Chicago's promising star, Sam Antonacci, secures Italy a remarkable triumph in the 2026 Women's Baseball World Cup!

Antonacci is playing the biggest game of his young career today. A win over favored Puerto Rico will put him and Team Italy into a truly bigger game in the semifinals. “Just to go out here with these guys, it means more than you can think,” Antonacci told reporters after hitting a home run in Italy’s shocking 8-6 upset of Team USA in Pool B play earlier this week.

"We all have the same mindset. We don’t need all the bells and whistles. We’re a gritty group, I would say and we just love playing baseball.

“I think that showed tonight, just doing the little things right. We’re looking to win, we’re here to play and we’re just here for the love of the game. ” HOUSTON: Sam Antonacci of Team Italy gets down and dirty to score a run against Team Great Britain during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 8, 2026.

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Getty Images Italy advanced to the quarterfinals by mashing Mexico, 9-1. Antonacci’s heads-up play without touching the ball in the field got rave reviews. Mexico’s Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox hit a fly ball to left-center field with Joey Ortiz of the Milwaukee Brewers on first base.