Bologna’s in, who’s next?
Division play back in action in the Italian Baseball League..
In Division A, T&A San Marino and Padova will faceoff in a huge Friday-Saturday, home-away two game set. Currently San Marino sits two games up on Padova with only six to play. Elsewhere in the division, it looks to be the last chance that Godo has to get back into the race as they travel to Bologna to take on the 1st place UnipolSai.
What looks to be the most important matchup of the weekend will kick off tonight in San Marino when T&A welcomes in Padova for the beginning of a two game set, before concluding tomorrow evening in Padova, both games are scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm. Currently in Division A, T&A San Marino holds a two game advantage over Tommasini Padova with only six games left to play in the first round of this year’s IBL schedule. Tonight look for Junior Guerra to head to the hill which means that Avagnina will be at 1st, Reginato in right, Albanese behind the plate, and Macaluso in left, while tomorrow evening in Padova it will be Valerio Simone on the bump for T&A, Morreale at first, Avagnina in left, Macaluso in right, and Regginato behind the dish. On the other side of the ball Tommasini Padova looks to have a few injury issues with Massimillano Sartori and Giovanni Faccini expected to miss the series. Backing up Sartori at short will either be Epifano or Moccia. On the hill in the foreigner game it will once again be duo of Uvideo and Acosta, while in the Italian game a decision has yet to be made between Crepaldi and Medina.
The other matchup set to take place in Division A will feature that of Fortitudo Bologna and the Godo Knights. Bologna has already assured themselves a spot in the second round of this year’s league, while the Godo Knights on the other hand will be fighting for their lives, as they currently sit three games back of San Marino for that second and final spot in the division. New to Bologna’s roster this weekend will be pitcher, Salomon Martinez. Martinez will be expected to bolster their mound when they head into round two at the end of June. Getting the ball in the foreigner game will once again be Williamson while it will be Panerati in the Italian game. On Godo’s side look for them to send Galeotti to the bump in game one, and Ribeiro in game two.
In Division B, Lino’s Coffee Parma may be getting the upper hand by not having to make the bus trip down south when they take on Nettuno2 in a two game set. Two wins and Parma will be sitting pretty going into their last two series of the first round. With only six games to go Nettuno has to turn things around ASAP, but the road doesn’t look that easy, as they will have to go up against the Rimini Pirates, the good thing is that they are one of the teams that they are chasing.
Thanks to field problems down south, Lino’s Coffee Parma may have the upper hand heading into their two game set with Nettuno2. Parma gets to play at home, in front of their home crowd but as the visiting team when they take on Nettuno2, a team that has struggled in this their first year in the IBL. Going for Parma in the foreigner game will once again be Sanchez, while in the Italian game it looks as if it will be Giovanelli after his brilliant shutout performance a week ago against Padova. As for their lineup look for Marval to take care of the catching duties, Sambucci to man first, Scalera short, Tagliavini or Benetti at third, and Fanfoni or Imperiali at second. As for the outfield it is still uncertain which of many will get the start. On Nettuno2’s side look for Gonzalez to go in game one and Pizziconi in game two, with Richetti scheduled to be the first out of the pen depending on games outcome.
Finally in Division B, Nettuno will be welcoming in Rimini for a two game set down south. With two wins Nettuno will be able to climb back in the race, with two losses their hopes of the second round will just about fade away completely. On the other side of the ball, Rimini may find themselves in higher hopes of round two, however they still have problems of their own, which includes their Italian mound. Going for Nettuno in their foreigner game will be Josè Lorenzo, while in the Italian game look for Yuri Morellini to get the call. On Rimini’s side it will once again be the very solid Mike Ekstrom in the Foreigner game, while in the Italian game it looks as if the ball will be handed to Sandy Patrone, with Roberto Corradini ready out of the pen whenever needed.
