U15 European Championship 2019: Dutch run aground in semi-final

For the third time this year, an Italian opponent was too strong for the Netherlands. Earlier this year, Fortitudo Bologna beat Amsterdam Pirates in the ECC’s final. Two weeks ago, Italy beat the Dutch in the U12 European Championship final. Today, the Italian U15 team proved to be too strong for the Dutch in the semi-final. Four errors cost the Dutch dearly as they fell to the Azzuri 5-3.

After the Dutch took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a single up the middle by Justin Dambruck, Italy turned the tables in the fourth inning. Thanks to two throwing errors the Italians scored three runs to take the lead.

In the fifth inning, Darnel Collins drove in the game-tying run on a single through the right side. But in the top of the sixth, Italy took the lead again. A throwing error allowed Tommaso Adorni to reach base and thanks to two groundouts and a wild pitch, he could score the go-ahead run.

In the seventh inning, Italy scored its fifth unearned run of the game. Alessandro Ercolani singled through the right side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Another throwing error allowed Cristian Laghi to get on base and Ercolani to score Italy’s fifth run.

Tomaso Adorni retired the side in the seventh for the save. The win went to Alessandro Ercolani, who pitched six innings in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks as the struck out seven. Ercolani was also the best hitter for the Italians as he went 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

The loss went to Stijn van der Schaaf as he gave up the unearned go-ahead run to the Italians in the sixth inning. For the Dutch Darnel Collins was the best hitter as he went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.