Serie_a1_(baseball)

Serie A1 is the highest level of professional baseball in Italy and is overseen by FIBS. It is currently an 8 team league that plays a 42 game schedule from April to August. This was recently reduced from 10 teams and a 54 game schedule. The games are played principally on weekends, and is followed by a four-team playoffs, with the winner earning the Scudetto(little shield). The playoff series follow a best-of-seven format. The league observes a promotion and relegation system with the Serie A2 (baseball).

Most of the teams are based in the Emilia-Romagna province of Italy. A team from the Republic of San Marino also plays in the Serie A1. Many of the official team nicknames contain the name of the team\'s corporate sponsor.

The eight teams that will play in the Serie A1 in 2008 are

• Italeri Bologna (Bologna, Emilia-Romagna)
• De Angelis Godo Baseball (Russi, Emilia-Romagna)
• Montedeipaschi Grosseto (Grosseto, Toscana)
• Caffè Danesi Nettuno (Nettuno, Latium)
• Ceci & Negri Parma (Parma, Emilia-Romagna)
• Telemarket Rimini (Rimini, Emilia-Romagna)
• T & A San Marino (San Marino, San Marino)
• Redipuglia (Redipuglia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

The San Marino team and the top Italian team (usually the league champion) qualify to play in the European Cup.

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