(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by FIBS)
 Italy hopes to open Baseball & Softball-seasons in June
Nederlands
 ROME (Italy) -
In Italy, hopes are high to open the regular seasons in both baseball and softball in the weekend of June 13-14, the Federazione Italiana Baseball e Softball (FIBS) announced on Thursday (April 16).
In recent days, videoconference-meetings were held with representatives of clubs, players, coaches and game-officials concerning the start of the new season.
The FIBS and clubs have the intention to open the new season when safety measures make it possible to resume sports activities.
...FIBS-President Andrea Marcon...
(© Photo: FIBS) |
The regular baseball-season was initially to start on April 3.
On March 4, strict measures were announced by the Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), at that moment especially for Lombardia and fourteen provinces in the northern part of the country.
The Lombardia-region was hit hard by the virus.
Later on March 4, Andrea Marcon, President of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS), announced that all activities were suspended immediately.
As of now, the National Leagues will open on June 13 with a reduced schedule, but the Italian Federation has the right to postpone the games to July 12 when the situation calls for that.
In the new schedule, the ten teams in both the highest baseball and softball-leagues (Serie A1) are divided into two groups of five.
In the new format, the regular season ends halfway August and then will be followed by a best-of-five Play-Off between the two winners of the two groups.
The Italian Baseball and Softball Federation is discussing the access to the playing sites with regards to the protection of health for everyone involved.
It has not yet been announced whether or not spectators will be allowed into the stadiums.
The FIBS is in close contact with the Ministry of Sports and will follow the measures from the Government and the Health Authority.
As the schedule has been reduced, it is possible to start a month later keeping this schedule intact.
Teams will play a double-header in both baseball and softball on either Saturday or Sunday.
In the new schedule, the opening game in Serie B (the third highest league) will be played by Codogno and Piacenza on June 14.
The FIBS stated: ,,These two cities are the symbol of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.
For this reason, the matches of the first day of group A in Serie B baseball between Codogno and Piacenza have been scheduled for Sunday 14 June in the Lombard town.
They were chosen by the FIBS as an event to celebrate the resumption of sports activity.''
In the same statement, FIBS-President Andrea Marcon said:
,,I will be there with them.
I am convinced that even those who cannot be physically present there will be so thinking of them while being on all Italian diamonds.
I hope we can confirm this date to celebrate this first step towards normality, but, however it goes, I will be in Codogno when the season opens.
I owe it to those whom the movement has lost in recent months due to the coronavirus, to dedicate to them a season that we want, with all our determination, to play''.
When the season indeed opens in the weekend of June 13-14, Italian champion UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna will play against Grizzlies Torino in Group A on Saturday, June 13.
On the same day, Rangers Redipuglia will meet Collecchio, while Parma Clima has no games scheduled.
In Group B, San Marino will play a double-header against Hotsand Macerata and Godo will face Nettuno 2, both also on June 13.
In this group, Nettuno Baseball City has no games scheduled in the first round.
In the Serie A1 Softball, the double-headers are also scheduled for June 13.
In Group A, Bollate will face Rheavendors Caronno and Metalco Thunders plays against Inox Team Saronno, while reigning champion Bussolengo has a free weekend.
In Group B, Poderi dal Nespoli Forlì meets Blue Girls Pianoro and Polisportiva Caserta Softball Academy will play against Sestese
In this group, Collecchio has no games scheduled in the first weekend.
(April 21)
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