The two top-ranked north clubs after the regular season took 2-0 leads in the best-of-five series on the first day of the German Softball Bundesliga playoffs. Their counterparts from the south had to settle for splits.
The HAMBURG KNIGHTS defeated the HERRENBERG WANDERERS 9-2 in both games of the doubleheader. The NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES got a 2-1 win, after crushing the FREISING GRIZZLIES 17-0 in the series opener. Last year’s champion MANNHEIM TORNADOS got upset 1-2 in the first match against the BRAUWEILER RAGING ABBOTS, but got revenge with a 20-0 shutout in the second. The HAAR DISCIPLES lost a slugfest to the WESSELING VERMINS 12-13, but returned home tied in the series after a 10-0 victory in game two. The first round of the playoffs will be completed after the European Softball Championships Junior in Deggendorf, Germany on August 23.
Results:
Playoffs:
(1-1) Wesseling Vermins – Haar Disciples 13-12, 0-10
(0-2) Freising Grizzlies – Neunkirchen Nightmares 0-17, 1-2
(0-2) Herrenberg Wanderers – Hamburg Knights 2-9, 2-9
(1-1) Brauweiler Raging Abbots – Mannheim Tornados 2-1, 0-20
Playdowns:
Augsburg Dirty Slugs – Karlsruhe Cougars 12-2, 5-9
Standings:
- Darmstadt 8-16
- Augsburg 6-20
- Karlsruhe 5-21
(bold indicate sweep)