Takuma Lupo and Mattia Muscio, two budding Team Italy star pitchers who led the Azzurri to the 2026 U18 European Championship in Trieste, will be accompanied by Italian Senior Elite pitching coach Alessandro Maestri and U15 pitching coach Lorenzo Pivirotto at the Saitama Seibu Lions Fall Camp from November 1-7, 2026. Coach Pivirotto recently participated in a week-long internship with fellow coach Francesco Cavazzini at the 2010 Japanese High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien) Winner Konan High School in Naha, Okinawa. With the support of Marco Massetani, head of the Italian Consular Office in Naha, an agreement between Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball and the Saitama Seibu Lions was reached during the 2025 U18 Baseball World Cup for the talented Italian pitchers and their coaches to attend the Fall Camp in Japan.
During the 2026 U18 European Baseball Championship, Azzurri pitching prospect Takuma Lupo made two relief appearances and was the winning pitcher on record in the U18 Euro final against Germany (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, K) on July 19, 2026. He also made two starts for Team Italy in the 2024 U15 Baseball World Cup against host Colombia and the Netherlands.
Team Italy lefty Mattia Muscio earned the win in the 11-0 shutout over Israel (4 IP, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB) on July 13, 2026 and returned to start five days later in the Euro semifinal against the Netherlands (4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 9 K, 2 BB). The starter helped the Azzurri in the 2025 U18 Baseball World Cup in Okinawa, Japan, where he picked up the win against China (5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 9 K, 2 BB). The promising prospect recently returned from Arizona after being selected to represent the MLB World Select Team during the 2026 MLB College Showcase Tour and pitched against a group of Kansas City Royals future stars. Forza #Italia!
