The quarterfinals in the German Baseball-Bundesliga are in the books. Three teams from the northern division will advance into the semi-finals, the first time this happened since 2003. However a club from the south remains heavy favorite and another delivered the highlight of the postseason.
The Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg rode four homeruns, two by Chris Zirzlmeier to an 11-3 win and a three-game sweep over the Dortmund Wanderers. The defending champion remains en course to another title. Nils Hartkopf avoided the sweep of the Haar Disciples by the Untouchables Paderborn, pitching a no-hitter, while allowing just three base-runners in the game. The U’s still moved up thanks to an 11-1 rout in game four.
The Solingen Alligators also needed four games to eliminate the Mainz Athletics. Phil Ortez homered in a 7-3 win in game three. J.D. Scholten won a pitcher’s duel against Pat Haugen in a 1-0 shutout in game four. The Bonn Capitals blew a 2-0 lead in their series with the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe, but prevailed 8-3 in the decisive game five on Sunday. Heidenheim had erased a 0-9 deficit in game four, winning it on a walk-off RBI single by Peter Dankerl in 13 innings.
Results:
Saturday, August 20:
Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg – Dortmund Wanderers 11-3 (Regensburg wins Series 3-0)
Solingen Alligators – Mainz Athletics 7-3
Solingen Alligators – Mainz Athletics 1-0 (Solingen wins Series 3-1)
Untouchables Paderborn – Haar Disciples 0-3
Untouchables Paderborn – Haar Disciples 11-1 (7) (Paderborn wins Series 3-0)
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Bonn Capitals 6-5
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Bonn Capitals 10-9 (13)
Sunday, August 21:
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Bonn Capitals 3-8 (Bonn wins Series 3-2)