An evenly matched IBL after two weeks of play

When the first pitch of the 2014 addition of the IBL was thrown out on the 4^th of April there went many that would have predicted the results that have taken place over the last two weeks of play. A team in both Division A and B have taken their opponents by surprise, as Padova (Division A) took a game from both the defending IBL Champs, San Marino and the 2013 European Champs, Bologna, while in Division B Nettuno split in their first weekend with Rimini, and swept their cross town rival, Nettuno2, in order to take over sole possession of 1^st place in the division.

First taking a look at what took place in Division B over the weekend, beginning with the series of the cross town rivals, Nettuno vs. Nettuno2. The duo of Lorenzo and Rodriguez on the bump on Friday evening absolutely dominated the bats of Nettuno2, as the two accumulated a total of 21 K’s in the extra inning affair (10 innings). The final in this one was 1-0. On Saturday evening it was once again Nettuno that picked up the win by the final of 7-3, thus sweeping the two game set and the historical first ever series between these clubs out of Nettuno.  Elsewhere in the division, Parma and Rimini faced off in a home away two game set in which both clubs walked away with a win. On Friday evening in Parma it was Rimini that picked up the fairly easy 7-0 ‘W’ thanks to three long balls off the bat of Zileri, Chiarini, and Salazar. Picking up the win for the Pirates in this one was Michael Ekstrom (5.1 innings pitched, 4 hits, 0 runs, 8 K’s), while on the other side of the ball Yomel Riveria wasn’t able to hang in his 5 innings of work on the bump. In game two in Rimini, it was Parma that turned the tables on the home team, taking the game by the final of 5 to 4. The heroes for Lino’s Coffee Parma in this one included the duo of Sanchez (win) and Yepez (save) on the mound, and the bat of Stefano Desimone who knocked in what turned out to be the winning runs with a double down the left field line in the 7^th. As for Rimini, it looks like the absence of their normal right handed sinkerball starter, Coradini, will be vastly felt over the next couple of weeks as he recuperates from a shoulder injury. This upcoming weekend Parma will head down to the hostile grounds of Nettuno in hopes of keeping pace in the standings, while Rimini will play host to Nettuno2 with a keen eye on a sweep.

Over in Division A its been Padova who has been opening eyes of the two giants in the division after they picked up a win against San Marino in week 1 and Bologna in week 2. In game one of their two game set against Bologna, Padova used a little strategy matching their Italian arms against Bolonga’s foreigners, even then Padova held their own, dropping the game by the final of 1 to 0 (Joey Williamson – win, Raul Rivero – save). In game two when the series shifted to Padova, it was the home teams turn to throw out their best with the trio of Ronald Uviedo (win), Enrico Crepaldi, and Nibaldo Acosta, who matched up against Panerati (loss), De Santis, and Fillippo Crepaldi. When the dust settled Padova had the final laugh thanks to a big 5 run 4^th, taking the game by the final of 5 to 2. The other matchup in the division featured that of the Godo Knights and T&A San Marino. On Friday evening in Godo, San Marino may have underestimated the Knights. It was Godo that got out to a quick lead in this one scoring one in the 1^st, and one in the 3^rd off of Valerio Simone. San Marino bounced back to pull within a single run in the 4^th, but Godo got that right back in the 5^th with a run of their own on a wild pitch committed by Giovanni D’Amico. In the 6^th T&A once again pulled to within a run, but that would be as close as they would get off of the duo of Calero (win – 4 innings pitched, 1 run) and Ribeiro (save – 1 inning pitched, 0 runs). On Saturday evening in game two of the two game set, San Marino was able to bounce right back, possibly making a statement with their 12-2 (8 inning) victory. Although San Marino’s starter, Junior Guerra, did suffer a few control problems, surrendering 8 walks in 5.2 innings pitched, he did record 11 K’s in his outing before handing the ball over to Cubilan (2.1 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts). Beginning this Friday all eyes will be on the San Marino – Bologna matchup, while Padova will be in search of a possible series sweep over Godo.