The Karlskoga Bats advanced to the Swedish Baseball League Finals for the first time in the club history with two wins over BSK Stockholm last weekend. The Bats will meet the Sundbyberg Heat who rallied to stun Tranas on Sunday.
The Bats routed Stockholm 19-1 in the semi-final opener with Joe ROVIROSA getting the nod for injured ace pitcher Adam SOWELL. The Karlskoga hurler tossed a one-hitter over four innings before being relieved by Daniel ERIKSSON who pitched three solid innings to earn the victory.
ROVIROSA and Kent KARLSSON homered for the Bats who will be competing for the national championship for the first time in the club’s 15-year history.
Karlskoga scored eight times in the first two innings in Game 2 to build a commanding 8-2 lead and then withheld a late rally by Stockholm to take the game and series, 15-12. Bjorn JOHANNESEN and Dean LINDBERG each homered for the Bats.
Sundbyberg will be making their sixth straight finals appearance after rallying past Tranas 10-9 in Game Three. The Heat took the first game 6-3 and Tranas won the next game, 5-2.
Per LINDGREN and Will RICKARD both connected for home runs as Sundbyberg erupted for seven runs to overcome a 9-3 Tranas lead and advance to a familiar setting – the league finals.