The Vienna Metrostars hold a 2-0 lead on the Attnang-Puchheim Athletics after sweeping the games in Vienna, but the A’s have shown their strength at home down the stretch. With their backs to the wall, its all or nothing for the defending champs.
ABL Finals:
Vienna Metrostars @ Attnang-Puchheim Athletics – 2-0
“There will be no losing!” is the motto in game three for the Athletics, down two games to none. After losing games one and two, and their possible game four starter Josh Castanza, the men from Attnang will have to sweep the remaining games this weekend to defend their title. In front of their home crowd, they’ve been a juggernaut this year, losing just two home games. The Metrostars, as chance would have it, were responsible for one of those.
In addition to the advantage the large crowds bring, the A’s have a power potency at home that makes them even more dangerous. With Dave Burns (last years playoff MVP) and Walter Strasser (Austrian National Team pitcher), the team hopes to make the next game a quick one with plenty of offense and some shutdown pitching. Going three for three will be a tough task, especially without their foreign pitcher for game four, but getting to that game is the primary goal.
After the Metrostars cruised into the final by upsetting the favored Vienna Wanderers three games to one, they repeated their strong series opening statement by defeating the A’s in extra frames, and crushing them in the follow-up. The M’s now travel up into the mountains in hopes of raising the twelfth title in the clubs history.
Game three starter Strasser will make that goal hard to accomplish in the first game on Saturday. The pitcher has been dominant this season, but as game one of the Championship showed, anything is possible. If the A’s force a game four, then the Metrostars will turn to JT Hilliard, who has been reliable all season, and will give them a shot to win that gold medal.
A fifth game would also be in the Metrostars favor, as coach Tim Patrick has a deeper staff he can send out to the mound to hold the A’s bats in check. Yet few would have imagined the Metrostars would be on the brink of a championship, and still anything can happen. As Yogi Berra said: It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
GAMES:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Vienna Metrostars
Saturday, 15. October, Attnang Puchheim – Athletics Ballpark
Game 3: 12:00 Uhr
Game 4*: 15:00 Uhr
Sunday, 16. October, Attnang Puchheim – Athletics Ballpark
Game 5*: 13:00 Uhr
* if necessary