Parma may well compete for the fourth spot in the play offs of the 2016 Italian Baseball League (IBL). After finishing in last place in 2015, Parma is off a brilliant start and swept Novara on the road to tie Fortitudo Bologna in second place.
"I was impressed by the way we managed to produce run" said manager Gilberto Gerali "This is definitely not the team that finished last".
It is not. Parma added some veteran talent with third baseman Mario Martinez, shortstop Charlie Mirabal and utility Adolfo Gomez.
"Our pitchers are keeping us in the game" said catcher Alessandro Deotto, who showed he can hit for power.
Novara's first year manager Clayton Carson has a lot to think about after losing 6 in a row.
"I am impressed by the amount of talent I see every week. It is going to be a difficult route for us".
Novara has struggled to manufacture runs: "Our guys are facing pitchers of a level they are not used too" added Carson "There's a lot of work to do".
San Marino remains in first place, but suffered the first loss when, in game 2, All Star slugger Peppe Mazzanti homered in the tenth to capture the first win of the season for Nettuno.
"Mazzanti is our Captain and our leader" commented manager Alberto D'Auria.
Doriano Bindi, San Marino's skipper, is not particularly worried by the loss: "After all, we won the series. What worries me is that we may not be able to count on Gabriele Ermini for the next 3 weeks and also Reginato and Francesco Imperiali left games with injuries".
As we already mentioned, Fortitudo Bologna won their second series in a row. Cedeno played DH to make his debut and the team can use the rest week end to see of Sambucci and Pizziconi can recover and be ready for their 2016 debut.
PAdova lamented that the loss in game 2 was influenced by a blown call by first base umpire on a fly ball.
