UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima advance to Euro Champions Cup semifinals
07/06/2019 1 Minute Read

UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima advance to Euro Champions Cup semifinals

After back-to-back wins on June 5 and 6, UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima have advanced to the European Champions Cup semifinals at Gianni Falchi Stadium in Bologna on Friday, June 7, 2019

After back-to-back wins on June 5 and 6, UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima have advanced to the European Champions Cup semifinals at Gianni Falchi Stadium in Bologna on Friday, June 7, 2019. Both Italian Serie A1 teams lost their respective opening games by one run against strong squads from the Netherlands on June 4. UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima now have the opportunity to turn the tables on the Dutch in the Euro Champions Cup semifinals with the hope that the Italian teams meet in the Euro Champions Cup Championship on Saturday, June 8 at 8:30 pm (local time).

L&D Amsterdam (4-0), winner of a 2-1 nailbiter over UnipolSai Bologna on opening night, now takes on Parma Clima (3-1) at 2:30 pm (local time) to determine the visiting team in the Euro Champions Cup Championship. Reigning champ Curacao Neptunus (4-0), who narrowly slipped by Parma Clima 2-1 in the Euro Champions Cup opener, clashes against UnipolSai Bologna (3-1) under the lights at 8:30 pm for the right to be the home team in the Euro Champions Cup Championship.

UnipolSai Bologna 2019 Euro Champions Cup (PhotoBass-Lauro Bassani)Parma Clima advanced to the semifinals after beating France's Rouen Huskies 21-3 and Germany's Bonn Capitals 17-8. UnipolSai Bologna defeated Czech Republic's Ostrava Arrows 16-5 and shut out Belgium's Deurne Spartans 11-0 to reach the semifinals. The Italian teams have so far shown strength in hitting, pitching, and fielding. Parma Clima's Aldo Koutsoyanopulos (5-for-12, .417 batting average, one double, and two home runs) and UnipolSai Bologna's Jose Ferrini (4-for-12, .333 batting average) lead the the 2019 Euro Champions Cup with 7 RBI. The UnipolSai Bologna pitching staff leads all teams in the international tournament with the lowest ERA (1.17) and the most strikeouts (33), while the Parma Clima defense leads all teams in the tourney with the best fielding pecentage (.990).

With the prospect of having the top two Italian Serie teams A1 play in the Euro Champions Cup Championship on Italian soil, host UnipolSai Bologna and Parma Clima are geared up and ready to give their best efforts against the Dutch powerhouse squads in the Euro Champions Cup Championship semifinals. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti