Victory in extra innings for Parma Clima | Baseball Mania

There is still no mathematical certainty but Parma Clima is now only one step away from qualifying for the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup after tonight’s victory against Amsterdam with the result 7 to 5. It was a victory very painful, gained only in the first extra inning of a match in which the ducals appeared superior to their opponents but which became complicated during a nightmare fifth inning, seasoned with errors and inaccuracies.

Winning pitcher was Anderson DeLeon, very cold in the last three innings in blocking the home bats. In batting protagonists Luis Gonzalez (2 on 3), Astorri (2 on 3) and Mineo (2 on 3).

Tomorrow at 14 the last match of the qualifying round against Brno, defeated today by Paderborn.

The record

Parma Clima’s technical staff have changed their line-up since the first match. Flisi and Battioni gave way in the batting order to Pasotto and Poma with Joseph moved to third base. Carlos Contreras was on the mound with Mineo catcher and Astorri designated hitter.

Amsterdam has presented many new faces compared to the last few seasons. Veterans Henrique, Richardson and Berkenbosh were joined by many young players from the Dutch youth academy. The first ball of the match was placed in the hands of Scott Prins, international born in 2001.

Parma Clima broke the balance in a first inning opened by singles by Desimoni and Noel Gonzalez, held back by a serve in double play by Joseph but still made productive by a single in the center by Luis Gonzalez. The split then offered Sambucci the opportunity to get into the batter’s box with bases full but Prins got him out with a fastball to the knees.

The Dutch reaction was immediate and brought runners to the corners with a single by Madera and a base ball granted to Van De Sanden: however, Contreras closed the second half forcing Berkenbosh to raise a harmless fly ball on the shortstop.

Parma Clima raised its voice again in the third round with two consecutive doubles to the left by Joseph and Mineo who propitiated the point of 2 – 0. The subsequent single by Astorri fixed the set up more comfortable 3 – 0 and forced the home bench to alternate Prins with Rietel.

The replacement of Rietel (for him he faced only one batsman) with the left-handed Angela slowed down the ducal attack but the Pirates still struggled to react, harnessed by the effective launches of a very inspiring Contreras in the evening.

The run of 4 to 0 was propitiated in the fifth by a series of indecisions by Angela who allowed a base ball to Joseph, sent him to second base making an error during a pickoff attempt and allowed him a comfortable run home plate with two wild pitches.

After three rounds of silence the Dutch bats were back in the fifth inning. With one out Penseel hit a short single to center and Jacobus fielded a perfect surprise bunt. Henrique didn’t get lucky hitting a football by inches but still filled the bases with a base ball: Contreras fought back like a champion by hitting Madera out and then forcing Richardson to field a comfortable ball to the shortstop.

However, the ducal defense went haywire. Luis Gonzalez made a comfortable assist towards second base that Noel Gonzalez (sun in his eyes?) was unable to hold, giving Amsterdam two points. It’s not over. Van De Sanden benefited from an intentional walk and Berkenbosh emptied the cushions with a double to right. Parma Clima guilty of finding themselves late by one point and with a match suddenly turned uphill.

The ducals had four rounds to make up for it. The sixth round ended in the initial single by Pasotto, the seventh with a hit in the center by Luis Gonzalez. The ducals tried again in the eighth. Pasotto scored his second personal hit of the evening, Flisi replaced him as runner while Monello took Poma’s place in the batting box. Angela threw four balls to the pinch hitter and then was saved by a defensive prodigy by Van De Sanden who dived a hit by Desimoni. The inning ended scoreless with an unfortunate line by Noel Gonzalez into the second baseman’s glove.

Parma Clima has only one attack left, the ninth. Joseph got a walk on walks, and the home dugout moved in by replacing Angela with Meyer. A wild pitch pushed Joseph to second, a single to center by Mineo moved him to third, a sacrifice fly by Luis Gonzalez to home plate to make it 5-5.

The excellent reliefs of Rondon and DeLeon once again closed the doors to the Dutch attack and the match slipped to extra innings, played with the international rule of the tie break, runner on second and zero out.

In the tenth minute Battioni fielded a bunt with two strikes that surprised the home defense and made it 6 to 5, Desimoni pushed him to third with a sacrifice and Noel Gonzalez made it 7 to 5 with a sprint to the right.

Anderson DeLeon’s splendid evening ended with a perfect third inning in which he eliminated the three batters he faced, giving a painful but fundamental victory to his teammates.