| Chris Caravella's Virtual
Tour of Ustica
Baseball Field |
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Baseball is bigtime sports in Ustica and the women's softball team won the series A2 championship game while I was there. It was a tense game that was scoreless into the last inning. Clelia Ailara, Vito's daughter, scored the winning point on a steal to home when the catcher for the other team lost control of the ball for the second time. The team and crowd of about 200 (that's 1/5 of the population) erupted in joy. The victory appeared in the Sicilian newpaper the next day - and I was there! Congratulations to the team and their coach, Franco Lauricella. Clelia will also play on the Italian team at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia next summer. What a great honor for Ustica! Franco Lauricella extends an invitation to anyone of Usticesi descent who wishes to play on either the men's or women's teams. What an offer - spend a year travelling around Italy playing on a world class baseball team. You'll be treated like royalty and have the adventure of a lifetime. |
Ustica is up to bat. At a tense moment everyone flocks to the fence. Seating is a single stone ledge along a stone wall. |
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Nicola Longo and Vito Ailara enjoying the game. Both men have daughters on the team. |
| Ustica is victorious! The team crowds together in joy and the field is rushed. |  |
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