Italy announce 17-player roster for training camp ahead of Women's Softball World Cup Finals
Italian Women's Softball National Team manager Federico Pizzolini announced a 17-player roster for the training camp ahead of the XVII WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals, which Italy will host in Castions di Strada, near Udine, from 15 to 20 July.
PITCHERS (5) Laura Bigatton, Ilaria Cacciamani, Alexia Lacatena, Alice Nicolini, Christina Toniolo
CATCHERS (3) Elisa Cecchetti, Marta Gasparotto, Erika Piancastelli
INFIELDERS (6) McKenzie Barbara, Andrea Filler, Giulia Longhi, Felicia Di Pancrazio, Alessandra Rotondo, Melany Sheldon
OUTFIELDERS (3) Isabella Dayton, Noemi Giacometti, Laura Vigna
Pizzolini's staff will include coaches Giulio Brusa, Marta Gambella, Nancy Evans and special advisor Mike Candrea, who, at 68, is a Hall of Fame coach who led the University of Arizona to eight Women's College World Series, the US National Team to Olympic gold in 2004 Athens and the Women's Softball World Cups in 2002 and 2006.
World No. 6 Italy will open camp on June 24 in Udine and play a series of warm-up games against the University of Arizona starting July 2.
Pizzolini will announced the World Cup's final roster on July 9.
Italy will compete in Group A of the Women's Softball World Cup Finals, facing No. 1 and defending World Champions USA, No. 5 Canada, and No. 17 China.
The Azzurre will debut at 20:30 (local time) on Monday, July 15, against China.
Group B will include No. 2 Puerto Rico, No. 3 Japan, No 8 Netherlands and No. 10 Australia.
After the group stage, the top two finishers of each group will advance to the Super Round. After the Super Round, the number one and two teams will play for the World Title, while the third and fourth-place teams will play for bronze.
