A few days ago the reigning German champion BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE started with the practice for the upcoming season. Manager Martin Helmig welcomed five new talents on the deep roster of the club, though probably not everyone will reinforce the first team this year already. They announced the signing of catcher Chris Howard, who comes from the GAUTING INDIANS. The 19-year-old will be reunited with his brother Philipp. He had a slow start into last year due to an injury last winter, but still led his team with a .299 batting average (OBP .415/SLG .379) and 23 RBI in 28 games.
In addition to Howard they bring in four 17-year-olds into the boarding school, which is connected to the Baseball club. The Czech Matej Sucha, who recently participated in the Power Showcase Home Run Derby in Florida, will join REGENSBURG as well as Shawn Larry, Kevin Kiehl and Lukas Jahn. Sucha leaves the Czech club KOTLARKA PRAGUE and also made a few appearances for the TEGOLA TITANS in the Czech Extraleague last season. Larry (.397/.487/.603) and Kiehl (.218/.295/.273) played in the 2nd Baseball-Bundesliga for the INGOLSTADT SCHANZER, respective the ERBACH GRASHOPPERS. Jahn had 16 hits in 32 at bats for the BERLIN SLUGGERS, a third-division club.
The LEGIONAERE will start into the 2009 season with the European Cup in Nettuno from March 31st to April 4th, before kicking off the new Baseball-Bundesliga season one week later.
Photo: © pr/blr (from left to right: Howard, Sucha, Jahn)