The Rimini Pirates will play host to UnipolSai Bologna with a game time of 9:00 pm, while in Parma, Lino’s Coffee will welcome in T&A San Marino for the first of three at 8:30 tonight. If Rimini comes out with a better record on the weekend they will be headed to Italian Baseball Series against UnipolSai Bologna, however if T&A is able to do just one better then the Pirates against Parma, they will get a shot at defending their title.
In Parma this evening it will be Lion’s Coffee Parma locked up in game one of a three game set against T&A San Marino. The series itself doesn’t mean a hole lot to Parma seeing as if this club has been eliminated from any chance at the Italian Baseball Series, however for their adversary this series means everything, as T&A currently finds themselves one game back of the Rimini Pirates for that second and final spot in this year’s finals. Even though Parma is currently out of it, don’t look for them to lay down for T&A, starting this evening with their southpaw, Yepez as he is expected to face off against San Marino’s Junior Guerra. On Friday evening for Parma it will be Rivera, most likely followed up by Jean Toledo on Saturday. As for San Marino, the other two starters will included the likes of Valerio Simone and either Jesus Delgado, or Teran. Absent from Parma’s options this week will be Sanchez, while the likes of Marval are still up in the air due to an elbow problem. Starting behind the dish for Lino’s Coffee Parma with Marval out will be either Maestri or Lori. On T&A’s side of the diamond, they will have to do without their regular second baseman, Francesco Imperiali, who’s out for with a one game suspension. Starting in his place should be the young Pulzetti. For San Marino to move on they will need to win one more game then the Rimini Pirates who find themselves going up against UnipolSai Bologna.
With Rimini holding onto a one game lead over San Marino they are going to have to put up one of their best shows of the season when they take on Bologna on Thursday (in Rimini), Friday (in Bologna) and Saturday (in Rimini) evenings. Rimini’s three starters look to be Ekstrom, Gonzalez and Cherubini, who should be going up against Williamson, De Santis and Baez for Bologna. Even though Bologna has already locked up a spot in the finals with home field advantage, don’t look for them to gift wrap this series for the Pirates, especially seeing as if they will have a week off before the Italian Baseball Series gets underway on the 15th of August. As for Rimini they will have to do without Patrone in the pen, but should have their captain Mario Chiarini available off the bench in a pinch hitting role.
