Clash on Mount Titano
The big matchup of the week in Division A of the Italian Baseball League is that between T&A San Marino and Unipol Bologna. The two game set will kick off on Friday evening in San Marino in a rematch the 2013 Semifinals. At the moment Bologna has the upper hand in the standing, currently sitting with a 3-1 record over the first two weeks of play, while the defending IBL Champs have dropped a game in each of their first two weekends of play (2-2) with both losses coming in the Italian game. The series will get underway on Friday in San Marino at 8:30 pm before moving to Bologna on Saturday (8:30 pm). On Bologna’s side, manager Marco Nanni, still has to decide what two arms he’s going to be sending to the mound to start the game, although in the foreign game it should be the 2 and 0 Williamson. As for T&A, Jr. Guerra will get the nod from Bindi in the foreign game, while the Italian game is still up the air. San Marino may have to do without their regular shortstop, Bittar, for a second straight week due to back issues, while at the same time Pantaleoni is still battle an issue with a ligament in his toe.
Elsewhere in Division A, Padova will be taking the Godo Knights in a two game set with an eye on the sweep. Both clubs look to be evenly matched, however Padova (2-2) has shown a little more thus far in this young season, taking a game against both San Marino and Bologna. Godo also is coming off of an interesting weekend where they stole game one of their series just a week ago against San Marino. On Friday evening in Padova Galeotti will get the nod, however just as a week ago look for both Calero and Ribeiro to be ready to go out of the pen in a close game. Otherwise the two Venezuelans will go on Saturday evening when the series shifts to Godo. On Padova’s side it will be Uviedo who gets the start in the foreigner game while the combo of Faccini and Medina will go in the Italian game. Friday’s game is scheduled for 8:30 pm in Padova, and Saturday’s game for 8:30 pm in Godo.
In Division B the big matchup of the week will take place down south in Nettuno, featuring Nettuno and the visiting Parma. Nettuno is entering into the weekend with a 3 and 1 record in the division, a mark that is currently leading the rest of the pack by a full game in the standings. Parma on the other hand is currently sitting at 2 and 2 after going through Nettuno2 in the first week and Rimini in week 2. Going into the weekend Parma looks to be at full strength almost everywhere on the field except for the absence of Sebastiano Poma. Going for Parma in the foreign game will be the combo of Sanchez and Yepez, while in the Italian game it will be the southpaw, Yomel Rivera, who will be getting the nod. On Nettuno’s side it will be Lorenzo and Yuri Morellini who will be taking the ball in games one and two. Both games will be played down in Nettuno on Friday and Saturday evening at 8:30 pm.
Finally in Division B Rimini will be welcoming in Nettuno2 for a two game set on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 pm. New to the roster this week for Rimini will be the right-handed veteran, Franklyn Torres. Torres will be expected to fill in the gap left off by the absence of Corradini (out with a shoulder issue). As for the rest of the roster it will Cit who gets the start behind the plate in one of the two games in place of Bertagon, while the two starters that have been named by manager Catanoso will be Patrone in the Italian game and Ekstroem in the foreigner game. On the other side of the diamond, Nettuno2 will be introducing to the roster for the first time this year Ronnie Fuhrong who should be inserted into the lineup right off the bat, most likely in the outfield. In the Italian game for Nettuno2 it will be Andrea Pizziconi on the bump, while in the foreign game it will be Gonzalez.
Program, Standings, and Stats
