The IBL back in action for the third week of interleague play

In this the third week of Interleague play and the sixth week of the season in the Italian Baseball League some teams are finding themselves in a make it or break it situation. Going into Friday’s games normally it would be safe to say that San Marino is the favorite over Nettuno2, Parma shouldn’t have any problems with Godo, and Rimini should march into Padova like they owned the place, however this isn’t the fact or state of mind of any one of these three ball clubs. T&A San Marino does support a better record then Nettuno2, but it’s only by a single game in the wins column. Parma should be safely in a playoff spot at the moment, but instead find themselves 2 games under the .500 mark. Finally Rimini should be in command of Division B just as Bologna has run away with Division A, but they only find them selves at a 5 and 4 mark, and only a game and a half up on a team that could potentially knock them out of the second round.

On Friday and Saturday Tommasin Padova will play host to the Pirates of Rimini. Both clubs at the moment are fighting to move on to the second round of this year’s two tear formula. At the moment Rimini is sitting at 5 and 4, and a half game back of the league leaders, Nettuno. On the other side of the diamond Padova has been a pleasant surprise to many with a 5 and 5 mark and in a tie for second place in Division A with Godo. Going into the weekend Rimini should be at full strength, as they welcome back Roberto Corradini to the bump. Corradini will see limited action this week, but his presence alone should lend a helping hand. On Padova’s side of the ball, De Lazzari is in doubt, but the club should be deep enough with the likes of Uviedo, Acosta, Faccini, Medina and Crepaldi on the hill. All of these arms have so far give problems to the rest of the league, and there is no reason why they wouldn’t do so once again over the course of Friday and Saturday evenings.

In Godo the Knight will be welcoming in Parma for two on Friday and Saturday evenings. Parma may have caught in break heading into the weekend with the southpaw Calero out with a muscular problem for Godo.  On Friday evening Galeotti will take the ball for Godo, but it is not sure who he will be facing off against on the other side of the diamond.. José Sanchez or Yomel Rivera. This is a must win series for both of these clubs, with the results possibly having lasting effects on the rest of their 2014 campaigns.

Nettuno2 will once again have to play on the road, but as the home team due to field issues in Rome. This week the newcomer to the IBL will be heading to San Marino for two where they will hope to build upon their success of last weekend against Godo in Godo. Starting on the hill for Nettuno2 this weekend will be Gonzalez and Andrea Pizziconi. Moving from the two-bag to the outfield will be Fuhrong, while filling his spot in at second should be Andrea Sellaroli. On the other side of the diamond, T&A San Marino desperately needs to pick up their first series sweep of the season in order to climb back in the race. They are a team full of talent, but a team that is currently missing some key pieces to their roster, including their shortstop Bittar, their solid utility infielder Pantaleoni, and their southpaw would be starter Chris Cooper. This evening Valerio Simone will get the call, while tomorrow night Junior Guerra will head to the hill in hopes of finishing off a much needed two game sweep. Some changes to San Marino’s lineup could be seen tonight, with Morreale at first, Reginato behind the dish, Avagnina in left and Macaluso in right.

Down in Nettuno the two division leaders will take the field against each other, but with the situation looking to be more in the hands of the visiting Fortitudo Bologna ball club who currently holds a 4 game advantage over the rest of the pack in Division A. Absent from Nettuno’s lineup this weekend will be Mirco Caradonna who is out due to a shoulder issue. On the hill for Nettuno will be Lorenzo in game one while in game two the ball will most likely be handed to Morellini. On Bologna’s side both Williamson and Panerati will once again be given the vote of confidence to lead their team to victory and a spot in the second phase of this years league.