Grosseto’s Mikkelsen No-Hits Rangers

GROSSETO OPENS TITLE DEFENSE WITH SWEEP
The defending Italian League champions opened their title defense with a three-game home sweep over the newly-promoted Redipuglia Rangers that featured some excellent pitching performances.

Grosseto’s Lincoln Mikkelsen begin the 2008 campaign by tossing a seven-inning no-hitter as the defending champs won the season opener 4-0. Mikkelsen (1-0) faced only 18 batters in a sparkling outing that included five strikeouts and no walks. A defensive miscue allowed the Rangers lone baserunner against the 41-year-old American.

Designated hitter Luca Bischeri was 2-for-3 with a double and first baseman Jairo Ramos belted a two-run homer as Grosseto plated four runs against Rangers starter Andrea Cossar (0-1) in a pivotal fifth-inning scoring spree to seal the win.

The Rangers offense came to life the following night scoring twice in the first off Grosseto starter Luca Panerati and collecting nine hits. But it was not enough as Montepaschi three runs in both the fifth and eight frames to claim a 7-2 win.

Chris Cooper (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief to get the win while Leonardo D’Amico recorded the final six outs to pick up his first dave of the new season. Marco Zorzenon (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits to suffer the loss.

David Dallospedale started the year swinging the lumber well going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs while Jorge Nunez, Kelly Ramos and Andrea Sgnaolin each stroked two hits for Grosseto.

In the weekend finale, Riccardo De Santis tossed five scoreless innings limiting Redipuglia to five hits in a 6-0 win to give Grosseto the series sweep. Andrea Lucati and Emiliano Ginanneschi each pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to preserve the shutout victory.

Shortstop Raul Marval was 3-for-3 to lead the offensive attack and Jorge Nunez continued his torrid start at the plate going 2-for-5 for the defending Italian champions.

BOLOGNA WINS SERIES OVER SAN MARINO
Fortitudo Bologna rebounded from a season opening loss to take the next two contests from T&A San Marino to begin the 2008 season.

Juan Figueroa (1-0) tossed a four-hit shutout over five innings as San Marino opened the season with a 6-0 win. Brian Looney worked the final four frames to earn the save. Bologna ace Jesus Matos (0-1) took the loss after getting tagged for eight hits and four runs.

Bologna scored four runs in the first two frames and Cody Cillo blanked San Marino for five innings as Fortitudo claimed a 4-0 win to even the weekend series at 1-1.

Cillo (1-0) scattered five hits in an impressive outing and Chris George was solid out of the bullpen to register his first save of the year. San Marino starter Matt Marrone (0-1) lasted only 3.2 innings giving up four runs on seven hits.

The rubber match saw Fabio Betto outduel Matteo Tonellato in a hotly contested 3-2 Bologna victory. Betto (1-0) pitched six shutout innings allowing only two hits and Fabio Milano registered the final six outs to pick up the save.

In other Italian League action last weekend, Cariparma took two out of three games (3-2, 8-7, 1-8) on the road against Telemarket Rimini while Caffe Danesi Nettuno swept pass De Angelis Godo (12-2, 10-7, 6-5).