Cariparma – UGF Bologna 11-10
BOL 100 300 150 10 11 3 PAR 000 006 221 11 14 0
Cariparma got its first win of the semi-final round in the Italian Baseball League on Friday evening, winning a thrilling back-and-forth battle 11-10 against UGF Bologna in front of 980 spectators at the Europeo Cavalli in Parma. A one-out walk-off RBI single by Stefano De Simoni in the bottom of the ninth sealed the deal for the team of manager Gilberto Gerali.
Fortitudo had the better start, taking a 4-0 lead through four innings. But Parma struck back with a six-run sixth. They built up the advantage to 8-5 after the seventh, but Bologna countered with five runs in the top of the eighth. It was not enough, as Cariparma tied the contest in the bottom of the same frame, setting up the exciting finish.
Juan Camilo, Marco Yepez and Alex Sambucci combined for eight RBI. Orlando Munoz scored three times. Jairo Ramos Gizzi hit a grand slam and collected five RBI overall for UGF. Joseph Mazzuca went 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI. Juan Carlos Infante was back on the field after his concussion in the Italy-Croatia game during the European Championship, crossing the plate three times.
Roberto Corradini (PAR) allowed eight hits, five runs and four bb in seven innings. Cody Cillo (BOL) issued six hits, six runs (4 ER) and two walks in five-plus innings. Nicolas Giovannelli (W) picked up the win. Rene Mazzocchi (L) the loss. Both teams will meet again tonight to conclude the series.
T&A San Marino – Telemarket Rimini 10-9 (11)
RIM 004 113 000 00 9 14 1 SMA 102 003 201 01 10 11 3
The second game on Friday night didn’t lack any excitement either. T&A San Marino beat Telemarket Rimini 10-9 in front of 300 people thanks to a bases loaded walk by Anthony Granato in the bottom of the eleventh inning, celebrating their second victory in the semi-final round in walk-off style. The Titans had erased a 3-9-deficit in the last four frames of regulation and forced extra innings through a RBI fielder’s choice by Dean Rovinelli in the ninth.
Mario Chiarini (2-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI) and Lorenzo Avagnina went deep for the Pirates. Daniel Gonzalez reached base six times, but only scored twice. Ardley Jansen, Giovanni Pantaleoni and Francesco Imperiali hit homeruns for San Marino.
On the mound both starting pitchers didn’t had their best outings of the season. Sandy Patrone (RIM) struck out ten in 5 2/3 innings, but also gave up seven hits, six runs and two bb. Gregory Palanzo (SMA) conceded seven hits, six runs (2 ER) and three walks in five innings. Ilo Bartolucci (W) got the win, Michele Quattrini (L) the loss.
Results Semi-Final Round IBL:
UGF Bologna – Cariparma Parma 1-0 (14)
Telemarket Rimini – T&A San Marino 1-4
Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 11-10
T&A San Marino – Telemarket Rimini 10-9 (11)
Schedule:
Saturday, August 7th:
21:00 Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna
21:00 T&A San Marino – Telemarket Rimini
Photo: © Ferrini/FIBS