By Alex Gorrin
The playoff race in the National Championship is in its peak, with the finalists already decided. Last year’s champions, Sofia Blues, will fight to keep their No.1 spot against record title holders (18), the Buffaloes from Blagoevgrad.
National Championship Playoffs
September 20
Buffaloes Blagoevgrad – Devils Dupnitsa 13:3 (Buffaloes win semifinal series 2:1)
Athletic Sofia – Sofia Blues 4:5 (Blues win semifinal series 2:1)
September 22
Athletic Sofia – Lions Sofia 9:5 (game for 3-6 place distribution)
Devils Dupnitsa – Junak Sofia pp (game for 3-6 place distribution)
Also, the first trophy holder of the year was decided with the conclusion of the Sofia Cup (third most important trophy contested each year). The Sofia Cup is open for participation to all teams from the Sofia region, even some that do not necessarily meet all criteria for competing in the National Championship. The tournament is contested each year since 1997; teams met each other once in the first phase, while the two teams with the best record meet in the final, which traditionally is held at or around September 17, the nationally recognized ‘Day of Sofia’.
Sofia Cup 2014
September 21
Final: Athletic Sofia – Sofia Blues 6:12
Final Standings Sofia Cup 2014:
1. Blues
2. Athletic
3. Junak
4. Akademiks
5. Lions
6. Wolves AAS
Athletic Sofia has won the cup 9 times (1998, 2002-2006, 2008, 2012-2013); Sofia Blues – 4 times (2007, 2010-2011, 2014); Junak Sofia – 4 times (1997, 1999-2001).
During the past few days, a number of well-contested games, full of amazing individual plays and lots of baseball drama, drew lots of attention from the sports’ lovers in the country. Even more quality and excitement is expected during the rest of the season with the National Championship title and Bulgaria Cup trophies up for grabs in the dying weekends of the season.