The playoffs in Germany have one of the most extensive formats in European Baseball with eight teams and three rounds of best-of-five series. In the quarterfinals the top four teams from the north play the top four of the south, going first against fourth, second versus third, and so on.
Defending champion are the BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE, which also won the southern division with a 21-3 record. They will travel to Hamburg to take on the HSV STEALERS, which qualified in fourth in the north and will play postseason Baseball for the first time since nine years. The other three duels are rematches of last year’s campaign. Northern champion SOLINGEN ALLIGATORS get help from Dutch Hoofdklasse player Andre Hughes in their doubleheader against the MAINZ ATHLETICS, which on the other hand will play without Manuel Moeller.
No offense to the other teams, but probably the most interesting matchups are the duels between the second- and third-ranked clubs. The HEIDENHEIM HEIDEKOEPFE are favored against the DORTMUND WANDERERS, though the team of head coach Jens Hawlitzky also was able to upset the two northern powerhouses SOLINGEN and PADERBORN in a few games this season. Especially at home, they can toe-to-toe with each team in the league.
The last quarterfinal between the MANNHEIM TORNADOS and the UNTOUCHABLES is too close to call. Similar to last season, this series is poised to go over the full distance of five games. In difference to last year however the U’s should advance, as they have the advantage in games two and four, as MANNHEIM’s foreign starter Clary Carlson isn’t available anymore due to an injury. So the acquisition of Chris Balatico a few weeks ago could be the key to success for PADERBORN.
Schedule:
Saturday, July 4th, 1pm and 3.30pm CET
Mainz Athletics – Solingen Alligators
HSV Stealers – Buchbinder Legionaere
Dortmund Wanderers – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
Mannheim Tornados – Paderborn Untouchables
(Game three to five, if necessary, on July 11/12)
Playdowns:
The playdowns in the northern and southern division in the Baseball-Bundesliga also start this weekend. The BONN CAPITALS take on the PULHEIM GOPHERS and the GAUTING INDIANS face the SAARLOUIS HORNETS. The COLOGNE CARDINALS and the HAAR DISCIPLES are off. The doubleheaders also begin on Saturday at 1pm CET. The six teams hold on to their regular season records. The two teams in north and south with the fewest wins after the playdowns have to play regulation series against 2nd Baseball-Bundesliga clubs later this year.
Final Standings Regular Season:
{mrb-standing:germany-2009}