William Lucena

William Enrique Lucena

• Throws Right

• Born October 1, 1981 in Venezuela

William Lucena has pitched 9 seasons in Italy (through 2008) and at least 3 years for the Italian national team.

Lucena began in Serie A1 with Comcor Modena in 2000, walking 7 in 3 2/3 IP and allowing 3 earned runs. He hit .233/.300/.233. In 2001, the teenager was 0-3 with a 9.58 ERA and 29 walks in 31 innings. He batted .246/.315/.307 in 183 AB. In 2002, Lucena improved drastically, going 10-2 with 3 saves and a 3.18 ERA. His control improved, he issued 32 walks in 82 innings, struck out 76 and allowed 73 hits. He tied five others for third in the league in wins and tied for 8th in saves. As a batter, he hit .277/.356/.376. In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, Lucena debuted for the Italian national team, saving one game and allowing only one earned run in 10 innings as the staff ace.

Lucena had a 8-3, 4 save, 4.23 record in 2003. He tied for 6th in wins and tied for 5th in saves with Mattia Salsi. He struggled in the playoffs, going 0-2 with a save and a 7.03 ERA. He was 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA in the 2003 European Championship, losing to Sweden and beating Great Britain. In the 2003 Baseball World Cup, going 0-1 with a 8.31 ERA for the Italians.

In 2004, the Venezuelan-Italian was 6-10 with 3 saves and a 4.15 ERA. He tied for second in Serie A1 in losses and tied Kasey Olenberger for 4th in saves. He was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in the 2004 Haarlem Baseball Week. In the 2004 Olympics, Lucena was 0-1 with a 23.14 ERA as Italy's worst hurler, allowing 7 hits and 2 walks in 2 1/3 IP. He allowed four runs in two innings against Japan and 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning in taking the loss against Greece.

Lucena struggled in 2005. His record was 5-11, 5.57 with one save. He allowed 133 hits in 118 innings. He was second in Serie A1 in losses, was 5th in innings, allowed the most earned runs (73, 13 ahead of #2), had the second-worst ERA of any qualifier, was second in hits allowed, allowed the most triples (11) and allowed the most doubles.

In 2006, William was 3-5 with 2 saves and a 3.25 ERA in a reduced role. Through 2006, he was 32-34 with 13 saves and a 4.54 ERA in 531 2/3 IP. He hit .249/.319/.317.

Comcor Madena was relegated out of A1 and Lucena spent 2007 with the team in Serie A2. He was the top pitcher in A2, going 13-2 with a 2.07 ERA and whiffing 126 in 121 2/3 IP. He led in strikeouts, was third in ERA (leading among pitchers with 60+ IP) and led in wins.

Lucena finally left Comcor Madena in 2008 to move on to T&A San Marino and return to Serie A1. He was 0-1 with a save and a 14.79 ERA in 6 outings, getting toasted for 29 hits and 17 walks in 14 innings. He had a save and a 5.40 ERA in the 2008 European Cup as San Marino finished third. In the 2009 European Cup, William tossed two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.

Sources

• Baseball.it
• Italian Baseball and Softball Federation
• Defunct IBAF website