Under the guidance of manager Mario Chiarini, San Marino (23-4) had the best 2020 A1 Baseball regular season record and a slim one-game advantage over defending champion UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna (23-6). The San Marino offensive charge was led by former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Federico Celli, who received the 2020 A1 Baseball Triple Crown with a league-leading .473 batting average, 10 home runs and 36 RBI. UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna run producer Lorenzo Dobboletta topped A1 Baseball in triples (3), while ranking second in RBI (28), runs scored (30), doubles (10) and walks (26). Undefeated San Marino dynamic duo pitchers Markus Solbach (3-0, 30.1 IP, 52 Ks, 8 BB, 0.23 ERA) and Alessandro Maestri (7-0, 44.2 IP, 63 Ks, 21 BB, 0.82 ERA) kept hitters off-balance. UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna countered with pitching aces Matteo Bocchi (6-1, 43.1 IP, 44 Ks, 12 BB, 2.91 ERA) and Murilo Gouvea (5-0, 31.1IP, 46 Ks, 6 BB, 1.12 ERA).
UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna hosts Italian Baseball Series game one on September 17, 2020, game three on September 21, 2020, and game five (if necessary) on September 23, 2020. San Marino will be the venue for championship game two on September 18, 2020, game four on September 22, 2020, game six on September 25, 2020 (if necessary), and game seven on September 26, 2020 (if necessary). All championship games will begin at 2 pm (EDT) and be seven innings in length with no tie-breaker rule in effect. The AFI Italian-born and developed pitcher rule only applies to games two and five.
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by Roberto Angotti
