Poderi Dal Nespoli Forlì wins 2021 Italian Softball Series title

Poderi Dal Nespoli Forlì wins 2021 Italian Softball Series title
09/10/2021
Poderi Dal Nespoli Forlì won its fifth Italian Softball Series title in history on October 9, 2021 after sweeping MKF Bollate in game three by a score of 6-2. The winner of the European Premiere Cup in August, Forlì completed the double with the addition of the Italian Softball Series championship title. MVP accolades went out to Forlì's Miriana Cerioni, but not before honoring home plate umpire Gianluca Magnani in his last official game before retirement.

Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli is the 2021 softball champion of Europe and Italy after winning the European Premiere Cup on August 21, 2021 and the Italian Softball Series on October 9, 2021. Victorious in games one and two last Saturday against MKF Bollate, Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli nailed the coffin shut in the Italian Softball Series with the 6-2 win in game three.

Winning pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani threw a complete game and allowed one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks. MKF Bollate starting pitcher Greta Cecchetti tried her best to keep her team in the game despite a troubled day on defense. She gave up three earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 3.2 innings of work. Reliever Laura Bigatton pitched 2.1 innings and surrendered just one run on one hit with two walks.

MFK Bollate scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Elisa Cecchetti singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Giorgia Fumagalli. Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli answered in the bottom of the fourth inning with five runs. Beatrice Ricchi led off with a single to center field, advanced to second base when Carlotta Onofri was issued a walk and got to third base after Martina Laghi singled to right field.

With bases loaded, nine-hole hitter Miriana Cerioni earned MVP honors when she hit a two-RBI single to center field to give Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli the 2-1 advantage. Laura Vigna followed with a line-drive RBI single just past pitcher Greta Cecchetti that developed into a costly error that traveled between the legs of center fielder Laura Bigatton for another Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli run. Then Suzannah Brookshire reached first base on shortstop Amanda Fama's fielding error, which allowed yet another run to cross the plate.

Down 5-1 in the top of the fifth inning, MFK Bollate needed to get some runs in a hurry. Laura Bigatton reached first base on an infield error. She advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Amanda Fama to make it a 5-2 game. That was all the offense opposing pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani would allow to secure the victory.

Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Martina Laghi reached first base on a throwing error by pitcher Laura Bigatton. Alice Spiotta entered the game as a pinch runner at first base and eventually scored on a wild pitch to put the game out reach 6-2. Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

GAME 3 BOX SCORE

WATCH THE REPLAY ON FIBSTV.COM

(Photo of Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli captain Erika Piancastelli celebrating with teammates after winning the Italian Softball Series by KR73/Nadoc)