With the first game of all three Italian Baseball Leagues series played on Thursday night, the three first place teams all won and remained tied. Bologna, San Marino, and Rimini all finished the first half at 12-6, and all three moved to 13-6 with wins in the first game of the IBL season's second half.
Rimini played the only nail biter of the three, sneaking past Padova 1-0, when Flores doubled in the fourth and scored on an error. Candelario, Teran, and Cubillan combined on the four hit shutout. After Rimini's run, Padova loaded the bases in the fifth, but failed to score in their only threat of the game.
Bologna had a much easier game, trouncing Parma 9-0 behind a 19 hit attack. Cedeno lead the way with four hits, and Liverziani, Marval, and Grimaudo each added three hits, as three Bologna pitchers combined for the shutout.
San Marino kept pace, crushing last place Novara 11-1 in seven innings, lead by a Mazzuca home run.
The series continue Friday and Saturday nights, and while the season is only at the halfway point, every game matters with teams so closely bunched at the top.
