GAA Rounders Alpen Cup – “Casetta Rossoblu Trophy” 2017

It was a beautiful day with blue skies and a warm autumn sun for the first GAA Rounders Alpen Cup – “Casetta Rossoblu Trophy” played in Rovigo, Italy on a baseball field on October 14th . It was the first time ever that a rounders tournament was played in an international context outside of Ireland. Once again Ascaro Rovigo, a pioneer of Gaelic sports in Italy, in collaboration with the Rovigo Baseball & Softball clubs, pulled off a successful event which garnered quite a bit of media attention.

The first GAA Rounders Alpen Cup proved to be a real success in all aspects. The triangular tournament was played in a “Mixed” formula over 5 innings, with all games being back and forth affairs as was predicted. At the end of the day, Ascaro Rovigo GAA were able to raise the “Casetta Rossoblu” Trophy and the 2 litres of a “GAA Rounders edition” Forst beer created especially for the historic occasion by the famous Lagundo Brewery.

Ascaro Rovigo GAA won the first GAA Rounders Alpen Cup in history but the real winner of the tournament was the spirit shown by all the participants during an unforgettable day. The fun, passion and curiosity to try a new sporting discipline rooted in the history and tradition of Ireland, all combined to make the event in Rovigo into a success.

During the extraordinary dinner organized by Casetta Rossoblu, one could feel the friendly atmosphere and friendship that had arisen among all the players in the tournament. During the awards ceremony, in addition to the trophy raised by Ascaro Rovigo, we saw a special plaque presented to the six ladies players from the Zurich Inneoin GAA club by the Panathlon Club International in Rovigo.

Irishman Barry Guckian, the brains behind the tournament, was also awarded with one of the three “Forst beer special edition” ceramic pots offered by Casetta Rossoblù to the best player in each team. Mirko Monti (Ascaro Rovigo GAA) and Francesco Callegari (Baseball Softball Rovigo) were the other recipients.

You can see pictures from the event here & here.

ROVIGO BSC                          2     1     0     3     4          Tot. 10

ASCARO ROVIGO GAA         0     2     1     4     4          Tot. 11

ZURICH INNEOIN GAA        0     2     5     0     2          Tot.   9

ROVIGO BSC                         0    10     1     0     1          Tot. 12