The race to the finish line begins now in the IBL

After Parma’s win over San Marino on Thursday, the two clubs will concluded their series on San Marino’s home turf as the home team is hoping close the gap between the two clubs in the standings by tying the series up at one apiece.

The first place Rimini Pirates will be welcoming in Ronchi dei Legionari for two, where in one game they will have to face off against Yepez, the lefty that has been causing problems for even the best of lineups in the Italian Baseball League. Rimini’s Manager, Catanoso will be countering with his two veterans on the bump, Bazardo in the afternoon game and Corradini for the evening matchup.

Nettuno will be welcoming in a Godo Knights on Saturday for two. For Nettuno, Martone is battling some soreness in his ankle so if he’s not able to go the infield will shift left, putting Sgnaolin at short. On the mound for the home club it will be Riccardo De Santis who will start game two, but a game one starter has yet to be determined. Godo will be relying on Galeotti as the game one starter and if the game is a close one it will be Ribeiro out of the pen, if not Ribeiro will go in game two.

The double header between Palfinger Reggio Emilia and Novara will be played in Piacenza on Saturday. For Reggio Emilia it looks as if they will be without Murari, so in his place Macaluso will move from right to center, and it will most likely be Bertoli filling in the gap in right. As for the rest of the lineup, everything should be business as normal. It will most likely be Bastardo in game one and Bertolini in game two. On Novara’s side, Mike Romano may be without the services of Silva in this two game series, meaning Varin should be the DH. Musumeci is also in question, if he’s out it will be either Di Maria or Vecchio. Calero will go in game one for Romano with Torres coming out of the pen in a close game. If the game doesn’t go as planed for Novara, Torres will take the ball as the starter in game two.

Finally Toshiba Enegan Grosseto will host Unipol Bologna. Grosseto is currently on a streak that they would like to break.. losers of 17 straight.  Marquez will go first for Biagioli’s club, with Ularetti out of the pen, and it will be the veteran, Peccianti, in game two. On the other side, Nanni will look to make it 19 in a row for the home team. To make sure this happens he’s going to throw the combination of Luque and Rivero in game one and D’Angelo and company in game two. The only change on the lineup card for Nanni will come in game one, as Vaglio will move from second to short due to the one game suspension to Infante. Fuzzi will fill in at second.