The Italian Softball League finals will be a highly anticipated a rematch between powers Forlì and defending champion Bussolengo who faced off last year and also battled this summer in the Champions' Cup.
Bussolengo finished off the three game sweep of Staranzano with a 1-0 walk off win dominated by the pitchers. Lacey Waldrop pitched seven innings, allowing just one single and one walk while striking out ten. She was nearly matched by Anisley Lopez who matched her until the bottom of the seventh when the games only run would score to end the game. Bussolengo got runners to third in the first and fourth innings, but could not come through with the big hit. Meanwhile Staranzano would only get a baserunner with a walk to the first batter of the game, and a leadoff single in the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Giuglia Longhi singled to lead off the inning, and the very next batter grounded to third base, but the throw to second attempting a fielder's choice sailed into right field, and Longhi circled the bases to end the game and send Bussolengo back to the finals.
In Bollate, Forlì dropped the third game and but won game four to advance to the finals. In game 3 Emily Vincent for Bollate battled Greta Chechetti, but this game would feature many more baserunners as the two teams combined for ten hits and 14 walks. Forlì took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, after a Zanotti double and two walks loaded the bases for Grifagno, who singled in two. Bollate responded to tie the game in the fifth, on two hits and a strikeout passed ball. The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when the placed runner would advanced to third and score on two passed balls sending the series to game 4.
Game 4 offered mych less drama as Forlì scored four times in the top of the first on route to an easy 8-0 win and a trip to the finals. Parish doubled and Zauli drove in two to lead the early outburst, and Zanotti allowed just four singles on route to the shutout.
