Bologna and Nettuno City remain undefeated in Serie A1 action
Italian Serie A1 baseball is beginning its third exciting week of play with both UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna and Sipro Nettuno Baseball City undefeated and leading the seven-team league. After winning a pair of contests over San Marino Baseball by slim margins (5-4 and 3-1) on April 19 and 20, UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna narrowly escaped danger in a doubleheader against Rangers Redipuglia with 6-5 and 8-5 victories on April 27. 
Sipro Nettuno Baseball City opened the 2019 season on April 19 with a clash against Autovia Castenaso on their home turf at Steno Borghese in front of 1,300 adoring Nettunese fans and won convincingly 7-1. In the second game against Autovia Castenaso on April 20, an offensive onslaught ensued in a 30-run game with Sipro Nettuno Baseball City prevailing 18-12. Nettuno traveled to Godo for a doubleheader on April 27 and won both games by a score of 6-3. With the losses to Sipro Nettuno Baseball City, Godo Baseball drops to 0-4 in the standings. Parma Clima defeated Godo 12-2 on April 19 and once again on April 20 by a score of 7-2. Parma Clima's winning steak was cut short against San Marino Baseball on April 26 after a 10-inning 4-3 loss. Parma Clima bounced back on the following day to beat San Marino 6-4.
In the Serie A-1 standings, UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna and Sipro Nettuno Baseball City are on top at 4-0. Parma Clima is a close second at 3-1. San Marino Baseball is third at 1-3. Autovia Castanaso (0-2), Rangers Redipuglia (0-2), and Godo Baseball (0-4) are in the cellar. 
Sipro Nettuno Baseball City leads all Serie A-1 squads in offense with a .347 team batting average with 37 runs, 50 hits, five doubles, three doubles, seven home runs and 21 walks. Luis Alvarez (.500 batting average) leads Serie A-1 in hits (9), while Sipro Nettuno Baseball City teammates Oscar Angulo and Freddy Noguera are tied for second with Parma Clima's Sebastiano Poma at seven hits a piece. Oscar Angulo and fellow Nettunese sluggers Giuseppe Mazzanti and Vinicio Sparagna lead Serie A1 in runs scored (5). Sebastiano Poma along with Parma Clima teammate Ricardo Paolini lead Serie A1 in RBI (7). Sebastiano Poma also leads Serie A1 in home runs (2) and total bases (16), while Sipro Nettuno Baseball City speedster Freddy Noguera leads Serie A1 in triples (2) and stolen bases (4).
Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna leads all Serie A-1 squads in pitching with a 2.00 ERA with 56 strikeouts. Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna ace Alex Bassani (0.00 ERA , 7.1 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts) along Nettuno Baseball City's Carlos Richetti (3.00 ERA, 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts) and Raul Ruiz (3.60 ERA, 10 innings pitched, 12 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts) have all won two games each. 
Nettuno Baseball City's Raul Rivero (0.90 ERA, 10 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 run, 1 walk) leads Serie A1 in strikeouts (18) with one win, while teammate Ricardo Hernandez (0.00 ERA, 8 innings pitched, 1 hit, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts) shares the Serie A1 lead in saves (2) with Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna closer Murilo Gouvea (2.25 ERA, 4 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 run, 8 strikeouts). A trio of Parma Clima pitchers, Junior Oberto (1.29 ERA, 6 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts), Owen Ozanich (1.64 ERA, 11 innings pitched, 9 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts), and Mattia Aldegheri (1.86 ERA, 9.2 innings pitched, 6 hits, 2 runs, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts), have one win each. San Marino Baseball pitchers, Andres Perez (1.80 ERA, 5 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts) and Alessandro Maestri (3.86 ERA, 9.1 innings pitched, 6 hits, 4 runs, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts) have both suffered losses despite showing good stuff on the mound. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
