© Milano Baseball ’46
Piacenza deservedly took home the first edition of the Robert Fontana cup reserved for the Under 23 category, beating Senago 6-1 in a final played on a pleasant Sunday at the end of October and which ended four weekends with a decent baseball, many promising players and above all by giving the opportunity to grow to younger people, under 18, who have had the opportunity to deal with a higher level.
The final also lived in balance for a long time, because Gabriel Dall’Agnese on the one hand and Giovanni Bortolamai on the other gave a hard time to the attacks and as in many games of this tournament the mountain was the master. Immediately back-and-forth in the first inning with Piacenza leading 1-0 with Molina going to base on ball, exploiting a defensive error and going to point on a diamond joke by Minoia. The Senago, however, immediately equalized with Bellandi who beats a single, steals the second and goes home on a valid from Tavian. Emiliani again in the lead in the 2 ‘with Fava (single) brought home by a hit from Casana.
The game then remains blocked for a long time with the Emilians ahead by a length, until Piacenza finally extends on 6 ‘, taking advantage of a drop in Bortolamai (based on Segreto and Calderon hit) and the complicated start of his Rotondo relief, as well as a couple of misses from the catcher. Gibson’s single and Casana’s sacrifice sprint actually close the game at 6-1 for the red and white that the Senago will no longer be able to reassemble. And in the end there are also 6 to 2 valid for Piacenza, with the clubs of the Senago that stopped at the first inning.
Coppa al Piacenza, therefore, which also brings home the MVP prize of the final awarded by the technical commission (composed of three managers such as Piero Bonetti, Beppe Guilizzoni and Raoul Pasotto) to Piacenza pitcher Gabriel Dall’Agnese, who received the plaque named after Lino Capuozzo.
The “Paolo Cherubini” award for the best pitcher went to Senago pitcher Matteo Marelli who closed the tournament with an average of 0.30 pgl in 20.2 innings (ahead of Cerani del Novara, 0.40 in 16.1, and Gismondi del Torino, 1.30 in 15.2). The “Daniele Crippa” award for the best hitter was instead awarded to Andrea Pasotto of Milan with an average of 529 (9 out of 17) who preceded Tommaso Nani from Piacenza (333, 6 out of 18) and teammate Patrick Villa (316, 6 on 19).
The prizes to the winners were presented by former national team coach Beppe Guilizzoni, former Europhon captain Angelo Novali and Nicolò Pinazzi, the first player raised in Milan to reach the Minor league with Cincinnati.
The tournament cup was instead given to Piacenza captain Simone Minoia by Fontana’s brother, Stefano, accompanied by a group of boys who were Robert’s teammates in the Milan youth teams with their coach Lorenzo De Regny.
