Siena is first together with Florence, the next opponent
SIENA – In baseball, as the great Yogi Berra said, “it’s not over until it’s over” and this was clearly demonstrated by Estra Siena BSC, who got the better of Phoenix Grosseto, Serie C finalists in 2023, 10 to 9 They did it without ever giving up: down by 6 points after a difficult first attack by the opponent, thanks to a couple of defensive errors and some valid goals against the departing Alejandro Fernandez Matos from the Maremma attack, the Bianconeri believed they could do it and they wanted to achieve victory in every way and succeeded. The first two points of the comeback arrived immediately, a small “taste” in the bottom of the first round: Alejandro Fernandez Matos gets a base ball, then Rodriguez Garcia hits a hit to left, Paul Castillejos arrives safely at first on a throwing error, Pichardo He also baseballs with the bases full, scoring Fernandez Matos, then German de Jesus double plays, but allows Rodriguez Garcia to score. In the 2nd minute, the Maremma attack passes quickly, with three easy eliminations on rebounds. In the bottom of the second half, the Bianconeri scored six runs which put them ahead for the first time: the inning opened with a base ball to Hernandez, who was then pushed to second base by Bonilla’s hit to the right. While serving, the Cuban Dube Alvarez fires a hit to the right and allows Hernandez and Bonilla to score (4 – 6). At this point, manager Aprili’s Phoenix replace the departing Medaglini (formerly Monteriggioni) with the left-handed Capizzi, who however was immediately hit hard first by the single to the shortstop by Alejandro Fernandez Matos and then subsequently by the second hit of the day scored by Rodriguez Garcia, who pushes the fifth Juventus point scored by Dube. Fernandez Matos also scores, on the rebound from Castillejos in second: it’s the equalizer.
The-black-and-white-pitcher-Alejandro-Fernandez-Matos
A further point is scored thanks to Pichardo’s double to the center fielder, which sends Rodriguez Garcia to the point. Estra is ahead for the first time: 6 – 7. It doesn’t end there: German de Jesus hits a valid shot on the left and Pichardo himself scores (6 – 8). Mancini comes into bat in place of Querci, who arrives safe due to a defensive choice, with German de Jesus eliminated at second. Estra went from being down 2 to 6 to being ahead 8 to 2. The third and fourth rounds passed rather calmly, with the defenses and pitchers rising to the occasion after a rather difficult start. In the 5th minute the Phoenix come back, scoring a point on a shooting error on a pick off in first by the Juventus starting pitcher: 7 to 8. At the beginning of the 6th minute the Juventus manager replaces Fernandez Matos on the mound with Selmo: a fly ball sacrifice to the center fielder, with runner on third, allows the Phoenix to impact the game. In the 8th inning the guests took the lead: after giving away the first for a hit batter, Selmo suffered a double steal and then, with a runner on third, a hit to center field which brought the Maremma team back into the lead. Juventus manager Alvarado decides to change immediately: Alejandro Fernandez Matos goes to shortstop, his brother Leandro comes in on the right in place of Selmo and Dube Alvarez is moved to center, with Bonilla on the mound. The Dominican missile is a safety: first he gets a bounce and then with a strike out he closes the second half. In the final part of the eighth round the Sienese charge: after Dube Alvarez’s strike out, Alejandro Fernandez Matos hits a valid shot to the left. Rodriguez Garcia is the second eliminated of the day. Paul Castillejos hits right, then, with Pichardo at bat, first Fernandez Matos steals third, then Castillejos does the same at second; Pichardo reaches first base safely on an error by the shortstop, and both teammates score on the error. Estra is ahead again, 10 to 9. The guests’ ninth attack ends with three simple rebounds, before the joy on the pitch of the Sienese team, now leaders together with Franchigia Firenze, their next opponent on Sunday 5 May.
THE OTHER RESULTS – Livorno beat Nuove Pantere Lucca 11 to 5. Boars river in flood in Massa, 15 to 0, as well as Padule on Monteriggioni, 16 to 4 for the Florentine team. Franchigia Firenze narrowly prevailed over Cosmos San Casciano Val di Pesa (6 to 5).
