CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA – July 2025 – The Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) continued its mission of growing the game globally and strengthening ties to Italy with a highly successful baseball development trip across the country recently.
Over four days, IABF hosted a series of clinics and events at the Francisco Cervelli-IABF Academy, as well as in Parma and Bologna. It drew more than 100 players from across Italy, including standout participants from the Cervelli-IABF Academy, Junior Parma, and Bologna programs. The trip also featured the first-ever IABF Coaches Clinic in Castiglione della Pescaia.
IABF officials on the trip included President and co-founder Joe Quagliano, Vice President and co-founder Carmine Gangone, and Executive Trustee and Head of Communications Chris R. Vaccaro. The delegation worked closely with an impressive group of clinicians led by Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, University of Tampa head baseball coach Joe Urso, former MLB players Sam Militello (Tampa assistant) and Keith Osik (Steel Sports), Jeff Caglianone (Jac’s dad, who is also a coach at Plant High School in Florida), and Russ Bruno (University of Tampa supporter and alum) bringing decades of professional experience to the Italian fields.
FIBS National Program Director Gibo Gerali was instrumental in coordinating the Parma and Bologna legs of the clinics. Deb Scalabrelli, who leads operations for the Cervelli-IABF Academy, coordinated the first part of the journey in Castiglione della Pescaia. These operational leaders have become trusted partners of IABF.
The visit featured a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cervelli-IABF Academy, attended by IABF leadership, academy officials, and Elena Nappi, Mayor of Castiglione della Pescaia. In recognition of IABF’s commitment to growing the sport in Italy, Marco Mazzieri, President of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS), presented the organization with a supporter/service recognition award.
“This trip reinforced our belief in the power of baseball as a cultural bridge,” said Quagliano. “We are proud to support the development of players and coaches across Italy.”
Founded to strengthen the connection between Italian Americans and their heritage through baseball, IABF has long partnered with FIBS on initiatives to grow the sport in Italy. The nonprofit organization oversees college scholarship programs for Italian and Italian American student-athletes, spearheads Italian heritage games across MLB and MiLB, and supports international player development programs.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has praised IABF’s global impact, saying that no one in the world is doing what IABF is when it comes to heritage- and culture-based global baseball development through nonprofit work.
Several Italian baseball legends, including Alberto “Toro” Rinaldi, Vic Luciani, Claudio Di Raffaele, and Sal Varriale, were on hand to support the clinics and share their experiences with the next generation of Italian players.
With the 2026 World Baseball Classic on the horizon, IABF is already working closely with FIBS on future projects to elevate Italian baseball on the world stage.
-Words and Photos By Chris R. Vaccaro
Chris R. Vaccaro is an executive trustee of the Italian American Baseball Foundation and Press Officer of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball. He is based in New York.
