Due to the Baseball World Cup, we only have a short version of the previews for the upcoming weekend in European Baseball. The playoffs start in Austria, while the semi-final rounds end in France and Switzerland. Also on the program are postseason games in Belgium and the first part of the relegation series in Germany.
Austria
The VIKINGS clinched the last Austrian playoff berth last weekend and now have to face regular season winner SUPERFUND WANDERERS in the semi-finals. The second matchup will be between the reigning champion MOSQUITO ATHLETICS and the SCHWAZ TIGERS.
Schedule Semi-Finals:
Saturday, September 19:
13:00/15:30 Union Kufstein Vikings – SUPERFUND Wanderers
13:00/15:30 Schwaz Tigers – MOSQUITO Athletics
(Best-of-Five Series continue on September 26/27)
Belgium
The postseason in Belgium continues with the fifth of six weeks. In the playoffs the HOBOKEN PIONEERS are in first place with a 6-2 record. The PORT OF ANTWERP GREYS and the BRASSCHAAT BRAVES follow with 4-4 records. The GREYS will face the PIONEERS this weekend. The NAMUR ANGELS need to start a winning streak, if they want to get back into the race against the BRASSCHAAT BRAVES. In the playdowns MORTSEL STARS lead the way with seven wins in eight games. BORGERHOUT and BRUSSELS also have hopes to avoid one of the two bottom spots.
Schedule Playoffs:
Saturday, September 19:
15:30 Namur Angels – Brasschaat Braves
15:30 Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers
Sunday, September 20:
15:30 Brasschaat Braves – Namur Angels
15:30 Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys
Schedule Playdowns:
Saturday, September 19:
15:30 Borgerhout Squirrels – Brussels Kangaroos
15:30 Merchtem Cats – Mortsel Stars
Sunday, September 20:
15:30 Brussels Kangaroos – Borgerhout Squirrels
15:30 Mortsel Stars – Merchtem Cats
France
The semi-final round in the French Elite League will end this weekend. The SAVIGNY LIONS already have one foot in the finals, as they will face the winless TEMPLIERS SENART in three games this week. The ROUEN HUSKIES and the MONTPELLIER BARRACUDAS will battle for the second berth. SAVIGNY, ROUEN and MONTPELLIER are tied with 4-2 records.
Schedule Playoffs:
September 19/20 (Sat. 15:00, Sun. 11:00&14:30)
Rouen Huskies – Montpellier Barracudas
Templiers Senart – Savigny Lions
Germany
The first of possible two relegation series in the Baseball-Bundesliga starts this weekend between the PULHEIM GOPHERS and the BERLIN SLUGGERS, battling for a spot in the 2010 northern division. There is no decision yet, if there will be also a relegation series in the south.
Schedule Relegation Series North:
Saturday, September 19:
14:00 Pulheim Gophers – Berlin Sluggers
(Games two and possible three on September 26 in Berlin)
Switzerland
Both semi-final series in the Swiss Nationalliga A are tied 2-2 and a decisive fifth match is needed. The THERWIL FLYERS host the ZURICH CHALLENGERS in matchup one. The heated duel between the BERN CARDINALS and the LAUSANNE INDIANS continues on neutral site in Hunenberg.
Schedule Semi-Finals Game 5:
Saturday, September 19:
14:00 Lausanne Indians – Bern Cardinals (in Hunenberg)
14:00 Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers
(Winners advance to Swiss Finals)
