Haarlem, Netherlands · Sunday, June 28, 2026 · Matt Tallarini, Chief Correspondent
HAARLEM, Netherlands — There are two Aldegheri brothers who pitch for Italy. The younger one, Sam, made history last summer as the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to reach the major leagues, now with the Los Angeles Angels. The older one, Mattia, spent Sunday morning reminding everyone where that bloodline started — carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning as Italy beat the International Globetrotters 3-1 at Pim Mulier Stadion to move to 2-0 at the 2026 Honkbalweek Haarlem.
The Azzurri have now won both of their games by holding the opposition to two runs or fewer. The pitching is the story, and on Sunday it wore No. 19.
Aldegheri’s Gem
Mattia Aldegheri, a right-hander who has pitched alongside his brother for Parma Clima in Italy’s Serie A, did not allow a hit through 5.1 innings, striking out eight and walking one. The Globetrotters’ first hit didn’t come until Markus Bracey doubled off reliever Federico Cherubin in the sixth, after Aldegheri had already departed. By then Italy had the lead it needed, and the bullpen — Cherubin, Juan Carlos Infante, Claudio Scotti and closer Alex Bassani — carried it home, with Bassani working around three singles in the ninth to lock down the save.
“I feel great. The team result is the most important thing for us, so I’m just happy to have it,” Aldegheri said. “I have to give a lot of credit to the defense and the catchers — it was a really good game.” He left with the no-hitter intact only because his staff was protecting him: “I was having a good game, but they took me out to save my arm for the rest of the tournament.”
How Italy Scored
Italy scratched first in the second without a ball leaving the infield in anger. Andres Antonio Annunziata Nino singled, Nathanael Batista reached on a throwing error, and Annunziata came around to score on a second Globetrotters throwing error — an unearned run charged to an otherwise sharp Roldan Ochoa. The Azzurri made it 3-0 an inning later the honest way: Robel García walked, Jhorjan Guevara and Noel Gonzalez singled to load the bases, and Renzo Martini lined a two-run single through the left side to plate both. That was the game.
“We Want to Win the Tournament”
Martini, Italy’s designated hitter and the man with the game’s biggest hit, kept his eyes on the bigger prize. “This is a big game. We want to win all these games — we want to win the tournament,” he said. “So we’re going to do our best and see what happens.” He credited a lineup stocked with international experience, and a young catcher in Annunziata who has steadied the staff all week: “These guys with this experience, it’s going to help us a lot. [Annunziata] is doing a very good job behind the plate — the pitchers have a lot of confidence in him.”
Martini, who spent time around Italy’s group at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, said that exposure carries straight onto the field in Haarlem. “Being there with all those guys was amazing — what an experience,” he said. “I took everything I could. They taught me a lot, and I try to put that into this game.”
The Globetrotters Couldn’t Cash In
The barnstormers actually out-hit Italy 6-4, but the night was a study in missed chances. They loaded the bases in the seventh and scratched out a single run on a wild pitch — Quin Cotton scoring — before stranding the bags full, and they loaded them again in the ninth only to come away empty. Ochoa deserved better in the loss, going six innings with seven strikeouts and just two earned runs, but two Globetrotters errors and Martini’s single were the margin. Nando Mostaert went 2-for-4 to pace a Globetrotters offense that fell to 1-2.
Who Are the International Globetrotters? The Barnstorming Team Crashing Honkbalweek Haarlem 2026
An Italy Worth Watching
This is a deeper Italian program than the casual fan realizes. Italy turned heads at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and its roster threads straight into affiliated ball: Sunday’s lineup included Miguel Fabrizio, once a Chicago Cubs farmhand, and the staff that has shut down Haarlem all week is stocked with arms that have signed professionally on both sides of the Atlantic. The Aldegheri brothers are simply the headline — one in the big leagues, one dealing in Haarlem — and on Sunday, the older one had the ball. For Mattia, it’s personal. “I think I’m my brother’s biggest fan. I really support him, and I’m proud of what he’s doing for our federation and for Italy,” he said. “I’m just happy for him.” And then, as always, we get right back to baseball.
Honkbalweek Haarlem 2026 — Schedule & Results
All games at Pim Mulier Stadion, Haarlem. Times listed CEST / ET. Every game streams live on Honkbalsoftbal.tv.
Friday, June 26
Netherlands 6, Globetrotters 1 — Final
Italy vs. Czechia — Postponed, moved to June 30
Saturday, June 27
Globetrotters 4, Czechia 3 — Final
Italy 2, Netherlands 0 — Final (8 inn., weather)
Sunday, June 28
Italy 3, Globetrotters 1 — Final
Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands — 15:00 / 9:00 a.m. ET
Curaçao vs. Czechia — 19:30 / 1:30 p.m. ET
Monday, June 29
Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia — 15:00 / 9:00 a.m. ET
Curaçao vs. Italy — 19:30 / 1:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, June 30
Italy vs. Czechia — 11:30 / 5:30 a.m. ET (makeup)
Globetrotters vs. Chinese Taipei — 15:00 / 9:00 a.m. ET
Netherlands vs. Curaçao — 19:30 / 1:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, July 1
Italy vs. Chinese Taipei — 11:30 / 5:30 a.m. ET
Curaçao vs. Globetrotters — 15:00 / 9:00 a.m. ET
Czechia vs. Netherlands — 19:30 / 1:30 p.m. ET
Playoff Stage · July 2–4
Thu Jul 2: #3 vs. #4 (9 a.m. ET) · #1 vs. #2 (1:30 p.m. ET)
Fri Jul 3: #5 vs. #6 (9 a.m. ET) · elimination (1:30 p.m. ET)
Sat Jul 4: Old Star Game (6 a.m. ET) · Championship (9 a.m. ET)
For more international baseball, visit worldbaseball.com.
