (LIDOM) for six warm-up games. Italy will face Estrellas Orientales on 26 September, Toros del Este on 29 September, Escogido Leones on 30 September, Licey Tigres on 1 October, again Toros del Este on 2 October and close the preparation games on 3 October, facing Escogido Leones for the second time.
“We wanted the team to face high-level competition,” commented FIBS President Marco Mazzieri. “I want to thank the LIDOM leadership for giving us this opportunity.”
Manager Francisco Cervelli selected a 28-player roster.
PITCHERS (13): Luca Di Raffaele, Ettore Giulianelli, Angelo Palumbo, Marco Artitzu (San Marino); Claudio Scotti, Matteo Bocchi (Parma Clima); Alex Bassani, Filippo Crepaldi (Unipol Bologna); Gennaro Coviello. Mattia Sireus (BSC Grosseto); Giacomo Taschin (Dunedin, Class A Toronto Blue Jays), Gabriele Quattrini, Javier Fandino (Hotsand Macerata).
CATCHERS (4): Alberto Mineo (Parma Clima), Giaconino Lasaracina (Dunedin, Class A Toronto Blue Jays), Ernesto Liberatore (Unipol Bologna), Miguel Fabrizio (Hotsand Macerata);
INFIELDERS (4): Gabriele Angioi (Parma Clima), Ricardo Paolini, Lorenzo Morresi (Hotsand Macerata), Renzo Martini (San Marino);
OUTFIELDERS (4): Jhorjan Guevara (San Marino), Federico Celli (Unipol Bologna), Noel Gonzalez (Parma Clima), Nathanael Batista (Nettuno 1945);
UTILITY PLAYERS (3): Robel Garcia (Parma Clima), Williams Wong (San Marino) e Andrea Sellaroli (BSC Grosseto).
Parma players will join the team after the BCL Europe Final Four, which will take place from 26 to 27 September in Brno, Czechia
Cervelli’s staff will include bench coach Allard Baird, pitching coach Alessandro Maestri, and assistant coaches Michele Gerali, Tomas Bison, Alberto D’Auria and Erik Epifano.
The WBSC Premier12 2027 Barcelona Qualifier presented by RAXUS will take place from 9 to 11 October and start the qualification journey for the expanded 16-team WBSC Premier12 2027 presented by RAXUS.
World No. 26 Spain will welcome No. 13 Colombia, No. 14 Italy and No. 17 Germany for a four-team round-robin tournament, with each team playing three games. The top two finishers will secure their place in the WBSC Premier12 2027.
The second qualifier will take place from 26 to 28 November in Zhongshan, China.
Cover photo: Florian Robert – FIBS
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