The German Baseball-Bundesliga continued with week three:
North:
Cologne Cardinals – Solingen Alligators 7-14, 0-9
The Alligators swept the Cardinals 14-7 and 9-0 on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the north. Solingen was led by Dominik Wulf in game one, who clubbed a pair of homeruns, scored three times and drove in two in his season debut. Florian Götze and Branden Roper-Hubbert combined for six RBI. Robin Drache also went deep. In game two Shelby Robertson issued just eight hits and a walk in a complete game shutout. Götze homered. Mortiz Buttgereit collected three RBI. Chris Goebel had six hits in the doubleheader for Cologne.
Dohren Wild Farmers – Dortmund Wanderers 5-6, 5-3
The Wild Farmers and Wanderers split their doubleheader on Saturday. In game one the Wanderers took the lead on a three-run shot by Aljosha Heller in the sixth and defended the lead against a ninth-inning push by Dohren, winning 6-5. Jeff Rustico homered for the host. Dennis Stechmann struck out 12 in 8 2/3 innings for the win. In game two the Wild Farmers scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 5-3 victory. Jan Hassenpflug drove in two, as Dohren came back from a 1-3 deficit.
Berlin Sluggers – Untouchables Paderborn 0-9, 1-13 (7)
The Untouchables swept their twin bill against the Sluggers. In game one Eugen Heilmann and Rene Franke combined for nine strikeouts in a 9-0 shutout. Matt Martin and Dominik Buder had two RBI apiece. Iwan Galkin took the loss. In the second game Berlin held a 1-2 deficit until the top of the seventh inning, where Paderborn put 11 runs on the board for a 13-1 blowout win. Matt Martin homered. Brian Fields and Daniel Rahn held the Sluggers to one hit through seven innings.
Bonn Capitals – HSV Stealers 11-4, 13-2
The Capitals easily celebrated their first sweep of the season. They beat the HSV Stealers 11-4 and 13-2. In game one BJ Roper-Hubbert hit a pair of homeruns and combined with Lennart Weller and Philipp Spade for seven RBI. Florian Nehring had four hits. Brent Buffa doubled and drove in two for Hamburg. In game two Charley Olson struck out six in six scoreless three-hit innings. Spade scored thrice. Four runs in the second and six in the fifth decided things quickly.
South:
Bad Homburg Hornets – Stuttgart Reds 14-11, 2-15
The Hornets and Reds ended their respective losing streaks in a doubleheader split. Bad Homburg won a slugfest 14-11 in game one. Benedict Ullrich hit a homerun and drove in five for the Hornets. Josh Little, Robin Schmich and Adrian Fischer combined for nine Stuttgart RBI. Schmich also went deep. In game two Reds’ starting pitcher Richard Olson carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a 15-2 blowout. Seven runs in the ninth set the tone on offense. Jennell Hudson broke up the no-no try with a solo shot. Olson struck out 11 and threw 84 of his 117 pitches for strikes.
Haar Disciples – Mainz Athletics 4-8, 3-5
The Athletics won both games against the Disciples in Munich on Saturday, improving to 5-1 and moving into first place in the standings. In game one Mainz scored in five of the first six innings en route to an 8-4 victory. Mike Larson homered and picked up three RBI. Andreas Lastinger also drove in three. Christoph Ziegler went deep for Haar, which scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the ninth. In the second game the A’s again built up a fast 5-0 lead, which they turned into a 5-3 win eventually. Larson and Peter Johannessen led the guests with two RBI apiece.
Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 9-4, 5-3
The Tornados stunned the Heidekoepfe with a sweep on Sunday, making a statement that they are back in the hunt for a championship in Germany despite their rocky start against the Disciples on Easter Monday. 16 hits and eight innings by Jan-Niclas Stöcklin led the way in game one of a 9-4 victory. Jeff Beachum and Luke Matthews collected two RBI each. Eight different players scored for the record title holder. In game two back-to-back doubles and a homerun by Marvin Appiah put Mannheim ahead in a 5-3 victory. Matt Kemp closed it out with five innings of three-hit relief. Prospect Shawn Larry had two hits and a walk for Heidenheim.