The HAMBURG KNIGHTS defeated the NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES 6-0 in the final of the German Softball Final Four on Sunday in Mannheim to become successor of the TORNADOS as new Bundesliga champions. Vivian Melzer led the way with a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits in seven innings. She struck out nine. The offense provided her with the necessary run support in the second period, when Valentina Mommer drove in two with a double. They added four more runs in the fifth to seal the victory, highlighted by Afsoon Alipour’s (3-3) two-run triple. Janneke Ogink allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings to take the loss.
The KNIGHTS had clinched their final berth by winning all three preliminary games on Saturday. The NIGHTMARES had to defeat MANNHEIM 4-2 in the semi-final on Sunday morning. All four runs were by NEUNKIRCHEN were unearned, as the TORNADOS defense committed five errors in the game. Malia Theissen scored twice. Arlene Quinn and Ulli Gerlach picked up RBIs.
The fourth participant at the Roberto Clemente Field in Mannheim was HAAR, which lost all three games and finished in fourth in the final standings of the season. Valentina Mommer from the KNIGHTS received the MVP trophy of the event. Teammate Vivian Melzer got awarded as best pitcher. The home crowd celebrated Shalayna Nutter-Gaudet (MAT) as best batter.
Video Streams available on zaplive.tv.
Results:
Preliminary Round:
Hamburg Knights – Haar Disciples 11-1
HAA 010 000 0 1 3 4 HHK 155 000 X 11 6 2
Mannheim Tornados – Neunkirchen Nightmares 7-6
NKN 004 200 0 6 MAT 004 010 2 7
Haar Disciples – Mannheim Tornados 4-8
MAT 000 242 0 8 6 3 HAA 004 000 0 4 3 1
Hamburg Knights – Neunkirchen Nightmares 7-0
NKN 000 000 0 0 HHK 400 210 X 7
Mannheim Tornados – Hamburg Knights 3-4 (9)
HHK 001 000 102 4 4 1 MAT 100 000 101 3 4 4
Haar Disciples – Neunkirchen Nightmares 2-4
NKN 002 020 0 4 HAA 011 000 0 2
Final Round:
Semi-Final: Mannheim Tornados – Neunkirchen Nightmares 2-4 Box score
NKN 201 100 0 4 5 3 MAT 011 000 0 2 7 5
Final: Hamburg Knights – Neunkirchen Nightmares 6-0 Box score
NKN 000 000 0 0 6 1 HHK 020 040 X 6 10 1
Final Standings:
- Hamburg Knights
- Neunkirchen Nightmares
- Mannheim Tornados
- Haar Disciples