The Italian Softball League will be back in action this Saturday and Sunday a week after league play was just about completely paralyzed due to bad weather up and down the Italian peninsula. Getting things started in Division A will be the 4 game series (two games on Saturday and two on Sunday) that will take place in Ronchi del Legionari between the Stars of Staranzano and the Banco di Sardegna Nuoro. If Nuoro wants to try to climb back in the 2014 race, they’re going to have to do it this weekend, and their going to have to do it against the arms of Mikayla Endicotti and Teresa Cernecca. Saturday’s games will take place at 17:00 and 30 minutes after the conclusion of game 1. Sunday’s games will get underway at 9:30 am and 30 minutes following the conclusion of game 1.
Next up in Division A is the series between Bollate and Legnano. Bollate looks to be the favorite in this one, as they currently support a 6 and 3 record in comparison to Legnano’s 3 and 5. This matchup is always a good one and it’s a safe bet to say that Legnano is playing with something to prove, especially after dropping the first two games of 2014 to Bollate by the final of 7 to 1 in both games. Game one is scheduled for 18:00 while game two will take place at 20:30.
The last games to take place in the division will feature the likes of La Loggia and the Rheavendors Caronno. All signs point to this series as possibly being the best matchup of the weekend. When these two clubs faced off back at the beginning of April it was the Rheavendors that took game one against the now 1st place Rhibo La Loggia club by the final of one to nothing. In game two back on April the 5th La Loggia was able to bounce right back for the six to two victory. Lets wait to see what happens when the Rheavendors have to now visits Rhibo La Loggia’s home ballpark. Game one is set for 18:00 and game tow for 20:30.
In Division B the weekend will feature the top three clubs (Bussolengo, Forlí, and Collecchio) against the bottom three (Unione Fermana, Old Parma Taurus, and Caserta). To get things going on Saturday afternoon it will be the first place Bussolengo club that will be welcoming in Dino Bigioni Unione Fermana for two games. Bussolengo is the heavy favorite in this one, as they will put their perfect record to the test once again, however against a softball club that has yet to win a single game in 2014. Game one is on the schedule to take place at 18:00 and game two at 20:30.
Next up in Division B will be Fiorini Forlí against Taurus Parma. This series will take place in Forlí where the home team will look to keep pace with Bussolengo for that two spot in the division. Currently Forlí is sitting at a 6 and 2 record, 2 games back of Bussolengo and two games up on Collecchio. On the other side of the field Parma has just one win on the season, that coming back in week 3 against Collecchio. Game one will begin at 18:00 and game two at 20:30.
Lastly in Division B, it will be Labadini Collecchio who will match up with Caserta for two games in Collecchio. When these two clubs met back in the first week of the season it was Collecchio that took both games one and two on the road. With this said don’t look for Caserta to enter into Saturday’s game as a soft club looking to just role over. While on the other side of the ball Collecchio will have to take both games if they want to better their chances of becoming a playoff team just a year removed from finishing last in the division. Game one will be getting started at 18:00 and game two at 20:30.
