TORONTO – Last week, October 15-20, at the University of Tampa, Florida, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) men’s champions hosted Team Italy’s ‘Club Italia LA28’ for a series of combined practices and games.
The University billed the event as “unique opportunity for aspiring athletes to showcase their skills in front of college and professional scouts”, for those of Italian ancestry hoping to play for the Italian national team at the LA Olympics in 2028. It serves as an equal opportunity for aspirants to a professional career either in North America or Italy.
Team Italia is coached by Hall of Fame catcher, Mike Piazza. He is on a methodical plan to bring the level and prestige of the sport in Italy to the international levels aficionados of baseball expect of their professional leagues in the Western Hemisphere. In 2022, their under-18 team played a series of games in the GTA in preparation for the U-18 world championships.
Alessandro Volpe was invited, at the time, a seventeen- year-old, to play with the team, for the tournament and in the run-up games. Italy beat out his native Canada. He was new to the experience but played well and has remained in the program since.
“That tournament was a great experience”, said Alessandro, “I travelled and trained with a great bunch of guys and superb Baseball trainers and coaches, in Italy, Europe and the USA. They tested and improved my skills, challenging me to contribute and excel”.
Corriere asked how this experience would improve his chances. “First, just to be invited to this baseball facility will fill any young player, like me, with the drive to do ever better. There are 38 players trying to start the process to give a positive early impression, as they aim for the 2028 Olympics.”
“Secondly, this is a ‘training week’ where we improve our skills in hitting, catching, pitching, throwing, running and game strategy. I’m all in. Then, I hope to get an opportunity to play in one of two games scheduled against the host Champions. I hope to do well and learn from watching and playing with some topflight athletes.”
Alessandro played in the second game against the Tampa Bay Spartans (NCAA Division 2 Champions). he drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run in the Italy win. Including intra-squad play, he went to the plate eight times, hit a single and a double, drove in two runs (RBIs) and walked twice. It augurs well.
In the pics, Alessandro Volpe and the “Azzurri” group (photo by Grace Pugliese)
