Batter up!

The Italian National Baseball team recently bested the defending champions, Netherlands, at the European Baseball Champions, clinching the 2010 title. About 3,300 spectators in Stuttgart, Germany, witnessed Italy’s 8-4 victory against the Dutch team, which was competing for its sixth title in the American sport. The top four placed teams, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Greece, all qualified for the 2011 World Cup following the 10-day tournament. Members of the Italian team also swept up numerous individual awards: most runs batted in, Jairo Ramos Gizzi; most home runs, Giuseppe Mazzanti; most stolen bases, Jiminez Chapelli; and most valuable player, Guiseppe Mazzanti.