by Michal Hanus
Last weekend the Extraleague continued with only two series, a doubleheader between ARROWS OSTRAVA and TEGOLA TITANS in addition to two games among TECHNIKA BRNO and OLYMPIA BLANSKO. The other games was postponed, as AVG DRACI BRNO and MZLU EXPRESS BRNO were preparing for the European Cups.
In the doubleheader which was played in OSTRAVA, the TITANS from Prague get away with a win. With this success they are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. In both games the TITANS had more hits than the batter of ARROWS. The first was close, with OSTRAVA winning 2-1. They started with Robles and Mraz had a complete game for TEGOLA. The game was decided in the fourth inning when ARROWS scored on a hit and a passed ball after loading the bases. The second game started with Jurdzin in ARROWS uniform and the TITANS nominated young prospect Blazek. Blazek pitched another excellent game as he went the distance. TEGOLA defeated the ARROWS 8-2, scoring seven runs in the fourth period.
The next series between TECHNIKA BRNO and BLACK HILL BLANSKO didn’t bring any surprise and TECHNIKA swept BLACK HILL 8-2 and 7-4. BLACK HILL started with Kocman on the mound, but his excellent performance didn’t bring a third victory for BLANSKO. TECHNIKA controlled the score with pitcher Dobyns. The highlight and key for the TECHNIKA success was a triple by Vach. Sunday’s game in BLANSKO was decided early against the home teams, as TECHNIKA scored six runs in the first. They held on to the lead and celebrated another victory.
The actual standings in the Extraleague reveal that there are two definite candidates for an autumn playoff spots – AVG DRACI BRNO and ARROWS OSTRAVA. Olomouc is also going towards the playoffs. However four teams are in the hunt for the fourth place. The favorite is still TECHNIKA BRNO, but the TITANS and KRC ALTRON also are playing good baseball. And finally we can’t count out last year’s vice champion MZLU EXPRESS BRNO.
{mrb-standing:czech-republic-2008}