by Ty Eriksen
The Hamburg Stealers have enlisted the services of P/DH Justin Prinstein for their remaining four games, in an effort to leapfrog up the standings over the current 4-5-6 of the Pulheim Gophers, Dortmund Wanderers, and Dohren Wild Farmers. HSV is one game out of the fourth and final playoff spot, which will likely be decided on the last day of the season.
Prinstein, a former D-1 RHP hailing from Detroit, is no stranger to European Baseball. With stickers on his bags from stops in Belgium, Israel, Australia, and most recently the Hoofdklasse in the Netherlands, he gives Hamburg an experienced starter in the ‘foreigner game’, as well as a much needed bat in the line up. The Stealers rank no better than 6th in any significant offensive category, and have been without a foreign pitcher since Corey Parsons returned to Canada in June.
Things won’t be easy for HSV, but adding Prinstein puts them in a much better position. Facing Cologne this weekend, HSV has the upper hand on the mound against a patchwork Cardinals staff that is dead last in the league statistically. If they are able to take two on the road, the Stealers will travel to Bonn the following weekend with hopes of making the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Pulheim holds their playoff destiny in their hands; however they face the unenviable task of matching up against Paderborn and CEB-Cup Qualifier winner Solingen on consecutive weekends.
The Wanderers and Wild Farmers conclude their respective schedules facing each other in a double bill in Dohren this Saturday. A split probably won’t be enough for Dortmund, who hold the tie breaker against HSV (3-1) and most likely will against Dohren (away run differential, 2+ R needed), but don’t against Pulheim (0-4). HSV holds the tiebreaker against Dohren alone (away run differential). Dohren holds the tiebreaker against Pulheim (3-1).