(0-3) Solingen Alligators – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 2-8
Previous Scores: 4-14 (7), 5-8
Defending champion Heidenheim Heidekoepfe has reached the German finals thanks to a three-game sweep over the Solingen Alligators in the semi-finals. They completed the series win with an 8-2 victory on Saturday in Solingen. They already had built a 3-0 lead through six innings, when they blew things wide open with five runs in the last two frames thanks to Robert Gruber who drove in four with a homerun in the eighth and a single in the ninth. Chris Beck and Matt Pali collected three hits each against their former team. Martin Dewald picked up the win after striking out seven in eight strong innings. Andre Hughes took the loss.
(3-1) Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Paderborn Untouchables 9-2, 5-3
Previous Scores: 3-2, 6-10
The Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg are back in the German Finals. After getting eliminated against the Mannheim Tornados in the semi-finals last year, they beat the Paderborn Untouchables in four games this time around. In game three Regensburg took a fast 7-1 lead after three innings en route to an easy 9-2 victory and the 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Philipp Hoffschild (9 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 SO) went the distance for the win, while Eugen Heilmann (8 IP, 16 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) was charged with the loss.
In game four Paderborn tried to tie the series, as they took a 3-1 lead after five innings looking at a game five on Sunday. But starting pitcher Daniel Meier got tired in the eighth and the Buchbinder Legionaere came back. They scored four runs in that frame, including three with reliever Daniel Hinz on the mound. Regensburg closed it out in the ninth and celebrated another finals appearance. Rene Herlitzius received the win in relief o Eric Faint. Rodney Gessmann got the save.
Schedule German Finals:
Saturday, September 18:
13:00 Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Heidenheim Heideköpfe
Sunday, September 19:
13:00 Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Heidenheim Heideköpfe
Saturday, October 2:
13:00 Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg
Sunday, October 3:
13:00 Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg*
Saturday, October 9:
13:00 Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Heidenheim Heideköpfe*
*if necessary
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de