Baseball, Italy at work in Arizona

The first gathering for Italia Baseball before the new season is in Scottsdale among World Baseball Classic players and young Italian talent

The run-up to the Taichung (Taiwan) diamond and the 2023 World Baseball Classic for the Italia Baseball roster starts from the Notre Dame Preparatory High School sports center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Part of the Azzurri’s roster at the Classic, along with some young prospects departing Wednesday, Feb. 22, will gather in Scottsdale until March 1 for a pre-season camp in anticipation of the team’s departure to the world event.

Mike Piazza organized the gathering with the dual purpose of allowing players not committed to Spring Training to work and to have some of the youngsters on the Azzurri roster, several of whom are committed at the pro or college level overseas, take the field with them.

In fact, Classic coaches Chris Denorfia, Jack Santora, Mike Borzello, Jason Simontacchi and Michele Gerali will be on the Roskos Family Field, along with Azzurri youth coordinator Gianguido Poma and pitching coach Rolando Cretis.