Baseball Playoffs Sweden – Preview

The Karlskoga Bats (25-5) have clinched the top spot in the Swedish Baseball League after splitting a pair of games against Sundbyberg this past weekend. The Bats rallied to take the second game 6-3 after losing the first contest 9-7.

The Bats will be heavy favorites to win the Swedish Championship and boast the leagues top two pitchers. Adam SOWELL is 12-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 64 strikeouts. Teammate Kent KARLSSON is 10-3 with a 1.89 ERA in 100 innings.

Shawn VANCE is 58-for-122 (.475) with eight doubles and three homers to lead a potent Karlskoga offense. Joe ROVIROSA has contributed 45 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs, and scored 49 runs while SOWELL is hitting .365 (46-126) with 12 doubles.

Sundbyberg (21-7) will be the second seed in the playoffs and will end the regular season this weekend with a pair of Games against Tranas. Philip GAJZLER paces the offense with a .410 average and 33 runs while both Rickard LJUNG (.397) and Eric MERCADO (.342) are dangerous at the plate.

Stockholm (15-12) has three games remaining and needs at least two victories to clinch third place and avoid a first round playoff matchup against top-ranked Karlskoga. Magnus PILEGARD (.387) and Bjorn JOHANNESEN (.384) are the top hitters for Stockholm.

Tranas (15-13) must sweep Sundbyberg or hope for Stockholm to lose all three of the final regular season games this week to move out of the fourth place slot and a first round matchup against Karlskoga. Matt MERRIFIELD (.346) has a pair of homers for Tranas.