After the last match on 23 July in Modena and a six-week break, Mediolanum New Rimini resumes its journey towards safety in the Serie A baseball championship. The crossings between the various groups have identified the opponents to be faced in the Dragons of Castelfranco Veneto, the best of five games. Two races in Veneto and then the eventual three in Rimini.
“We trained well and with intensity – comments the Rimini manager Mike Romano – we played some friendlies and except for a few ailments the roster is available. Of course, it has been a long time since the last official match and both teams are experiencing an eve with many questions. We didn’t want to be here to play for salvation in a direct match, but this is what the championship has said and now we have to give our all to get to the goal. I saw the guys focused and eager to redeem a difficult season. We will give our best ”.
The first two matches are scheduled for Sunday 4 September in Castelfranco Veneto. Race 1 at 10.00 and Race 2 to follow. Then the series will move to Rimini, where the decisive challenges will be played: Saturday 10 at 15.30 and then should it serve, they will return to the field again on Saturday at 20.30 and possibly Sunday at 15.00 for game 5. Game 2 and Game 4 are reserved for foreign pitchers , while the eventual race 5 is free. It is played over nine innings.
The Venetians in the first phase closed in last place (2-12) in group A dominated by Parmaclima, also confirmed in the second phase in group D1 (4-16) won by Cagliari. The best hitter is Andrea Sanson with an average of .274 (2 home runs) along with Giuseppe Sciacca (.267 with 5 home runs). For Mediolanum Lino Zappone (.317) and Marco Baccelli (.263) are the most prolific.
The overall batting average of the Dragons is .204, that of Mediolanum New Rimini is .221. On the mound the foreigner of the Venetians is Rafael Martinez Torrez (4-6, 2.81 of ERA), who in the last races has always taken over the Italian Venezuelan starter Giacomo Polanco (7.91 ERA).
Mediolanum has its top pitcher in the Cuban Eriel Carrillo (0.69 ERA) with Tognacci (4.08), Ridolfi (4.82) and Aiello (5.36) in support, together with Alessandro Di Giacomo (8.40).
In competitions with an Italian pitcher the starter is usually Erik De La Rosa (7.03 ERA) with the relief of Samuele Bechevolo (11.91 ERA). For Mediolanum, Tommaso Aiello will start in race 1. The statistics, however indicative, are not entirely comparable between the two teams, given that they traveled completely different paths in the first two stages of the championship. The Venetians have an identity card that conveys the idea of a more experienced team.
