The livestream of the first game of the doubleheader between Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli and Blue Girls Pianoro (Bologna) from Stadio Maria Polidoro in Bologna, Italy was witnessed by an international softball audience on Saturday, July 11, 2020. Winning pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani and reliever Claudia Banchelli held the Blue Girls from Bologna to just one hit, a lone single by Tara Melassi in the bottom of the fourth inning. The explosive Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning. Highlights included a two-run home run from Erika Piancastelli, who also doubled in her second at-bat of the inning. Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli went on to win 11-0 in the first game and 11-1 in the second game of the doubleheader. WIth the finale tied 1-1 after two complete innings, Poderi Dal Nespoli Forli broke the game wide open with a nine-run offensive frenzy in the top of the third inning started by a triple by Erika Piancastelli, who also hit an RBI double in her second at-bat of the inning. Winning pitcher Carlotta Onofri allowed just one hit during her four innings of work with five strikeouts and three walks.
RheaVendors Caronno hosted and shut out Metalco Thunders Castellana twice by scores of 5-0 and 4-0. Caronno pitcher Carlotta Salis appeared in both games, the first as a starter (4.2 innings, no hits, eight strikeouts, and one walk) and the second as a reliever (2.1 innings, one hit, three strikeouts, and no walks). Caronno leadoff hitter Melany Sheldon proved to be the sparkplug with an RBI triple in game one followed by a walk and a double in game two.
Visitors MKF Bollate took out revenge on defending A1 Softball champion Bussolengo with a 5-3 win in game one and a 7-0 shutout in game two. Game one wInning pitcher Sara Riboldi threw seven innings and limited Bussolengo to five hits and three runs with eight strikeouts and two walks. Bussolengo scored in the top of the second when singles by Elisa Princic and Manuela Cianfriglia and a walk to Agnese Giacometti led to all three of the team's runs. MKF Bollate countered in the top the third inning when Elisa Cecchetti tripled and later scored to make it a 3-1 game. Doubles by MKF Bollate leadoff hitter Marta Gasparotto and Elisa Cecchetti and a walk to Marta Chiodaroli led to three more runs and a 4-3 advantage in the top of the fifth inning. MKF Bollate added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning after a single by Lara Cecchetti and an RBI triple by Marta Chiodaroli.
Game two starting pitcher Laura Bigatton threw a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and one walk in the 7-0 MKF Bollate win over Bussolengo. The MKF Bollate offense was fueled by Marta Gasparotto (3-for-4, three runs scored), Lara Buila (2-for-3, one walk, one run scored, 3 RBI), Elisa Cecchetti (2-for-3, one walk, one run scored, 1 RBI), and Marta Chiodaroli (2-for-4, 1 RBI). Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
