The four best-of-five series in the German quarterfinals are going to end this weekend. After last week’s games, the HEIDENHEIM HEIDEKOEPFE and the BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE REGENSBURG are having 2-0 leads in their series against the DORTMUND WANDERERS and COLOGNE CARDINALS. They need only one win in the remaining three matches at home to advance into the semi-finals. Even one loss by the two top teams from the south would be an upset.
The other two series are more open. The ALLIGATORS with national team pitchers Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez and Andre Hughes are host to the ATHLETICS in their home ballpark Weyersberg. The series is tied 1-1, after both of the matches in MAINZ were decided in the ninth inning. SOLINGEN won the first match due to a 14-strikeout complete game shutout by Marquez-Ramirez and six runs in the top of the ninth, including a three-run homerun by Chris Beck. In the second the A’s fought back and won it 4-3 thanks to a two-out three-run walk off double by Max Boldt in the bottom of the ninth. Expect another thriller this weekend.
The duel between two former German champions, PADERBORN and MANNHEIM, is also even after the first two games of the series. The UNTOUCHABLES celebrated a 4-3 win behind another solid performance by Eugen Heilmann in the first match, but lost 5-10 in the second, when the TORNADOS offense took over. This series is so close, it could go down to a potential fifth game on Sunday. Besides Heilmann, the U’s rely on a good performance by Beningo Ozuna in game four. MANNHEIM counters with Paul Waterman and Eddie Aucoin as starters and could have more pitching depth if the series goes the distance.
Schedule Playoffs Quarterfinal:
(Games three and four scheduled for Saturday, August 9. A potential fifth game would be held on Sunday, August 10)
12:00 (1-1) Solingen Alligators – Mainz Athletics
13:00 (1-1) Paderborn Untouchables – Mannheim Tornados
13:00 (2-0) Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Dortmund Wanderers
13:00 (2-0) Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Cologne Cardinals
Schedule Playdowns Second Game Day:
Saturday August 9:
North:
13:00 HSV Stealers – Bonn Capitals
13:00 Hanover Regents – Neunkirchen Nightmares
- Bonn 16-14
- HSV 10-20
- Hanover 6-24
- Neunkirchen 4-26
South:
13:00 Gauting Indians – Neuenburg Atomics
13:00 Saarlouis Hornets – Haar Disciples
- Haar 12-18
- Saarlouis 11-19
- Gauting 10-20
- Neuenburg 4-26