Two away doubles, a draw and a series postponed due to rain: this is the balance of the seventh first leg of the top softball championship.
Thunders – Italposa Forlì
In a much closer race than expected, Forlì managed to emerge victorious only at a distance. On the floor for the Thunders, Chiara Biasi pitches his best game of the season (2 ER in 6 IP) while holding his own Ilaria Cacciamani for a good part of the meeting. Break the score in the third inning Noemi Giacometti with the fourth home run of his season, but the Romagna players didn’t escape and the Thunders managed to take the lead in the fourth attack, with a point scored by Sbrissa on a double steal action and thanks to the single by Agnese Giacometti, who responds to her sister in this long-distance duel. The Venetian team manages to maintain the advantage until the sixth round when, now over one hundred throws, Biasi concedes to Gasparotto a base on balls with the bases loaded, but managed to come out of the second half tied. Forlì scores the decisive strike in the last second half, against the relief Salis, thanks to the only error of the game that allows the team’s leadoff (Giacometti) to get on base. From there the Romagna girls do everything well and with the singles of Milan And Carlotta Onofri the points of the definitive overtaking come home. Forlì wins the first match with a score of 4-2.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 1
The progress of the second match was less wavering, although the decisive break came only towards the end. Kelly Barnhill, in his second consecutive one-hitter, proved to be too strong for the Thunders’ bats and with 13 strikeouts he collected another gem. Against Lixiana Melendez Castillo Forlì’s attack immediately opened the scoring with Cacciamani’s double that drove home Gasparotto, for the first of the four RBIs of the game scored by the Italian pitcher and fielder. In the third (single by Carlotta Onofri) and in the fifth inning (double by Cacciamani) the Romagna team further extends the lead to 3-0, but it is in the sixth round that the Italian champions take off: after two hit by pitches that push the Thunders to relieve Melendez Castillo with Salis, five hits and a base on consecutive balls arrive to bring the score to 9-0 and place oneself under the mercy rule, closing the game shortly after. Of note is the first hit, complete with the first point taken home, of the 2008 class Letizia Giunchi.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 2
Pubbliservice Old Parma – Mia Office Blue Girls Pianoro
Game 1 is directed from the start by the Blue Girls, led into attack by Priscilla Brandi (3 RBI) e Luna Olive Groves (2 RBI) who, with four evenly divided hits including two triples, punished Old Parma. In the first half Pianoro scores three runs without hitting a single hit, due to the six bases on balls granted by the Parma pitcher Moretti which is immediately detected by Zorzati. In the second inning the Brandi-Oliveti duo widens the gap, which gradually becomes more and more unbridgeable also thanks to the excellent performance of Sara Desii on the platform (5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K). In the fifth round, before the early conclusion due to the mercy rule, there is also room for Of Pancratius to join the ranks of players with an RBI, beating the single of the momentary 8-0, before Brandi puts her signature on the 9-0 the final.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 1
In race 2 the duel between Yamerki Guevara Limonta And Tyneesha Houkamau it turns out to be compelling, but is inevitably compromised by the many errors (6) from Old Parma’s defence. In the first two innings the score remained untouched and Di Pancrazio took care of breaking it in the third inning (4 RBIs for her at the end of the game) with a bouncer on which Moreland runs home. A fraction later the Blue Girls extend the lead to 3-0, again thanks to a poorly defended contact from Di Pancrazio which allows Shoemakers And Borracelli draw. Old Parma immediately closes the gap with the single by Chiara Mengoliex of the day, who pushes home Viani, but the hosts do not collect any further points from a potentially fruitful circumstance. The score in the balance holds out for another inning, but in the sixth quarter the Blue Girls turn on the turbo for the decisive escape: with the bases loaded, spoiled by some difficulties in the defense, Di Pancrazio hits a double to the right which clears the bags and launches definitively Pianoro towards a success that comes with an early recovery thanks to Priscilla Brandi’s home run, which sets the scoreboard on8-1 the final.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 2
Macerata-Rheavendors Caronno
Nice comeback win for Maceratain the first match against Rhea. A statement also driven by a good performance on the platform Luana Luconi who, after conceding the point of the momentary disadvantage in the first inning, also due to a defense error, conceded only 2 earned points. Down one, in the bottom of the first, the Marches took the lead thanks to a 2-run home run Of Regan Patricia Dias. A 2-run home runOf Yuruby Alicart, brings Caronno back into the lead at second. But then, in the third, Macerata equalises by exploiting, in turn, an error by the Varese defense and takes the lead definitively, scoring the 4-3 final in the fifth with a single by Alicia Marie Peters.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 1
The redemption of Rhea in game 2 it materializes entirely in the third round, when 5 points arrive, which go on the scoreboard Regan Patricia Dias. It starts Rebecca Caldon who, after a valid bunt, scores on a defense error, continues Chiara Ambrosi with a double with full bases on which they come home 2 points (they score Yuruby Alicart And Sveva MariottiWhile Sarah Edwards is eliminated at home), he concludes Melany Sheldon with a 2-run home run. On the sixth Macerata closes the distance with an initial double of Giorgia Cacciamanidriven home by a single by Sara Monari; then it is Emma Fagioli to score Alisya Terrenzio with another single. Caronno re-establishes the distance with 2 points, which arrive in the seventh on the hits of Sarah Edwards (single), Irene Viola (double) e Beatrice Salvioni (single). In the seventh Macerata tries to scare Rhea with a flick of the tail. The Marche team scores 2 points thanks to as many defensive indecisions and a missed ball, but the comeback fails to materialize and the Varese team win 7-4.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET 2
Bertazzoni Collecchio – Inox Team Saronno
Everything to be done again, on a date to be determined, instead at Collecchio where, after that in the upper part of the first shot the Inox Team Saronno had taken the lead 3-0 with a bases full double Sara Cianfrigliathe rain interrupted the game on Collecchio’s first attack and they were no longer able to return to the field.
RESULTS
CLASSIFICATION
STATISTICS
In the cover photo, the foreign pitcher of Italposa Forlì, Kelly Barnhill (PhotoBass)
