LOS ANGELES.- Home runs are celebrated with a small shot of espresso and putting on a jacket Armani. Victories are celebrated with bottles of red wine while the powerful voice of the tenor Andrea Bocelli resonates in the locker room. Welcome to Italian-style baseball.
Discarded at 80-1 odds as a clear loser before the start of the match. World Baseball Classic, Italy stars in a fairy tale that has taken her to the semifinal of the largest national team tournament in hot ball, an instance in which on Monday she will face Venezuela in Miami.
On Saturday, the ninth revelation kept its undefeated campaign alive with a long-suffering 8-6 victory over Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals. Before he had surprised by defeating the powerful USA of Aaron Judge in the group stage.
The victory against Puerto Rico, which put Italy among the four best teams for the first time in history, was the last stop on an improbable trip for a team put together at the last minute and largely composed of American players of Italian descent.
Of the 30 baseball players called up for the tournament, 24 were born in the United States and only three are from Italy. However, this has not stopped the team from leaning heavily on its Italian heritage.
The captain Vinnie Pasquantinofirst base of the Kansas City Royals in the Major Leagueshad the idea of celebrating each home run with a shot of caffeine and installed an espresso machine in the dugout.
Following Saturday’s victory over a strong Puerto Rican team, Pasquantino said the Azzurri’s exploits in the tournament are helping to boost the popularity of a sport that remains a rarity in the European country.
“Unite people”
“Italy was able to watch our game today and it was broadcast on television there,” Pasquantino said. “We have been on the front page of the newspapers and that is what this tournament is about (…) winning the championship and being the best team in baseball, but also attracting attention and uniting people around the sport.”
“And yes, Italy doesn’t have the best development in baseball, and that’s what we’re trying to do right now. Tonight they were showing baseball in bistros and cafes in Italy. That doesn’t happen (normally).”
The manager of Italy, the Venezuelan Francisco Cervelliwho played twelve years in the Major Leagues, was only named to the position in January.
Cervelli said his team has evolved in just a few weeks since they came together before the pageant began.
“At first it was difficult. In this tournament, they only give you three days together,” the coach said. “To put the group together and build chemistry, we did a lot of things inside the clubhouse to get to know the personalities, because that is the important part in this type of tournaments.”
The first victories in the group stage against Brazil and Great Britain were followed by a great surprise before USAowner of one of the most talented baseball lineups ever assembled.
“Against Brazil it was a little awkward, and the guys didn’t know exactly what their role was,” Cervelli said. “Then Britain, and then it all started. The team started coming together.”
“A different team”
“And then we beat the United States and now they are a different team (…) They are going to miss this tournament when they return to their clubs because it has been a lot of fun,” added the manager.
Cervelli has also been made aware of the team’s impact by his family and friends in Italy.
“I get messages from all my friends, from my family there,” he said Sunday. “Imagine that in the south of Italy they don’t play that much baseball. Yesterday everyone was watching the game (…) It’s like a family reunion watching baseball, even though they don’t know or understand much.”
Those feelings are shared Andrew Fischeran infielder born 21 years ago in New Jersey who joined the Milwaukee Brewers.
Fischer, whose maternal great-great-grandfather was born in Campania, in southwestern Italy, has a tattoo of Frank Sinatra on his arm and says that playing for Italy has been an opportunity to celebrate his roots.
“Italian culture is etched in New Jersey. At home there is a lot of Italian food. I think I eat it six days a week, I love it,” he said. “So being here and representing her has definitely shed some light on her in my life.”
