Athletics hand game two to the Tigers, while the Metrostars put two solid shots on the Wanderers. The Ducks are one step closer to returning to ABL with a relegation series win.
Semifinal I:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Schwaz Tigers
In the first game of the semifinal between the Tigers and the A’s, the defending champs from Attnang broke out the heavy lumber on offense. Johnny Kashuba, Michael Nedelcu, and Martin Rabengruber put the ball over the fence for the guests, helping them get out in front 8-2 by the third inning. Walter Strasser kept the Tigers batsmen in check despite allowing a single run in the first and third innings. Although they had built a large lead quickly, the A’s didn’t back off the throttle, and got on the board in the fifth and seventh as well. Thomas Schrittwieser replaced Strasser in the sixth, and was even more successful at shutting down the Tiger bats, securing the game by the score of 11-2.
Game two pitted the foreigners Josh Castanza (Atheltics) against Jason Fronczak (Tigers). Both were able to rely on their defense early on, with the solid effort by both teams keeping the score close in the early innings. The Tigers struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third, but the A’s fought back in the fifth with an RBI double by pitcher Castanza to tie it up. For the hosts, Fronczak was able to keep everyone but his countryman on the A’s roster in check, and even gave himself some help with a home run to take a 2-1 lead in the seventh. He gave up just two hits, but was replaced in the eighth by Franz Haisjackl, who sat down the next four hitters without any trouble to even the series at one, as the action moves to Attnang next weekend.
Semifinal II:
Vienna Wanderers @ Vienna Metrostars
With a big crowd out to catch the Vienna derby renewed in the playoffs, the Metrostars sent Stefan Ludescher to the mound to square off against Christian Tomsich of the Wanderers.
A base hit brought around player/coach Hiroyuki Sakanashi to open the scoring, on an RBI by Clemens Cichocki. The Metrostars were able to get runners on base and threaten to even it up or take the lead, but Tomsich was able to put down the threat again and again. In the fifth, the Metrostars struck hard, and took a 3-2 lead over the Wanderers, while it was the Wanderers who were leaving runners on base. The Metrostars brought in Jakob Simonsen in relief, who was strong into the seventh, when a defensive mistake behind him allowed the Wanderers to tie the game at four. They were able to chalk up two more runs in the eighth, though, to reclaim the lead, and closer Lutz Rauch shut down the Wanderers bats in the ninth to get the save and a 6-4 series-opening win.
The Wanderers started the second game obviously affected by the loss, and the crowd watched them bumble through the first inning, handing the Metrostars eight runs through their own miscues of errors and walks, combined with a few base hits to the outfield. Although the Wanderers got on the board in the fourth, the lead was too much to overcome, and the Metrostars extended it to take the game 13-3, and jumping out to a surprising 2-0 lead. The Metrostars are now on a brink of becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the Austrian Championship.
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ABL/BBL-Relegation:
Kufstein Vikings @ Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks
In addition to the playoffs taking place on Saturday, the first game of the Austrian relegation series took place, with the final spot in the 2012 ABL going to the winner.
The Wiener Neustadt Diving Ducks hosted the Kufstein Vikings in game one, with Harrasser on the mound for game one for the visitors, apparently recovered from his marathon pitching effort last week. The Ducks had no problem against him, however, taking a 5 run lead rather quickly.
The Vikings cut into the lead with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Ducks then extended the lead to 9-3 to gain even more breathing room and put the Vikes on their heels. Kufstein again rallied late, with the score 12-5, the Vikings were able to pull within two runs, and looked as though they would be able to at least tie the game. It wasn’t to be, however, as the Ducks escaped by the final score of 12-10, and will need one win in Kufstein next week to clinch a place in the ABL next year.
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Results:
Saturday:
Semifinal I:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Schwaz Tigers
Game 1: 11:2 – WP: W. Strasser; LP: P. Astl
HR: J. Kashuba; M. Nedelcu; M. Rabengruber;
Game 2: 1:2 – WP: J. Fronczak; LP: J. Castanza (CG); S: F. Haisjackl;
HR: J. Fronczak
Best-of-5 Series: 1:1
Semifinal II:
Vienna Wanderers @ Vienna Metrostars
Game 1: 4:6 – WP: L. Rauch; LP: C. Cichocki;
Game 2: 3:13 – WP: JT. Hillard; LP: C. Cichocki;
Best-of-5 Series: 0:2
ABL/BBL-Relegation:
Kufstein Vikings @ Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks
Game 1: 10:12 – WP: M. Scheicher; LP: W. Harrasser (CG);
Best-of-3 Series: 0:1