Quarterfinals

(1-1) Mainz Athletics – Solingen Alligators

SOL 000 000 006  6 9 1
MAI 000 000 000  0 4 1

SOLINGEN had the better start into the best-of-five series against MAINZ. Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez struck out 14 in a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and two walks. The offense needed till the ninth to support him with runs, but delivered anyway. They loaded the bases in the top of the ninth. Dustin Hughes opened the scoring with a two-run single. Patrick Kanthak followed with a RBI single. And after two outs, Chris Beck hit a three-run homerun to chase ATHLETICS starter Manuel Moeller from the mound. Moeller allowed nine hits, six runs and no walks, while striking out ten in 8 2/3 innings.

MAINZ missed two opportunities to score. First they failed to bring a runner home in the second, when they loaded the bases with no outs, as Marquez-Ramirez struck out the next three batters. The second chance came in the eighth, when Sascha Lutz was thrown out at home, trying to score from first on a double by Max Boldt.

SOL 000 000 120  3 6 0
MAI 000 000 013  4 7 0

The ATHLETICS evened out the series with a 4-3 win in game two. They overcame a 0-3 deficit midway through the eighth to win on a three-run double by Max Boldt with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. He hit a fly ball down the left field line to clear the bases. The ALLIGATORS defense hesitated for a moment, because they thought the ball hit the ground outside the foul line.

Dominik Wulf had broken a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh, when he hit a solo homerun to bring SOLINGEN a 1-0 lead. They added two more runs a frame later on Wulf’s sac fly and a RBI single by Christian Nsien. Mike Larson cut the deficit to two runs with a solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth.

Keigo Miyagi (MAI) allowed four hits, one run and two walks in six-plus innings. Andre Hughes (SOL) gave up six hits, a run and four base on balls in eight innings. Nils Hartkopf picked up the win. Jens Cornelsen took the loss.

(1-1) Mannheim Tornados – Paderborn Untouchables

PAD 101 000 020  4 8 1
MAT 000 020 001  3 6 4

The UNTOUCHABLES scored two runs in the top of the eighth en route to a 4-3 win in MANNHEIM in game one of the series. Cy Donald brought them a 3-2 lead, when he scored on a pair of errors. Mitch Franke added a run with a RBI double. The TORNADOS cut the deficit to a run in the bottom of the ninth through a solo shot by Martin Dewald, but pinch hitter Eddie Aucoin and Billy Hess struck and grounded out to end the contest.

PADERBORN had taken a 2-0 lead after three innings through RBI singles by Franke and Bjoern Schonlau. But MANNHEIM came back and tied the game on Sebastian Nowak’s two-run single in the fifth. Eugen Heilmann allowed four hits, two runs and two walks in seven innings for the win. Martin Dewald took the loss in relief of Paul Waterman, who was replaced after three innings.

PAD 000 000 140   5  9 2
MAT 100 004 32X  10 10 1

The TORNADOS tied the series with a 10-5 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. They already led 1-0 after an early sac fly by Jens Heymer, when the blew the score open with a four-run sixth. They added five more runs till the end and stopped a U’s rally right in time. Marvin Appiah hit a two-run homerun. Hess and Heymer each scored twice. PADERBORN’s Octavio Medina went two-for-three with a walk and two runs scored. They batted around in the eighth, but left three men on in the frame.

Eddie Aucoin gave up three hits, a run and a walk in seven innings to receive the win. He struck out seven. Beningo Ozuna was charged with six hits, five runs (3 ER) and a bb in 5 2/3 innings.

(0-2) Dortmund Wanderers – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe

HEI 103 020 501  12 15 2
DOW 010 010 000   2  4 5

The winner of the southern division in the Baseball-Bundesliga wasted no time to demonstrate their strength. They took a 4-1 lead in the third of game one on their way to a 12-2 win and the lead in the series. They added eight more runs, highlighted by a five-run eighth. Keith Maxwell went two-for-four with four RBI. Ryan Lilly had three hits and scored three times. Eight batters reached home at least once. Rene Herlitzius tied the game in the second with a homerun. But the hopes for a upset were short-lived.

Peter Dankerl allowed four hits, two runs and three walks in five innings to pick up the win. Herlitzius was responsible for eight hits, six runs (3 ER) and two walks in six innings.

HEI 650 000 1  12 14 1
DOW 000 000 2   2  7 4

HEIDENHEIM even got a better start into the second match of the first round matchup. They scored eleven runs in the first two frames of another 12-2 victory, needing now just one win next weekend to advance into the semi-finals. Simon Guehring led the offense with three doubles and a triple, scoring three runs and driving in two. 15 of the first 21 batters reached base, leading to a substitution of DORTMUND starter Matt Kemp.

Kemp allowed eight hits, eleven runs (7 ER) and five walks. Markus Winkler allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings for the win.

(0-2) Cologne Cardinals – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg

REG 001 111 002  6
COC 000 000 000  0

The BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE got off to a good start against their usual quarterfinal opponent, using a 6-0 shutout to take a 6-0 series lead. Benedikt Antwi and Philipp Hoffschild combined in a four-hit complete game. Only Anderson Alvarez, who had three hits for the CARDINALS, figured them out. Former Minnesota Twins minor leaguer Rodney Gessmann hit a solo homerun. Cedric Bassel delivered a two-run double. Moritz Sckaer took the loss.

REG 102 11(10) 2  17
COC 000 00  0  0   0

REGENSBURG used a ten-run sixth and runs in six of the seven innings to crush COLOGNE 17-0 in game two of the series. Philipp Howard and Alex Lauterbach each scored two runs in the first five frames. Simon Kudernatsch completed the pounding with a two-run homerun. Martin Almstetter pitched five effortless innings to pick up the win. Pascal Raab took the loss.

Playdowns

(A few notes on the four games in the play downs in the North and South of the Bundesliga.)

North

Neunkirchen Nightmares – HSV Stealers 6-12, 1-31
Bonn Capitals - Hanover Regents 14-4, 5-1

Even a grand slam by Chris Bardenheuer didn’t help the cause for NEUNKIRCHEN, as they got crushed at home by the Stealers. Meanwhile, the CAPITALS solidified fifth place in the standings with an easy sweep against the REGENTS. Thomas Hoffmann and Jan Jacob each had four hits. Max Schmitz drove in four in game one.

1.    Bonn 16-14
2.    HSV 10-20
3.    Hanover 6-24
4.    Neunkirchen 4-26

South

Neuenburg Atomics – Haar Disciples 4-5, 6-8 (16)
Saarlouis Hornets – Gauting Indians 9-14, 8-18

The ATOMICS and DISCIPLES were locked in a marathon doubleheader, as game two wasn’t decided till the end of the 16th frame. HAAR had forced extra innings by three runs in the top of the ninth. Both squads scored several times afterwards until the DISCIPLES had the final say. Alex Aucoin took the loss, going the complete 16 periods in the second match.

1.    Haar 12-18
2.    Saarlouis 11-19
3.    Gauting 10-20
4.    Neuenburg 4-26