Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Mainz Athletics 3-5, 3-2
The Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg had to settle for the split against the Mainz Athletics in the southern division this weekend. In game one on Friday evening the Athletics blew a 3-1 lead, but still celebrated a 5-3 win after scoring twice in the top of the ninth. With bases loaded Peter Johannessen hit a RBI fielder’s choice to push the go-ahead run over the plate. Martin Kipphan followed with a bases loaded walk. A wild pitch had tied the contest in the eighth. Mike Bolsenbroek (REG) got the start for Regensburg, allowing six hits, three unearned runs and two walks in five innings, striking out seven. Jan-Niclas Stoecklin (MAI) opposed him and issued five hits, two runs and four bb in seven innings. He struck out seven as well. Manuel Moeller got the win, Philipp Hoffschild the loss.
In the second game on Saturday afternoon Regensburg had the better ending, winning 3-2 thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Chris Howard in the bottom of the ninth. Mainz had a 2-0 lead midway through the third, but the Buchbinder Legionaere came back due to two runs by Enzo Muschik, who had played for the A’s until this winter. Boris Bokaj received the win in relief, showing signs of improvements after two bad starts in the first two weeks. Pat Haugen gave up three runs on five hits in a complete game loss.
Haar Disciples – Mannheim Tornados 1-7, 4-3
The Haar Disciples and the Mannheim Tornados also settled for the split on Saturday. In game one Rene Franke out-dueled Nils Hartkopf to lead Mannheim to a 7-1 win. The Tornados scored three runs in the opening period for a fast lead. Sascha Lutz capped the victory with a solo homerun in the ninth. Hartkopf was replaced by Gregor Klinc in the third due to an injury. Franke went the distance. In the second match it was Haar, which built up a 4-0 lead early en route to a 4-3 victory. Mannheim tried to come back, but only managed to cut the deficit to a run and left the tying run stranded in scoring position in the top of the ninth. Paco Garcia got the win after allowing two runs in seven-plus innings. Philipp Hoehlein was charged with all four Disciples runs and the loss after four-plus frames.
Gauting Indians – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 1-3, 1-12
After having two byes in the first two weeks of the season, the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe opened the 2011 season on Sunday at the Gauting Indians. It was a successful debut, as they swept the twin bill. In game one Heidenheim scored three runs in the top of the seventh for a 3-1 win. A throwing error with the bases loaded decided the outcome. Aljosha Schattmann, Martin Almstetter and Markus Winkler combined for hold the Indians to one run and five hits. Schattmann got the start instead of Winkler, who apparently is nursing an injury. Dominik Hartinger went the distance for Gauting, striking out eight. In the second game the Heidekoepfe scored eight fast runs in the first two frames en route to an easy 12-1 win. Dusty Bergman pitched six innings for the win. Travis Latz (GAU) and Andrew Smith (HEI) each went 3-for-7 in the doubleheader. Smith hit a homerun and drove in three.
{mrb-standing:germany-2011|South}