U-18 Czechia Women's National Softball Team eyes World Cup group stage with tune-up tournaments in Italy

The Czech U-18 Women's National Softball Team traveled to Bollate, Italy, in consecutive weeks to participate in the Coppa delle Prealpi, hosted by Serie A team Bollate 1969. Czechia split their squad, with the first group playing the Coppa delle Prealpi I on March 17 and 18; and the second group playing the Coppa delle Prealpi II on March 23 and 24.

World No. 9 Czechia is tuning up to participate in the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group A in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 23 to 27 July. They will face No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 13 Great Britain, No. 23 Brazil, No. 32 New Zealand and a team coming from the Americas Qualifier, which starts on 30 March.

Both teams finished the weekends in second place, facing senior teams from Italy and the Netherlands, and the U-18 Italian national team, which will participate in the World Cup in Group B in China.

During the first weekend, Czechia defeated Italy U-18 (6-5), Legnano (5-3) and TTT NL (10-5), losing twice against hosts Bollate 1969, 10-2 in the Opening Round and 7-5 in the final of the tournament. In the second weekend, they topped New Bollate (6-1), Sparks 1 (4-3), AB Caronno (10-9) and Bollate 1969 (4-2), losing the final against Saronno by 12-3.

The U-18 Czech team will continue their preparation playing games against the Czech Women’s Extraleague teams during the spring and will participated in the Prague Softball Week in June.