The adventure of the Italian national team began in Acquacetosa in Rome on the afternoon of Wednesday 25 September WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup 2024an invitational tournament that is now in its second edition to be played from the 27th to the 29th of September in Farnham ParkBaseball Softball UK complex, just outside of London. The blue team will gather and fly to the United Kingdom on Thursday morning to confirm their latest achievements. Italy, cradle of the BxC formula, Baseball Played by the Blind created by Alfredo Meli, won the first edition of the WBSC International Cup played in Beek, Netherlands, in 2022 and is the reigning European champion after the first continental edition of the competition . in 2023.
“We started with the goal to win, to do an encore – confirmed the Italian manager Marco Corazza – The initial sensations are very positive. We have a double responsibility to confirm ourselves and win, but the three-day gatherings organized by Fibs are important to form a group, to grow, but also to show a little, even on a global level , the level reached in this game. “
Baseball played by the blind has officially entered the Paralympic world, thanks to the work of Andrea Marcon it is in all respects a Fibs discipline. «Baseball is a complex sport – Corazza continued – but I who have been following it for eighteen years can only notice that in recent years you have also seen signs of growth in our athletes. The children who approached this discipline completely entered this world and now maybe run between first and second in 10 seconds, maximum 11, which is no small achievement. The level of all teams is improving, both in batting and in attack and boring games are rarely seen, at least in Italy. Maybe we still need to grow abroad and the World Cup will also be an opportunity to talk to other national teams, show them our techniques, the way we play. This is an opportunity for growth for the movement. “
What dreams do we start with? “For sure to win, at least to reach the final. The most dangerous opponents? Let’s start with Cuba. Every now and then I get videos of how they play, I know they have changed. In the Caribbean they have baseball is in their blood, so it’s a big challenge. I’m also very curious to see Pakistan, they have two or three very interesting players, but above all I’m curious, a bit like everyone else, to see China which I have not seen at work. They tell me that England and USA have grown in short, the level will be very high.
Marco Corazza’s Azzurri make their debut on Friday 27 September at 9am and face Cuba at 2.30pm; The third qualifying match against the Netherlands is scheduled for Saturday, at 12.15pm. The semi-finals are scheduled for the afternoon and the finals on Sunday.