Parma leaps ahead of San Marino with a 4-2 win
With Parma coming out victorious over T&A San Marino they have not only leapfrogged into a playoff spot, but they have also caught up to Nettuno for the moment in the standings. The hottest team in the league, Parma, is now supporting a 16-8 record, winners of 10 straight and 13 of 14.
The evening began with some pregame ceremonies where the Football Club straight out of John Gresham’s book, ‘Playing for Pizza’ (Parma Panthers), was recognized in front of a large crowd for winning their fourth straight Italian Football League Super Bowl Right after the first pitch was thrown out to a loud applause it was Sanchez’s turn to keep the cheers going. The righty was absolutely brilliant on the evening, and dominated the T&A San Marino offense with ease after a rocky first inning where he gave up 2 runs on two hits and an error. Sanchez went onto throw a complete game, as he surrendered only one more hit (3 in all), throughout the rest of the contest, eventually picking up the ‘W’. Sanchez’e final line read, 9 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs (0 earned), no walks, and an impressive 14 strikeouts. As for T&A’s mound, well.. Magrane’s line was a little bit less impressive in 5 innings of work. The righty allowed 6 hits, 3 earned runs, and a walk as he suffered the loss in this one. Cooper came on in the 6th and surrendered the other 3 hits and 1 run.
On the offensive side of the ball Parma’s 9 hit attack, which was led by some decisive hitting off the bats of De Simoni (1 for 4, 1 run scored and 1 RBI), Marval (2 for 3, 1 run scored and 1 RBI), and Poma (2 for 2 with 1 run batted in). After going down two-nothing in the top of the 1st, Leoni got things going for Munoz’s club in the bottom half with a 1 out single to right. Leoni was then pushed to third when De Simoni singled to right, reaching second on the play. With Marval at the plate and runners in scoring position Magrane tried to be a little bit to fine with his pitches, which resulted in a ball to the backstop and a run scored. Later on in the at bat Marval lifted a deep fly to right, picking up the RBI on a sac fly that plated De Simoni. In the 3rd Parma tacked on another run when De Simoni grounded out to third, allowing Benetti to score Parma’s third run of the game. In the 6th it was Poma’s turn to drive in a run, and he did so with a single to center that scored Marval. The game finished 4-2 in favor of Parma.
The two clubs will conclude their two game series on Saturday when the series shifts to San Marino.
