Bologna’s Gianni Falchi Stadium was the battlefield for the 2019 European Champions Cup opening game between Parma Clima and Curacao Neptunus as well as the nightcap between UnipolSai Bologna and L&D Amsterdam on June 4, 2019. Unfortunately, both Italian Serie A1 teams came up short and lost identical 2-1 heartbreakers to their Dutch counterparts.
In the case of Parma Clima, the game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Parma starting pitcher Erly Casanova surrendered an RBI single to Curacao Neptunus DH Quentin De Cuba to put the first run on the board for the Dutch. Parma Clima came back in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game up 1-1 after an RBI double by Aldo Koutsoyanopulos brought home Luca Scaleri to score. Curacao Neptunus’ Dwayne Kemp hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth off Parma Clima losing pitcher Marc-Andre Habeck for the game-winning run. Parma Clima (0-1) now travels to nearby Castenaso for a pair of games against France’s Rouen Huskies (1-0) on June 5 at 5 pm (local time) and Germany’s Bonn Capitals (0-1) on June 6 at 11 am (local time).
UnipolSai Bologna starter Raoul Rivero gave up runs early to L&D Amsterdam in the second and fourth inning before the Italians could fight back with a solo home run by Francesco Fuzzi to cut the deficit to one run. The sold-out stadium crowd was in the game every pitch. Bologna reliever Nick Pugliese pitched three scoreless innings to keep the contest close, but the reigning Italian Serie A1 Champion could not produce any offense late in the game.
UnipolSai Bologna (0-1) takes on the Czech Republic’s Ostrava Arrows (1-0) at home on June 5 at 8:30 pm and plays again under the lights at Gianni Falchi Stadium on June 6 at 8:30 pm against Belgium’s Deurne Spartans (0-1). Both Italian squads must win their respective games in order to advance to the semi-finals. The 2019 European Champions Cup tournament continues through Saturday, June 8, 2019. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
