The semi-finals in the German Baseball-Bundesliga started on Saturday with the defending champion being the big winner. The Heidenheim Heidekoepfe swept the first two games against the Solingen Alligators, overcoming a 0-4 deficit en route to a 14-4 blowout in game one. In the second match a five-run fifth decided the outcome in an 8-5 win.
In the other matchup the Paderborn Untouchables and the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg settled for a split. In game one a two-run double by Matt Vance in the top of the ninth led Regensburg to a 3-2 victory. In the second game the U’s scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 10-6. Games three to five will follow in Solingen and Regensburg next weekend.
More information on these four games on Monday
Results:
Saturday, September 4:
Paderborn Untouchables – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 2-3
Paderborn Untouchables – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 10-6
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Solingen Alligators 14-4 (7)
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Solingen Alligators 8-5
(Games three to five will follow on September 11&12)
The playdowns in the northern and southern division also continued. In the north the eight-ranked relegation-threatened Cologne Cardinals swept their twin bill with the Pulheim Gophers to improve to 10-22 for the season. In the second matchup the Dortmund Wanderers and Dohren Wild Farmers split their doubleheader. Dohren is now in fifth place, leading Dortmund by a half game in the standings.
In the south the Gauting Indians further solidified fifth place with a sweep against the Neuenburg Atomics. They also extended the lead over sixth place to four games thanks to two shutouts by the Mainz Athletics versus the Saarlouis Hornets. The A’s moved past the Hornets into sixth.
Results Playdowns:
Saturday, September 4:
North:
Dortmund Wanderers – Dohren Wild Farmers 7-2
Dortmund Wanderers – Dohren Wild Farmers 0-1
Cologne Cardinals – Pulheim Gophers 5-4
Cologne Cardinals – Pulheim Gophers 15-5
South:
Gauting Indians – Neuenburg Atomics 7-1
Gauting Indians – Neuenburg Atomics 12-6
Mainz Athletics – Saarlouis Hornets 8-0
Mainz Athletics – Saarlouis Hornets 6-0
Standings Playdowns North:
- Dohren Wild Farmers 14-20
- Dortmund Wanderers 13-19
- Pulheim Gophers 13-21
- Cologne Cardinals 10-22
Standings Playdowns South:
- Gauting Indians 18-16
- Mainz Athletics 14-20
- Saarlouis Hornets 13-21
- Neuenburg Atomics 1-33