The German Bundesliga South’s top two clubs will meet in Week 13 action this weekend, with the defending champion Heidenheim Heideköpfe hosting the Guggenberger Legionäre Regensburg on Friday evening and again on Saturday afternoon. The clubs have identical 21-3 records and, with regular season play concluding next week, control of the division is at stake in the clubs’ second meeting of the season.
The first meeting in Bavaria in early May saw the clubs each take home a victory, with Heidenheim taking Game One 8-3 and Regensburg returning the favor 10-4 in Game Two.
The Bundesliga South’s top two offenses and top two pitching staffs will be on display in the match-up, but Heidenheim’s pitching staff will be an arm short as ace Mike Bolsenbroek is on international duty with the Dutch national team as it prepares for the Final Olympic Qualifier in Mexico (June 22-26).
Heidenheim’s offense is fully stocked, however, with reigning Bundesliga South Player of the Week Gary Owens (1.318 OPS), Shawn Larry (16 HR in 101 PA, 1.994 OPS) and Simon Gühring (7 HR, 1.122 OPS) all available for the critical series.
After taking a commanding two-game lead in the standings after Week 10, Heidenheim opened up the pennant race again when it stumbled two weeks ago in Munich. Both Larry and Gühring were unable to make Game One against the Disciples, a 3-2 defeat, and Larry was absent again in Game Two, which saw the Disciples’ Zac Treece allow just four hits in a dominant, complete game shutout.
Heidenheim will stream both games of the series via YouTube, with the first pitch Friday scheduled for 19:00 (CEST). Game Two is scheduled to start Saturday at 14:00 (CEST).