Vikings claim victory in the final seconds, while Attnang flexes some serious muscle against the Wanderers in a playoff tune-up. – The Highlanders closed the season with a loss, and therefore miss a chance to stay in the top league.
Saturday:
Kufstein Vikings @ Vienna Metrostars
Playing a rescheduled doubleheader in Vienna, the Kufstein Vikings had everything on the line. Werner Harrasser started on the mound for the guests, and nobody expected he’d stay on the mound until the final pitch of the day was thrown. Hubert Weiser got the start for the Metrostars, and kept his team in the game against Harrasser. The Metrostar offense put up some runs, with Jakob Simonsen coming in in relief to hold the lead, using the memory of his no-hitter to keep the Vikings off balance. The Viking offense was unable to get anything going, and dropped the first game 8-5, meaning the second game was a must-win.
In game two, the crowd and the Metrostars couldn’t believe what they were seeing, as Werner Harrasser came back out to start the second game, thirty minutes after the last pitch of a complete game in the first showdown. JT Hilliard got the call for the home team as usual, and the two provided an exciting game.
The Vikings struck first, but the Metrostars tied it at one shortly afterwards. Both offenses had trouble, as Harrasser found a grove and Hilliard was strong. Finally, in the ninth inning, Kufstein was able to load the bases. A towering shot by Matthias Lechner fell between the Metrostar fielders, allowing two runs to score, and Harrasser brought home the victory in the bottom of the ninth by shutting down the Metrostar bats in their last at bat. Final score of 3-1.
Vienna Wanderers @ Attnang-Puchheim Athletics
The Wanderers travelled to Attnang on the weekend, and were promptly greeted with a two run homerun by Johnny Kashuba by the A’s in the first inning. The Wanderers, usually strong offensively, had trouble on this day, tallying just a few hits with their depleted lineup, missing a few important starters. Castanza was solid on the mound for the A’s, while Felix Zimmerle was brought in for the Wanderers to do damage control early. The A’s marched out to a 10-0 lead, and wouldn’t let the Wanderers on the board, giving the hosts a 7 inning mercy rule win.
Sunday:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ RiCo Highlanders
In the final matchup of the regular season, the Athletics put on an offensive show on the road. Despite the Highlanders needing a win to have a chance to stay in the top league, the A’s took no mercy on them. With Wayne Ough unable to pitch for the hosts, the A’s used a balanced offense of walks and hits to lead 12-0 by the third inning. A solo homerun by David Wolfmayr cut the lead by one, but that was about the extent of the Highlander offense on this day. Thomas Schrittwieser took the win, and the A’s enter the playoffs as a strong favorite to repeat. The Highlanders, meanwhile, will be packing for the second league. Final score: 16-2.
{mrb-standing:austria-2011}