 Bologna opens Italian Season with win
Nederlands
 PARMA (Italy) -
Unipol Bologna opened the new season in the Italian Baseball League on Thursday-evening with a 2-1 victory vs. Cariparma Parma.
The opening game was played in the baseball stadium on the new sports complex in Parma, which is named after its former President Aldo Notari (who later also was the President of the Italian Federation, the European Federation and the International Federation and passed away in 2006).
Former player and coach Sal Varriale is the Technical Director of the club, while Massimo Fochi, another former player, is the General Manager.
Both also have a long career in the Italian national team.
Parma's former stadium 'Europeo' in downtown near the train station was demolished in January 2010.
...The new stadium of Parma...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Parma was the better team and outhit Bologna 8-4 and also played better defensively, as Bologna committed four errors.
The opening game was a pitching match-up between Dominican Jesus Matos (Bologna) and Venezuelan Jesus Silva Espinoza (Parma).
On a rainy evening, Bologna (which is managed by Marco Nanni) took an 1-0 lead in the third inning off Espinoza.
The righthander gave up a lead-off single to Daniele Malengo, who then stole second base and was able to score when the throw by the catcher bounced into the outfield.
Parma (led by Manager Gilberto Gerali) came alongside in the home of the fourth inning.
With one out, Venezuelan Marco Yepez and Leonardo Zileri singled, then the first scored the tying run when Matteo Ugolotti singled with two outs.
Bologna re-took the lead in the sixth inning when Livinston Santaniello led off with a triple.
Next, Juan Carlos Infante walked.
Santaniello and Infante are two more Venezuelans on the roster of Bologna.
Veteran player Gabriele Ermini then followed with a sacrifice fly that enabled Santaniello to score the go-ahead run.
Victor Moreno (who is also from Venezuela) threw the last three innings for Bologna in relief of Matos, gave up only two more basehits and was credited with a save.
On Friday-evening, four more games are scheduled.
Bologna and Parma then again will meet in Parma and will conclude their series on Saturday in Bologna.
Novara United opens its season on Friday at home in Novara vs. Montepaschi Grosseto, whom they will meet in a double-header on Saturday at home.
Telemarket Rimini opens at home in Rimini on Friday vs. North East Kings, then will play a double-header in Godo on Saturday.
At Serravalle (San Marino), T&A San Marino plays a 3-games series vs. Danesi Nettuno, one game on Friday-evening and a double-header on Saturday.
(April 14)
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