In Austria, the Blue Bats and Vikings split, Attnang pulls through against Metrostars, Cubs pick up first win in a split against Schwaz, Rainout in Gramastetten
Saturday:
Schwechat Blue Bats @ Kufstein Vikings
In Hirnbach the Bats and Viks faced off, though rain started falling just ten minutes before first pitch. The Baseball gods were smiling on them however, and it held off in time for the game. Things started slowly with the guests first getting on the board with two runs in the 3rd inning, which the home team countered in the bottom half, eventually taking a 6-2 lead over the next few innings. The Vikings defense was forced to hold their own, but was able to repel each attack by the Blue Bats and came out with a 6-3 victory
Game 2 has been the strength of the Bats, which the host Vikings were aware of. The guests took the lead supported by Zsolt Zalabai and his sensational form on the mound. Through three innings the guests had built a comfortable five run lead. Just when the Vikings slowed the tide, the Blue Bats came back with multi run innings in the 6th and 7th to make it a 14-0 mercy rule win and head home early.
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Vienna Metrostars
In contrast to last week, Walter Strasser took over for Schrittwieser as starting pitcher in Game 1. For the unbeaten Metrostars Stefan Ludescher started with a strong pitching performance, yet some shaky defense gave the A’s the lead in the 3rd. While the hosts were struggling against Strasser and his pitches, the A’s were doing work on offense to support their pitcher, taking a 4-0 lead in the 6th. Although the Metrostars were able to string together a few nice hits in a short rally, they fell to the guests 4-1.
Game 2 promised to be equally exciting,, as Castanza proved right from the beginning why he was brought in to play. JT Hillard put forth an equally strong performace, putting the A’s batters in a daze. The game was stopped for rain in the second, but it had washed away with it the Metrostars clutch hitting, seeing them leave the bases loaded in the 2nd and 3rd with less than two outs. In the 7th the A’s put up two runs on some extra base hits, and when the hosts stranded a few more runners the guests took game two 2-0 and the sweep was complete.
Sunday:
Soroptimist Cubs @ Schwaz Tigers
no report available
Vienna Wanderers @ RiCo Highlanders
The Sunday matchup in Gramastetten was postponed due to rain.
{mrb-result:2011-05-14|2011-05-15|AT}
{mrb-standing:austria-2011}
Photo: © E. Löffler