Finishing up week 8 of the Italian Baseball League (IBL) season before the Champions Cup (hosted by Rimini and San Marino and featuring Bologna as well), Bologna dropped game 2 in parma 5-4 to break the first place tie. After leading 4-1 in the sixth, Parma scored two runs against Pugliese and two more against Pizziconi for the lead, and Gonzalez pitched four dominant innings for the win in relief. Bologna's easy 7-0 win in game three did little to make up for the lost opportunity.
Meanhwhile Rimini shut out Padova three straight games, not allowing a run all week, displaying unrivaled pitching depth as they rotated and rested their pitchers to prepare for the upcoming Champions cup. Meanwhile San Marino dominated Novara for three straight wins. Idle Nettuno remained just two losses out of first place, but the dividing line is clear, with Padova and Parma now four losses off the playoff pace, while Novara remains with just a single win on the season.
A disappointed Parma announced that they cut Venezuelan pitcher Jose Sanchez, replacing him with Ramon Rodriguez. Meanwhile Novara added Leo Rodriguez and cut Jose Garcia who failed to make the difference Novara hoped and played particularly bad defense at shortstop for a young and struggling team.
