Last Sunday finished in the city of Santiago del Estero, the Argentine Men's and Women's Softball National Championships, and as indicated by all odds Parana won the Men’s Tournament and Buenos Aires did it in the Women’s Tournament.

There was no surprise in the diamonds of Santiago, and both teams confirmedtheir favorite status with good game, crowned as winners of theirchampionships. Fourteen teams from across the country took part of both events,which ran smoothly under the warm Santoago’s sun.

Paraná Men’s National Champion

Paraná met all odds, and was crowned Argentine Men’s National Champions,beating Bahía Blanca in the final game by 6 to 0. Paraná took the championshipundefeated, and repeated last year achievement in La Pampa. By his way, BahíaBlanca came from below in the playoff, beating Tucumán and ASBA (Buenos Aires) toreach the final. However, in the decisive game could not handle the powerfulteam of Parana, which was consecrated as National Champion.

The big name of the game was the pitcher Max Montero, who not only won the game,but also took a "no hit no run". In seven innings, he struck out 14batters, and only gave 2 walks, and 1 hit by pitch.

The red team (Paraná) opened the score in the fourth, with a solo homer byMarcelo Malatesta. In the same inning Nicholas Bittor also scored. However, theinsurance runs arrived in the last inning, when Paraná scored four times.

With the aluminum in the hand, the most prominent was Ricardo Biondi, who hit 3singles in 4 at bats. Additionally, Malatesta was 1 to 2, with a homer and 2walks.

Thus, Paraná confirmed his national monarch condition, and will be theArgentinian Men’s National Champion for another year.

In the individual awards, Matias Tessore was consecrated as the best pitcher ofthe tournament, Bruno Motroni was the best hitter, while Maximiliano Monterowas named the MVP of the final. All of them are Paraná players.

 

Finalstandings:

 

1.- Paraná

2.- BahíaBlanca

3.- ASBA(Buenos Aires)

4.- Tucumán

5.-Santaigo del Estero

6.- LaPampa

Buenos Aires Women's Champion

 Team Buenos Aires won on Sunday another ArgentinianWomen’s Softball Championship, to overcome in the final team of Paraná by 6 to4, and thereby reaffirm their hegemony in the category. Carla Villalva was thewinning pitcher, while Ivana Viva was defeat.

Buenos Aires scored 1 run in each of the first three episodes, when it seemedthat the game was under way for the Capitol Team. However, Paraná showed he wasgoing to sell pricely his defeat and began to pick up. In the top of the third,they scored 1 (Aldana Gomez), and although ASBA scored 1 in that inning, in thefifth Paraná tied the game.

However, in the bottom of the fifth Melisa Echeveste hit a line drive to rightfield, to bring to Rocío Netto and Nair Ceschan (pinch runner for Villalva) tothe plate, and gave his team the decisive advantage in the scoreboard.

In the last two periods, Paraná could not recover from both runs received andwould never threaten the defense of ASBA.
 
The final standings of the tournament went out the following:
 
1 .- ASBA
2 .- Parana
3 .- Bahia Blanca
4 .- Olavarria
5 .- La Pampa
6 .- Tucumán
7 .- Santiago
8 .- Cordova

Individually, Virginia Murina was best pitcher, Nadia Heis was the best hitterand Melisa Echeveste was the MVP.