The Italian Baseball League is back in action this evening in Parma and San Marino

After last weeks All Star break the Italian Baseball League will be back in action this evening in both San Marino and Parma. In San Marino the home T&A will look to bounce back against UnipolSai Bologna after they dropped 2 of 3 the last time these two clubs met up less than two weeks ago. In Parma, Lino’s Coffee plans on putting up a fight against the Rimini Pirates on their home turf. The first pitch in both games has been set for 9:00 pm local time.

With only nine games left on the schedule in this second round of play in the Italian Baseball League, its UnipolSai Bologna that currently sits on top ahead of both T&A San Marino and the Rimini Pirates by a game, while Lino’s Coffee Parma lags behind at a 2 and 7 mark. After this weekend’s play things do have a shot at changing around completely when UnipolSai Bologna takes on T&A San Marino for three games, with the series beginning in San Marino, shifting to Bologna on Friday evening, and then back to San Marino on Saturday. Bologna looks to be heading into the weekend at full strength, with Barbaresi being the only name missing from the roster (to undergo season ending surgery on his right arm next week). Going tonight for Bologna will be Williamson, followed up by Panerati on Friday and Baez on Saturday. On the other side of the ball T&A San Marino once again has a few question marks heading into the weekend, with those question marks being Macaluso and Delgado. If Delgado isn’t able to go in game three it will be Teran and Morreale who will be picking up the slack, while in game two it will be Valerio Simone. Expected to rejoin the club at third is Pantaleoni, which means Mazzuca should be pushed back over to first for the first time since the beginning of the season. Also expected to retake his normal role is T&A’s catcher is Simone Albanese.

Last weeks break turned out to be a huge blessing for the Rimini Pirates as they were able to recuperate some big names to their potent lineup. For starters Peppe Mazzanti will be back at his normal third base spot, while Gomez will be breaking the lineup card for the first time in a couple of weeks as the designated hitter. Still missing is Rimini’s team captain Mario Chiarini, and right handed pitcher Roberto Corradini. Look for Ekstrom to get the call in game one, with the other two starters to be Gonzalez and either Patrone or Cherubini. In tonight’s home dugout, Lino’s Coffee Parma will be going with Josè Sanchez in game one, Yepez in game two and either Giovaneli or Rivera in game three. Parma needs a big showing this weekend to have any chance what so ever at a finals bid.