The Munich-Haar Disciples (14-12) and Mannheim Tornados (13-13) will meet on Sunday in Mannheim to determine the fourth and final German Bundesliga South playoff qualifier.
For the Disciples, who began the season 1-6, reaching the playoffs would cap off a turnaround that began with a Week 4 5-4 upset of Regensburg. Since then, the club has gone 12-6, including a Week 11 sweep of the defending champions Heidenheim. Two of those losses came at the hands of Mannheim (18-12, 11-3) in Week 7 play however.
Mannheim also began the season 2-6, though the club’s early series against both Heidenheim and Regensburg included a number of close games that hinted at the squad’s true potential. In Week 4 play, for example, Heidenheim twice needed extra innings to avert defeat. A six-game win streak that included a sweep of Stuttgart followed and put Mannheim back into playoff contention. The Tornados enter the decisive final week of play licking their wounds from a sweep at the hands of Stuttgart last weekend however.
The Bundesliga South’s three other playoff spots are certain, with Heidenheim (25-3) in first place, Regensburg (22-6) in second, and Stuttgart (17-11) in third. The playoff action begins next weekend, with Regensburg hosting Stuttgart and Heidenheim hosting either the Disciples or the Tornados.
Game One at Roberto Clemente Field in Mannheim is scheduled to start at 13:00 (CEST), with Game 2 two follow at 16:30 (CEST). Both games will be streamed via the Tornados’ YouTube channel.