The livestream of the Parma Clima and San Marino A1 Baseball nightcap from Stadio Nino Cavalli in Parma, Italy received raving reviews from viewers internationally on Saturday, July 18, 2020. The broadcast team of Matteo Gandini, former Team Italy manager Gibo Geraldi, and Kevin Senatore knocked it out of the park with excellent play-by-play and commentary coverage. After San Marino defeated Parma Clima 4-1 in game one of the doubleheader, Parma Clima came back from a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 3-2 in the nightcap.
A pitcher's duel ensued between Parma Clima's Luis Lugo and San Marino's Markus Solbach in game two. Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Luis Lugo threw four innings and allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. In the top of the fourth inning, San Marino got on the board when Federico Celli doubled and scored on an RBI single by Mattia Reginato. Markus Solbach, a seasoned veteran pitcher from Germany who is in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, held Parma Clima to just two hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 3.2 innings of work. He surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning after the speedy Aldo Koutsoyanopulos reached first on an infield error and later scored on a fielder's choice by Leo Zileri.
San Marino broke the 1-1 deadlock tie in the top of the seventh inning when Parma Clima reliever Francesco Nardi gave up the go-ahead run (2 IP, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 strikeout, 1 walk). After a leadoff walk to Simone Albanese, Lorenzo Di Fabio sacrificed to advance the runner into scoring position. Luca Pulzetti singled up the middle to bring Simone Albanese home and give San Marino a 2-1 lead.
San Marino closer Fernando Baez entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to replace middle reliever pitcher Dimitri Kourtis (2.1 IP, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts, no walks) and experienced control issues when hitting leadoff hitter Viloria Nolberto. Recording two subsequent outs, it appeared Fernando Baez was out of trouble, but a walk to Ricardo Paolini would end up costing him and San Marino the ballgame. An RBI single by Stefano Desimoni tied the game 2-2 and put the eventual winning run on third base. Aldo Koutsoyanopulos followed with a hard-hit grounder to San Marino second baseman Lorenzo Di Rafaele, who errored when he bobbled the ball and ultimately was responsible for Ricardo Paolini crossing the plate and giving Parma Clima the 3-2 victory.
With the win in game two of the doubleheader, Parma Clima improved its record to 4-2 while San Marino suffered its first loss (5-1) of the young A1 Baseball season. Parma Clima showed promise in the contest as first baseman Alex Sambucci was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with one double and middle reliever Michele Pomponi struck out the first San Marino hitters he faced in his scoreless fifth inning. Defending champion UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna leads all A1 Baseball teams and remains undefeated (6-0). For all the Live A1 Baseball 2020 Play-by-Play action, click . Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
