Latest News Mariners form Relationship with Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Professional League December 3, 1999 Seattle Mariners Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Roger Jongewaard announced that the team has reached a friendship agreement with the Fortitudo Bologna Baseball Club of the Italian Professional League. Stefano Michelini, President of Fortitudo Bologna, and two other members of the Fortitudo front office were guests of the Mariners at SAFECO Field during the team's final homestand.  The two-year partnership includes Fortitudo coaches and players being invited to Seattle Mariners spring training and Instructional League. The Mariners will also provide coaching assistance for Fortitudo in Italy and have access to the Fortitudo Bologna facilities for clinics and tryout camps. In addition, the Mariners logo will be displayed on the Fortitudo Bologna team uniforms. Bologna is in the center of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, where six of the 10 teams in the Italian Professional League play. Fortitudo Bologna was founded in 1953 and has won six National Championships and two European Cups. The Fortitudo Bologna roster contains five members of next year's Italian Olympic squad. The baseball club also maintains a youth program, which supports two Little League teams, two 15-and Under teams and one 18-and Under team. Mauro Mazzotti, the Mariners European Associate Scout, will be responsible for coordinating the relationship between the two organizations. Mazzotti is credited with signing three Italian players for the Mariners, including current minor league infielder Mario Chiarini. For more information, visit the Fortitudo Baseball homepage at fortitudobaseball.tripod.com.

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