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Joe Mazzuca Makes Italian Olympic Baseball Team

SmokeySmokey500+ posts
Hey, another local kid livin’ the dream. If you think it’s all over… you just never know!

Joe Mazzuca, who played for the Palatine Travelers, Holy Cross (now Guerin Prep), NIU, and drafted in the 12th round by the Florida Marlins in 2003 made the Italian Olympic Baseball Roster. Joe bumped around the Marlins’ farm system until he was offered an opportunity to play Professional Baseball in Italy. It must be the vowel at the end of his name… (keep in mind, mom was born in Ireland????).

It just goes to show you that baseball can present tremendous opportunities.

Well done Joe. Congrats to you and your family!

For those Pizzons who can read… the press release below.


FARAONE HA UFFICILIZZATI LE CONVOCAZIONI PER L'EUROPEO DI BASEBALL

Il manager della nazionale di baseball Giampiero Faraone ha ufficializzato i nomi dei 24 azzurri che disputeranno a Barcellona (dal 7 al 16 settembre) il Campionato Europeo. Rispetto alla squadra che ha giocato la Italian Baseball Week escono dalla rosa Cillo, Agostinelli, Angrisano, Zileri e Lollio ed entrano Maestri e Norrito. Questi i 24 convocati.

lanciatori (11) D'Angelo e Milano (Fortitudo BO), De Santis (Grosseto), Carrara, Pezzullo e Richetti (Nettuno), Di Roma e Corradini (Parma), Patrone (Rimini), Maestri (Peoria Chiefs-A Chicago Cubs), Norrito (Jacksonville Suns-AA Los Angeles Dodgers)
ricevitori (2) Parisi (Nettuno), Ceriani (Sussex Sky Hawks-indipendente Can Am League)
interni (7) De Biase e La Fera (San Marino), Mazzuca (Godo), Dallospedale (Grosseto), Liddi (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers-A Seattle Mariners), Mazzanti (Nettuno), Santora (Rimini)
esterni (4) Buccheri (San Marino), Chapelli (Parma), Chiarini (Rimini), Avagnina (Avigliana)

Dello staff tecnico fanno parte anche i coach Mazzotti, Catanoso, Corradi, Costa e Vecchi e il preparatore atletico Natale.


“Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!” ~ Bloto (Animal House 1978)
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S soxnole1,000+ posts
This could not happen to a finer young man.

Joe was coached up by Tom Matsie as a young'n, Pat Whealy at Strikes and Bob Stevens at Guerin.

Now Dad and Mom can travel to watch Joe play in Barcelona, Amsterdam and hopefully the Orient including the Olympics in Beijing!

Smokey and I will post the European Championship results from Barcelona over the next 2 weeks. Italy should dominate and head EAST!
Last edited by soxnole
SmokeySmokey500+ posts
Below is the link to the European Olympic Qualifier Championship for those interested in following. It is my understanding that the winner of this tournament advance to the Olympic Games and that Italy has a strong chance of winning.

http://www.eurobaseball2007.com/euro07_ENG.htm


I know of other local kids that went on to play for European professional teams. One, Pat O’Connor Jr. ended up a player coach for the German team several years ago.

There is a lot of baseball going on out there.
S soxnole1,000+ posts
For the record:

Vasily Spanos (OPRF) (Indiana) (AAA A's) and Pete Rasmussen (McHenry) (Kentucky) played for the Greek Olympic team in Athens (04).

They were team mates of Joe Mazzuca (Guerin) (Creighton, NIU) on the 1993 Palatine Traveler team coached by Tom Matsie.

3 future Olympian's on one travel team!

That team went 164-18.
Last edited by soxnole
P pitchdoc24100+ posts
Got an email from Joe the other day. He said his role is going to be of a utility player and in practice games agains Cuba, Taiwan and USA, he played every infield position.

Sorry Sox...he didn't play for Bob at GCP. He's a Holy Cross guy, before Bob's time there. He did however work with our hitters a couple years back and watching him in the cage was a beautiful thing. He really simplifies the swing and makes it look effortless.

Good luck to Joe!
S soxnole1,000+ posts
Baseball in Europe is changing...for the better from a competitive standpoint....for the worse as far as the Italian's are concerned!

Italy bows out of the European Championship losing to France and Spain. This is a major shock as Italy and the Netherlands have won every title since 1968!

They will have 1 more chance to get to Beijing coming up in March/2008.

Joe Mazzuca wound up 3-8 and should carry his big stick to the tournament in March.
SmokeySmokey500+ posts
http://niuhuskies.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/091307aaa.html

Posted on NIU's Baseball website......

Former Huskie Joe Mazzuca Represents Italy At 2007 European Baseball Championships
Infielder hits .333 as Italian squad places seventh, falls short of Olympic qualification




Joe Mazzuca was a 12th round draft choice in 2003.



Sept. 13, 2007


DeKALB, Ill. - Former Northern Illinois baseball player Joe Mazzuca has been continuing his career on the world stage as an infielder for the Italian national team. Mazzuca donned the Italy uniform for the 2007 European Baseball Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Mazzuca played for NIU in 2003 and totaled a team-high 76 hits and 57 RBI before being selected in the 12th round of the MLB Amateur Draft by the Florida Marlins. During the Euro Championships, he hit .333 in five games, going 3-for-9 at the plate with two triples and one RBI.

As Italy's starting designated hitter, Mazzuca belted a RBI triple and scored a run in a 13-0 opening game victory over the Ukraine. In his next outing, Mazzuca delivered a pinch-hit single against France. In his team's victory over Great Brittan, Mazzuca went 1-3 with a triple.

Italy, who was considered one of the tournament favorites, fell short in their bid to qualify for the 2008

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