2023 Italian Series

The 2023 Italian Series featured ASD San Marino versus Fortitudo Bologna.

Teams[edit]

13-time champ Bologna was trying for their first title in 3 years, led by Robel García, Kevin Josephina and Shakir Albert on offense and on pitching by veteran Raúl Rivero, Porfirio López and Joe Cuomo.

San Marino had won five titles, including the last two. Their top batters were Gabriel Lino, Nathanael Batista and Federico Celli while the staff was anchored by Dmitri Kouris, Carlos Quevedo and Nelson Hernandez.

September 3: Bologna 3, San Marino 2. San Marino jumps out early when RF Batista doubles off Cristopher Molina and scores on a two-out hit by LF Ericson Leónora. Bologna ties it in the second but could have had more - 3B García and DH Samuele Gamberini walked and CF Lorenzo Dobboletta singled but García was thrown out trying to score. A wild pitch by Kourtis tied it at one. In the third, Batista went deep but Molina and Rivero allowed no more runs. Bologna evened it again in the 7th against Fernando Baez when Filippo Agretti pinch-hit and drew a walk, then came around three batters later on a single by 2B Ricardo Paolini. It was still 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th, when C Ernesto Liberatore took Baez deep to end it.
September 4: Bologna 7, San Marino 4. The home team wins again at Stadio Gianni Falchi; it is again close as it is 4-4 entering the bottom of the 6th before Series MVP Paolini smacks a three-run double off Nico Garbella. Alex Bassani gets the win and García also drives in three for Bologna.
September 8: Bologna 6, San Marino 2. Molina and Rivero contain San Marino once again, while SS Darren Seferina paces the attack with two RBI and 1B Eugene Helder homers as they top Kourtis and the defending champs to pull off a sweep.