Mister Baseball

by Thommy Brolin

The first two rounds of the Swedish league was dominated by the home teams.

At Skarpnäck Stadion in Stockholm the home club played hosts to reigning Champions KARLSKOGA, in a re-match of last year’s semi-final. Last year KARLSKOGA won that semi-final in two straight games, but this year Stockholm was the stronger team and beat KARLSKOGA twice. In the first game STOCKHOLM was up 4-3 going into the ninth inning, but KARLSKOGA tied it at 4 all in the top of the frame. Then in the 10th KARLSKOGA took the lead 5-4, but STOCKHOLM countered in the bottom half and won 6–5. In the second game STOCKHOLM broke a 2–2 tie with an 11-run third inning, and cruised to a 15–5 win.

Newly promoted RAETTVIK routed last year’s runner-up SUNDBYBERG 20–3, behind strong pitching from Mattias Stenis and very good offense all through the line-up. Eunique Johnson homered for RAETTVIK, and Philip Gajzler homered with a monstrous shot over the centerfield wall for SUNDBYBERG. The second game was a much closer contest, where SUNDBYBERG was up 10–6, but RAETTVIK fought their way back into the game and scored one run in the bottom of the eight to tie the game, and them Rickard Reimer hit a solo homer leading off the bottom of the ninth for a 11–10 win.

LEKSAND, who very surprisingly lost a Cup-game to second division NORRKOEPING last Thursday, bounced back and won their season opener with 3–0 over GEFLE. The hero of the game was pitcher Daniel Hedberg, pitched a complete game shutout, and conceded only one hit over the nine innings. Although a close game, LEKSAND were never threatened and won quite comfortably. The second game was more lopsided, and LEKSAND won 13–4.

TRANAS won as expected over ALBY, but the first game was very close. After nine tough innings the home team came out on top winning 3–1. Also in this series the second game was less of a contest, and TRANAS won 12–3.

So there were only home victories, LEKSAND and TRANAS as expected, RAETTVIK and STOCKHOLM bit more surprising.

	Time	Home	Visitor	Result
Saturday, May 03 2008
	13:00	Leksand	Gefle	03:00
	13:00	Stockholm	Karlskoga Bats	06:05
	13:00	Rättvik	Sundbyberg Heat	20:03
	13:00	Tranås	Alby	03:01
	16:00	Leksand	Gefle	13:04
	16:00	Stockholm	Karlskoga Bats	15:05
	16:00	Rättvik	Sundbyberg Heat	11:10
	16:00	Tranås	Alby	12:03

Standings