Nettuno, full steam ahead
After 6 weeks of play in the Italian Baseball League the standings are standings are beginning to solidify.
Unipol Bologna remains undefeated at 12-0, Rimini right behind them at 10-2 followed by Nettuno and T&A San Marino who are both at 9-3. Then there lays a gap before the standings tighten up again at the bottom… a gap of 4 games to be exact. Currently Reggio Emilia is leading the bottom portion of the standings with 10 games played, 4 wins and 6 losses. Right behind them you’ll find Parma and The Godo Knights at a 3 and 7 mark, followed by Grosseto (3-9), Ronchi (2-8), while at the bottom of the pile lays a 1 and 11 Novara club who just picked up their first win of the season this past weekend at home against a tough San Marino club. Now, if after Reggio, Parma, Godo, and Ronchi go at it in their make-up games with no movement upwards by any of the clubs it may be safe to say that there will be a 2012 repeat of the four playoff teams.
Nettuno once again is the talk of the league as they continue to open the eyes of their competition wider and wider. After their two convincing wins this past weekend against The New Black Panthers, Nettuno has moved into a tie in the standings with the 2012 IBL Champs, San Marino. They are actually also only three games off the pace and will be taking on the team that they are chasing for that 1st place spot, Bologna, this upcoming weekend at home. Bagialemani asks a lot out of his club and he’s been getting it. The team is lead by a group hardnosed Italians with a never give up attitude and topped off with three solid foreigners, Fondin, Harrison, and Romero. This weekends games will sure be something to keep an eye on, as Nettuno hopes to be able to pick up some more ground on their home turf.
Speaking of Bologna, this past weekend they marched right into Reggio Emilia and took two games from a
previously .500 club. Game one was a little tricking for Unipol, as they had to hang on for the win in the last inning when Reggio was only 90 feet away from tying the game with one out. Game two turned out to be a blow out with a final score of 10-0. Bologna remains undefeated on the season and the team that everyone is looking to knock off the pedestal.
Moving on now to Rimini, they also had a very successful weekend where they took two games from a still struggling Parma squad. The Pirates lineup has just been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball. Combined as a team they have racked up 82 RBI’s in 6 weeks of play (12 games), not a number that makes opposing pitchers feel very comfortable. The team’s lineup is lead by Santora who is currently hitting .511 on the season, as he is an astounding 23 for 45. Lets also not forget about some other big names that are producing in Rimini’s lineup, names like Romero (.455), Zileri (.378), and Castro (.370). When this club gets it going on the mound, they’re going to be fun to watch, but not to play against.
What about the small little hiccup (or was it a big one) that San Marino had against Novara in their game one loss on Saturday afternoon? The 2012 IBL Champs became the first club to fall to Novara on the season 
(previously 0-10). They did however win the second game, but not after a 9th inning scare with Leo D’Amico on the hill, as the right-hander gave up 4 in an inning of work.
Down in Tuscany, Godo may have finally hit their stride when they took two games from Grosseto on the road. Game one was won 7-8 while game two was taken by a final of 10-8. Mastiff Grosseto may have stumbled with their lineup choices, while Godo liked what they saw from their newest acquisition, Yulman Ribeiro (winning pitcher, 4.2 innings of work, 3 hits, no runs).
Palfinger Reggio Emilia has a tough week ahead of them this upcoming weekend as they are going to have to face the .322 team batting average of Rimini. If they want to have any chance in staying in this thing they’re going to have to try to steal at least one from the second place Pirates at home.
