Unipol Bologna still undefeated, Rimini, Godo and Nettuno sweep

Unipol Bologna takes both games in their series with Palifnger Reggio Emilia, keeping their perfect record in tact. In the afternoon game the visiting team (Bologna) just barely came out on top in a 3-2 victory. Bologna took the lead in the 1st by scoreing two run off of the starting pitcher, Bastardo. Reggio Emilia came back with one run in the 3rd on a two out double by Macaluso that pushed Bertoli across the plate. The game stayed 2 to 1 until the 7th when with two out D’Amico laced a triple to left center and then two batters later scored on a single by Ermini. Palfinger made it interesting in the bottom of then ninth when they had the tying run on third with one out, however they were unable to score. The game ended on a spectacular game saving diving catch by Ermini in leftfield.

In the nightcap of the double dip Unipol Bologna walked away with an easy 10-0 victory. The 1st place Unipol capitalized on 14 hits 6 walks and two errors. Their offence was led by a 4 for 5 performance from Liverziani, along with a notable performances by Vaglio (2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s) and Fuzzi (2 for 5). Reggio Emilia had their chances to stay in the game however the home team wasn’t able to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. D’Angelo picked up the win for Bologna, the right-hander threw 5 scoreless innings, giving up a total of 4 hits, striking out 3 and walking only one.

The Godo Knights just may have turned around their season on Saturday after sweeping the two game series from Toshiba Enegan Grosseto. Godo went into Grosseto with only one win on the season, sitting in second to last place with a 1 and 7 mark. Disappointing for a team that was expected to content for a playoff spot.

Game one on Saturday afternoon turned out to be a good one. The game went back and forth as both teams exchanged blows in the run column. Both starters (Ularetti and Del Bianco) didn’t go very deep in their outings, as they were both chased from the game in the 4th after giving up a combined 13 runs. After Del Bianco departure from the game Godo was able to utilize their new weapon (Yulman Ribeiro) on the mound for the first time. Ribeiro picked up the win, as he was able to hold the home team to 0 runs in 4.2 innings of work. The final score in the contest was 8 to 7, Bucchi picked up the save for Godo.

A combined 26 hits by Grosseto and Godo produced a final in the box score of 10-8 in favor of the Knights. It’s safe to say that the pitching in this series was not in top form. Godo scored one in the first, one in the second, and then fell behind 3-2 in the fourth when Grosseto pushed 2 runs across on 3 hits. The Knights tied the game in the sixth and then took the lead for good in seventh. Casalini picked up the win in this one. He threw the last four innings, however it was not picnic for the lefty. Casalini gave up 5 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, while walking 4 and striking out 5. The win improves Godo’s record to 3 and 7 on the season.

A winless Novara team was given the tough task of picking up a check in the win column against a very strong San Marino club. Calero started for Novara with Magrane taking the ball for San Marino. Both starters only lasted 4.2 innings each giving up two run in the 5th. Coming on in relief for San Marino was the lefty, Chris Cooper, while it was Franklin Torres for Novara. Cooper lasted on 2.1 innings giving up 3 unearned runs in bottom of the sixth. Torres on the other hand threw the rest of the game as he picked up his and his clubs first win of the 2013 IBL season. The final score in this mega upset was 5-3 in favor of Novara.

T&A San Marino came back to win in the night game of the doubleheader on Saturday, but it wasn’t easy. The game ended 6-5 as Novara made it really interesting in the bottom of the 9th when they scored 4 runs off of D’Amico to pull within one and making the game really interesting. Novara smashed two long balls in the in the last frame, a three run shot by Medoro, and a solo shot by Molina. With two outs and a runner on third D’Amico was able to get Suardi to fly out to right field, ending the scare for San Marino. On the season San Marino sits in 3rd with a 9 and 3 record, while Novara is in last with 1 win and 11 losses.

Parma’s struggles continued on Saturday against Rimini where they lost for the seventh straight time by a score of 5 to 3. Parma held the lead twice in the game, once after scoring in the second of and then again after scoring two in the third off of Rimini’s new pitcher, Bazardo (ex Big Leaguer). Nevertheless the 9 hit attack by Rimini that was led by Zileri, Santora, Romero, and Castro came out on top in this one when they took the lead in the three run 5th that chased Parma’s starter, Yomel Rivera, from the game. The final score in this one was 5-3. Rimini moves into second place by themselves at 10 and 2 while Parma drops to 3 and 7.

On Sunday Nettuno made their way up north to take on The New Black Panthers of Ronchi dei Legionari. On the shoulders of a solid start by Andrea Pizziconi, Nettuno easily walked away with a 6-2 victory. Nettuno scored two in the first, one in the third and fourth, and then two again in the seventh… all off of 14 hits, 3 walks and 2 errors committed by the defense. Pizziconi threw 7 strong innings for Nettuno in game one, giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks (0 runs). The New Black Panthers got on the board with 2 in the bottom of the 9th, however it was to little to late for the home team. Harrisonwas 2 for 3 with a homerun for Nettuno, while Fondin also had a nice game, going 3 for 4.

The second game between Nettuno and Ronchi on Sunday evening turned out to be a no contest win for the “Nettunese” (11-2). Nettuno ran away with the game in the 6th inning when they scored 5 runs off of Polo, and Miceu. Nettuno racked up a total of 17 hits in the game with Fondin capping off a good day going 3 for 6 in the box. Sgnaolin picked up 4 RBI’s for Nettuno, 2 coming off of a two run homer in the 9th. De Santis earned the victory in the game, throwing 5 strong innings for Nettuno, and for the first time this season Romero was human on the mound as he gave up the only 2 runs that The New Black Panthers were able to come up with on the evening. With the win Nettuno moves into a third place tie with San Marino.