Italy Triumphs Over Great Britain to Claim Women’s Softball European Championship Title
Italy has reclaimed the Women’s Softball European Championship title after a dominant performance in Utrecht, Netherlands. Going undefeated across nine games, the Italian team outscored their opponents 58-6, hitting 12 home runs along the way. In the final, Italy secured a 4-0 victory over Great Britain, with Alice Nicolini delivering a stellar three-hit shutout to win the 2024 championship, marking their 13th European gold medal and ending a three-year title drought.
Nicolini was the standout in the final, pitching seven innings, striking out two batters, and allowing just three hits and one walk. She finished the tournament with a remarkable 0.49 ERA. Italy’s head coach, Federico Pizzolini, praised his team’s flawless performance, highlighting Nicolini’s unexpected complete game. “Alice was outstanding,” Pizzolini said. “We had our pitching rotation ready, but it wasn’t needed. Our performance throughout the tournament was superb.”
Leading Italy’s offensive charge was lead-off hitter Isabella Dayton, who was named “Player of the Tournament.” Dayton posted an impressive .520 batting average, stole eight bases, scored 13 runs, and hit two home runs.
Team captain Giulia Longhi, who represented Italy at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, expressed pride in her team’s performance. “We have shown everything we are capable of on the field, both offensively and defensively,” Longhi said. “If we continue to play like this, there’s no one to fear.” This win marks Longhi’s third European title, but her first as captain. “It’s a great honor to lead such talented players,” she added.
The defending champions and tournament hosts, the Netherlands, finished in third place after beating Czechia 8-2 in the bronze medal game. Despite their efforts, the Dutch team fell short in the Super Round with back-to-back losses to Italy and Great Britain, eliminating them from the final.
A total of 22 teams participated in the tournament, showcasing top-level competition throughout the event. Italy’s victory reaffirms their status as a European softball powerhouse.
