The 2026 World Baseball Classic was the biggest version of the tournament in its 20 year history. 

It was also the furthest Team Italy ever went as participants. They had rising stars in the lineup and veteran presence on the mound. Aaron Nola was the de facto ace of the Azzurri, and with him, Italy made it to the semifinal round in Miami for the first time.

“This place here was electric,” Nola said. “Definitely one of the top loudest places I’ve ever been in.” 

Italy was in a group in Houston with Great Britain, Brazil, Mexico and the U.S.A. Only two can make it out of the group and into the quarterfinals. 

Beating the British and Brazilians was expected, and they did so handily. Beating the American All-Stars was seen as the tournament’s biggest upset. 

And that was all before Nola stepped on the mound. Italian manager Francisco Cervelli saved Nola for the final game of group play expecting a do-or-die situation. 

Nola pitched in Houston before when his Philadelphia Phillies faced the Astros in the 2022 World Series, so he was familiar with the mound and the field dimensions. 

It was supposed to be an exhibition game in March before the start of the regular season, but in fact, it was much more than that. 

“It was a playoff game,” Nola said. ”Every pitch matters.”

Italy, a team that only made it to the second round twice, not only won their pool, but dominated. The Azzurri won all four games with a combined margin of 32-11.

“Winning pool play, it was great, especially seeing the Italian guys,” Nola said. “It was almost like the feeling of us getting to the World Series as a Phillies team. They were so happy.”

As a member of the Phillies, Nola spent many of his 12-year career pitching against the Miami Marlins in what has usually been a cavernous ballpark with more of his fans than locals. The semifinal matchup between Italy and the eventual champion, Venezuela, turned out to be the most packed and energetic crowd he has ever seen at loanDepot park. 

“I pitched a lot of games in this ballpark and it never even comes close to the amount of people here than there was in the semifinals,” Nola said, “or how loud it was. It was a different feeling to see on the mound and seeing the whole stadium crowded and how loud it was.”