Showdown in Attnang-Puchheim for Austrian Championship

by Peter Ferak, coverguy.wordpress.com

For the twenty-fourth time the Champion of the Austrian Baseball League will be crowned this weekend in Attnang-Puchheim. The home team MOSQUITO Athletics picked up a win in Kufstein and could possibly close out the series with two wins on Saturday. But the Vikings are determined to battle. At home they fought their way to a 1-0 victory while their pitching looked sharp, as did the Athletics’: Walter Strasser threw a three-hit shutout in the Athletics’ victory, the final score was 3-0.

The Athletics were putting up big numbers all season long, now they have to rebound from being shut out. The last time the A’s failed to score a run was in last year’s semifinal series against the Vienna Metrostars. Before the series the Athletics were worried about having to go to a game five because their pitching is not as deep as the Vikings’, but this changes with the injury to Todd Fairbrother who was taken out of the game late in the second matchup the past weekend. The stars seem to be aligned for the Athletics, but it’s much too early to count the Vikings out. If they manage a win on Saturday everything is open in a fifth game. And with Werner Harrasser on the mound this is not a far fetched fantasy even if Fairbrother is still affected by the injury.

Seven of the eleven playoff games were decided by three runs or less, this weekend promises exciting and thrilling games at the new Stadium in Attnang-Puchheim. And a deserving Austrian Champion will be crowned.

Schedule:
Vikings – Athletics 0-3
Vikings – Athletics 1-0
Saturday, October 4:
13:00 Athletics – Vikings
15:30 Athletics – Vikings
Sunday, October 5:
13:00 Athletics – Vikings*
(*if necessary)

Photo: © Austrian Baseball Federation