1. Rimini 2. Bologna 3. Nettuno 4. San Marino… 4.5 Parma
Four week have now come and gone since the halfway point in the 2013 IBL season, and finally the league is beginning to separate. The top six clubs in Italy are currently all sitting at an over .500 winning percentage (Rimini .807, Bologna, .769, Nettuno .692, San Marino .653, Parma .640, and Reggio Emilia .520), while the bottom four are well under the .500 mark (Ronchi .307, Novara .280, Godo .192 and Grosseto .120).
Over the weekend Rimini had absolutely no problems with Ronchi dei Legionari, taking both games at home and not allowing Ronchi to cross the plate a single time. In fact, the four pitchers that took the mound allowed only a combined 4 hits in two games. Next it was Unipol Bologna who brought back two victories from Grosseto as they were able to keep pace the first place Pirates and hand the home team their 18th and 19th consecutive losses. Now onto Nettuno where Bagialemani’s club was happy to return home for the first time in a couple of weeks, as they were able to get back on track by taking two games from Godo, and third place outright in the standings (1 game up on San Marino and 1.5 up on Parma). Before moving onto the only series split over the weekend (Parma and San Marino) there is one more sweep to speak about, Palfinger Reggio Emilia over Novara that was played out on a neutral field (Piacenza). With an above par Bastardo on the mound in game 1, and a gutsy performance by a young Bertolini, Reggio Emilia was able to climb over the .500 mark for the first time this season, a mark that they would be keen on keeping pace with as the 2013 campaign comes to a conclusion.
The only series that ended in a split over the weekend was that between Parma and T&A San Marino. The split has a few implication involved in it. 1. Parma still remains a half game back of T&A San Marino, and the last playoff spot for the 2013 IBL postseason. 2. Nettuno was able to pick up a game on both clubs, moving them into third all by themselves, one game up on T&A and a game and a half on Parma.
In game one of this series, which took place on Thursday evening in Parma, San Marino ran into a brilliant Josè Sanchez who racked up 14 strikeouts while tossing a complete game and earning the 4-2 victory. Then came game two.. which was played on Sunday afternoon in San Marino. The game featured Da Silva (the Italian National Team ace) and a young Rivera for Parma. On paper you would have to say that game was a mismatch, however it was any but. 1 run was the difference in this one, a run that came with one out in the bottom of the 6th when Duran tripled home Ramos, giving San Marino the 1-0 lead. Munoz’s club did make it interesting in the top of the 9th, when Da Silva (8 ip, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 bb, 9 so) was relived by Martignoni. With one out and runners on the corners, Scalera hit one the Pantaleoni at third who went home with the ball to get De Simoni at the plate. A batter later Martignoni was able to secure the victory and pick up the save when Giannetti flied out to right, stranding runs on 1st and 2nd.
Over the next couple of weeks both these clubs will have their work cut out for them. Parma will go head to head against three more clubs with more wins then losses, Bologna, Rimini, and Reggio Emilia. As for San Marino, they’ll have to finish their regular season schedule off against Bologna then Rimini. Lets not forget about Nettuno (with a game lead over San Marino and a game and a half up on Parma) and their two series with Bologna and Rimini.
Stay tuned…
