The Italian National Softball Team today earned a place in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, defeating Great Britain,5-0, in the Final of the Softball Qualifier Event Europe/Africa for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. It will be the third time that Italy will participate and represent Europe in an Olympic softball event, the pinnacle of the sport.
Italy defeated Great Britain 5-0 in the final game of the WBSC Softball Europe Africa Olympic Qualifier held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and got the ticket for Tokyo 2020. Italian pitcher Greta Cecchetti was outstanding, throwing a shutout game in 99 pitches with 13 strikes out and only 2 hits allowed. Emily Carosone and Erika Piancastelli got a pair of hits. Italy was the third team to join the Olympic Games, with the already qualified Japan and USA.
The Netherlands ended the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa with a win against the Czech Republic, 7-0 in 5 innings. Maxime van Dalen got two hits, including a double, while Britt Vonk hit a pair of RBI’s.
In the rematch of the last European Championships Final, Italy defeated the Netherlands 7-4 and remained unbeaten at the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa held in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The host team took an early 4-1 lead, but Italy bounced back thanks to three homers hit by Emily Carosone, Erika Piancastelli and Giulia Longhi. Ilaria Cacciamani got the win, while Ginger de Weert took the loss. Tomorrow, Italy will face Great Britain in the last game of the Qualifier in a winners take all game.
Great Britain remained undefeated at the Softball Qualifier Europe Africa thanks to the victory against Czech Republic, 4-2. In this way, the British team stayed at the top of the Super Round with a 2-0 record, while the Czech one is out of the Olympic Qualifier with no wins in two games. Georgina Corrick went the distance again, pitching a complete game, and got the win. Veronica Peckova suffered the loss.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today announced the Super Round schedule for the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The field has been cut in half, with four nations remaining in the hunt for one historic ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Great Britain upset the Netherlands 5-2 and ended the Opening Round at the top of Group A in the Softball Qualifier Europe Africa. Georgina Warrick went the distance, throwing a 112 pitches complete game, while Rebecca Someru took the loss. On Friday, Great Britain will face Czech Republic, while the Netherlands will take on Italy in the first day of the Super Round.
Czech Republic clinched today the second place in Group B and advanced to the Super Round of the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa at Sportpark Paperclip in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The Czech team defeated Botswana by a score of 12-0 and finished the Opening Round with a 2-1 record. From the circle, Katelyn Humhej and Martina Blahova combined to pitch a four-innings no-hitter.
Thanks to a brilliant performance from the circle by Ane Barandiaran, Spain defeated South Africa 5-0 and ended the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa with a win. Spain scored 3 times in the fourth and added two more points in the sixth.
Italy got the third win of the Softball Qualifier Europe/Africa against France, 5-1, and ended the First Round at the top of the Group B. Italy scored 4 times in the fourth and added one more point in the seventh. Ilaria Cacciamani took the win, Charline Gartner the loss.
