After the Olympics Games and the Softball European Cups the playoffs in the Italian Softball League started last weekend. FIORINI FORLI and SANOTINT BOLLATE each took 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series versus 2007 champion AMGA LEGNANO and EUROPROMO TITANO HORNETS.
(2-0) Sanotint Bollate – Europromo Titano
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In game one of the series between SANOTINT and EUROPROMO, BOLLATE needed a RBI single by Brenda De Blaes (3-4) in the bottom of the eighth in a 1-0 victory. Before the lone run in the first extra inning, the people in attendance saw a pitcher’s duel between Kelly Hardie and Ashley Hamby. Hardie won it in the end, as she allowed just three hits and a walk in a complete game shutout. She struck out 13. Hamby gave up five hits, an unearned run and two base on balls in 7 2/3 innings, while striking out eight.
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In the second match the HORNETS twice took the lead, but couldn’t hold on to it, losing 2-4 to BOLLATE. They decided the outcome in the bottom of the fifth, putting three runs on the board on a throwing error by Lacy Wood and a RBI single by Kelly Hardie. Brenda De Blaes scored twice. Greta Cecchetti picked up the win with seven solid innings. Yue-Fen Sun took the loss.
(2-0) Fiorini Forli – AMGA Legnano
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In the first match between FORLI and LEGNANO the home team had the better end. They scored two runs in the fifth, when Sabrina Del Mastio hit a RBI triple and later reached home on a sac bunt by Michela Vitaliani. AMGA led since the opening period, after Kate Judd had scored on a muffed throw by Vitaliani. Kasi Carroll gave up one unearned run on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings for the win. Aimee Murch took the loss.
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FORLI backed up their result in the series opener with a 3-0 shutout in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Leslie Malerich started and combined with Serena Filiput and Irene Lolli to throw a two-hit shutout. Malerich pitched the first four innings with no problems and was replaced by Filiput at the beginning of the fifth. After a 1-2-3 inning she ran into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with one out, which force Malerich back on the mound. She escaped with an infield fly and a groundout, holding LEGNANO scoreless. FIORINI scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to seal the victory. Sabrina Del Mastio hit her second RBI triple of the day. Michela Vitaliani drove her in with a single. Stefania Vitaliani had a RBI single in the third. Daniela Castellani took the loss, after giving up one run on six hits and a walk in three innings.
The semi-final series continue next weekend. FORLI and BOLLATE each need just one more win to clinch a final berth.