Saarlouis Hornets – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 4-9, 0-17 (7)
The BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE, on opening weekend off due to the European Cup, began the new Baseball-Bundesliga season on Easter with four victories. On Saturday they traveled to SAARLOUIS. In game one they used a six-run rally in the fifth, highlighted by back-to-back homeruns of Daniel Husband (3-5, 4 RBI) and Chris Howard to win 9-4. Ludwig Glaser went two-for-three with three runs scored. Michael Kratz drove in two for the HORNETS, which tried to come back in the eighth. Benedikt Antwi (W 1-0) gave up four unearned runs on four hits and four bb in 7 2/3 innings. Ales Keprta (L 0-1) took the loss, being charged with eight hits, seven runs (4 ER) and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.
In the second match REGENSBURG sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs in the opening frame en route to a 17-0 romp in seven innings. Chris Howard hit his second homerun of the day and drove in three. Ludwig Glaser went three-for-five with a triple and four RBI. Rodney Gessmann scored thrice. Eddie Aucoin (W 1-0) picked up the easy win with five scoreless innings. Martin Matlacki (L 0-1) gave up eleven hits, twelve runs and two bb in 1 2/3 innings.
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 4-8, 5-6 (10)
On Monday the LEGIONAERE traveled again, this time to last year’s south champion HEIDENHEIM. After a thrilling doubleheader REGENSBURG took two victories back home. In the first game, the HEIDEKOEPFE led 4-2 going into the final frame and already had two outs, when the LEGIONAERE initiated a game-changing rally. They loaded the bases and shortstop Matt Vance (3-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI) cleared them with a grand slam to put REGENSBURG up in front. They added two more runs in an 8-4 win. Simon Guehring (3-4) and Ray Stokes (2-4) each scored twice for HEIDENHEIM. Markus Winkler (HEI) was solid in seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Philipp Hoffschild (REG) gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Martin Almstetter (W 1-0) retired all ten batters he faced for the win. Sam Whitehead (L 0-1) took the loss.
The second game probably even topped the ending of the first match. HEIDENHEIM took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but REGENSBURG came back and overcame the deficit with a four-run rally in the seventh. The HEIDEKOEPFE tied the contest in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI single by Peter Dankerl. They left two man stranded, which came back to haunt them, as Rodney Gessmann homered with two outs in the top of the tenth to put REGENSBURG 6-5 in front. In the bottom of the frame he took the mound, put runners on the corners, but secured the win with a strikeout against Robert Gruber, receiving the save. Scott Lonergan (W 1-0) picked up his debut win after nine innings, six hits, five runs (3 ER) and a walk, striking out six. Dusty Bergman (HEI) allowed six hits, five runs and four bb in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven. Peter Dankerl (L 0-1) took the loss.
Mannheim Tornados – Gauting Indians 9-6, 6-5
Two balk calls delivered a sweep for the TORNADOS on Saturday against the INDIANS. In the first match GAUTING just had tied the game in the top of the eighth, when Paul Waterman forced in a run with a balk against his former club. Two more runs scored and MANNHEIM won 9-6. Chris Falls scored three times. Marvin Appiah drove in two. Will Lintern drove in two for the INDIANS. Starters Dominik Hartinger (GAU) and Rene Franke (MAT) had problems to find the strike zone. Jan Ruessel picked up the win in relief.
In the second match a balk call once again decided the outcome in the eighth. This time Chris Clem (L 1-1, 8 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 BB, SO) forced in Craig Pycock for the winning run in a 6-5 victory. And again GAUTING had tied the game just moments earlier. Sascha Lutz went three-for-five with a homerun and three RBI. Johannes Jung had three hits for the club from the Munich suburbs. Clary Carlsen (MAT) gave up four hits, two runs and three walks in five innings. Jan Ruessel (W 3-0) picked up his second win of the day in relief.
Haar Disciples – Mannheim Tornados 7-6, 2-8
On Monday the TORNADOS traveled to Munich to take on the DISCIPLES, settling for a split. HAAR used a five-run rally in the seventh to capture a 7-6 victory in game one. 20-year-old Michael Stephan went two-for-three with three RBI. Ty Eriksen doubled and reached three times. Tavo Hall had four hits and scored twice. Chris Falls drove in two for MANNHEIM. Marvin Appiah went three-for-four. Dirk Fries (HAA) started and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. Mike Otto (MAT) opposed him and gave up seven hits, two runs and two bb in six innings. Max Mommer picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief. Craig Pycock took the loss.
In the second game, MANNHEIM already led 3-2 going into the last two periods and blew the score wide open by putting five insurance runs on the board. Pycock drove in two. Sascha Lutz, Marvin Appiah and Dominik Hoepfner each scored twice. Philipp Hoehlein (W 1-0) conceded five hits, two runs (1 ER) and two bb in six innings. Gregor Klinc (L 0-2) took the loss, surrendering six hits, three runs (2 ER) and a walk in seven innings.
Mainz Athletics – Haar Disciples 7-1, 5-2
The ATHLETICS celebrated a successful hope opener on Saturday with two wins over the DISCIPLES. In game one Manuel Moeller (W 2-0) gave up just one run on five hits and three bb in eight innings to lead MAINZ to a 7-1 win. Max Boldt drove in two. Hendrick Schewe and Shu Sasaki each scored twice. Ty Eriksen went two-for-four with a RBI. Ted Gieschen (L 0-2) took the loss, allowing four hits, seven runs (3 ER) and five bb in 6 1/3 innings.
In the second match HAAR tried to come back in the eighth, cutting the deficit to a run, but an error led to two more A’s runs and MAINZ won 5-2. Nils Hartkopf (W 1-1) impressed with eleven strikeouts in seven innings, allowing just one hit, a run and three bb. Martin Kipphan scored twice. Lukas Steinlein (L 0-1) had troubles finding the strike zone, conceding three runs (2 ER) on a hit and six walk in four-plus innings.
Saarlouis Hornets – Gauting Indians 7-0, 12-3
The HORNETS completed their stretch of three home doubleheaders to start the season with two wins against the INDIANS. Patrick Carlson led SAARLOUIS to a 7-0 shutout in game one, winning against Paul Waterman. The win also had a bad side for the home team, as infielder Javier Perez injured his hand on a head first slide at home plate, suffering a ligament tear after catcher Will Lintern accidently stepped on his hand.
In the second match SAARLOUIS scored nine runs in the first three innings en route to a 12-3 win, highlighted by a bases clearing triple of Carlson. Kenny Camp had no problems on the mound and picked up the win. Alexander Howard took the loss.
{mrb-standing:germany-2009|South}
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