North Division
The Solingen Alligators (16-2) continue to be the team to beat in the Bundesliga heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Dominik Wulf .480 (24-for-50) leads the league best offense (.332) while the talented duo of Andre Hughes 7-1 (2.28) and Enorbel Marquez Ramirez 5-1 (1.07) anchor a staff with a league-leading 1.55 ERA. American imports SS-P Joey Besl and 2B Ronald Shore have this squad primed for a run at a second straight German Championship.
The Paderborn Untouchables (14-6) boast the league’s top hitter in Octavio Medina .489 (22-for-45) and is hitting .326 as a team. Benigno Ozuna 6-2 (2.51) and Eugene Heilmann 4-3 (2.40) lead a staff sporting a sparkling 2.70 ERA. The Untouchables have championship pedigree and the talent to dethrone the Alligators.
The Bonn Capitals (14-8) possess one of the league’s top hurlers in Tim Henkenjohann 9-1 (1.90) who has fanned 104 hitters in 71 innings. In 21 career starts in the 1st league, Henkenjohann has allowed four or less hits 12 times and three or less runs 14 times. The Capitals also have one of the league’s top hitters in Christian Nsien .467 (28-for-60) and are hitting .274 as a unit.
| Team | Won | Loss |
|---|---|---|
| Solingen | 16 | 02 |
| Paderborn | 14 | 06 |
| Bonn | 14 | 08 |
| Cologne | 11 | 08 |
| HSV | 07 | 12 |
| Neunkirchen | 07 | 13 |
| Hannover | 00 | 20 |
The Cologne Cardinals (11-8) combined one of the top hitting teams (.306) in the Bundesliga a year ago with an impressive pitching staff (3.17). However, this year the Cardinals are struggling offensively hitting just.229 but scored 16 runs in a win over Neunkirchen last weekend. Dirk Fries 6-3 (2.35) is the team ace as Cologne eyes another playoff berth.
The HSV Stealers (7-12) have won 4-of-6 games led by a pair of tough hitters in Jochen Feindt .340 (18-for-53) and Brehan Murphy .328 (19-for-64) to keep their playoff hopes alive. Marcel Brede 2-3 (4.79) is the team ace.
The Neunkirchen Nightmares (7-13) still have visions of a playoff berth and have a couple of talented hitters in Urs Kortas .333 (22-for-66) and Bill Secor .316 (18-for-57) who is also the team ace with a 4-5 record and a 4.26 ERA.
The Hannover Regents (0-20) remain winless in the top league after going 18-10 in the 2nd league a year ago. A league-worst 9.10 ERA has doomed the Regents who are led by Andreas Wiese .277 (13-for-47) and Ortwin Stotz .268 (15-for-56).
South Division
The Regensburg Legionare (17-4) are 43-6 in the regular season over the last two seasons and have their sights set on another finals appearance after finishing runner-up a year ago. Klaus Hopfensperger .451 (23-for-51) leads a squad hitting .331.
The Mainz Athletics (15-7) have positioned themselves to make another post-season run and have two capable hurlers in Manuel Moller 7-1 (2.28) and Nils Hartkopf 2-1 (2.68). Sascha Lutz .500 (28-for-56) is the top hitter on a team hitting a solid .281.
The Heidenhein Heidkopfe (13-8) knocked perennial power Paderborn out of the playoffs last year and took eventual champions Solingen to the limit. A potent offensive attack led by with Simon Guhring .471 (33-for-70) and Benjamin Himes .469 (23-for-49) leads the league with a .349 mark and defeated Regensburg this past weekend.
The Mannheim Tornados (13-9) have their sights set on a playoff berth after a forgettable 9-19 record in 2006. Marvin Appiah .407 (24-for-59) and William Hess .404 (21-for-52) lead an offensive attack hitting .278 while Francisco Zapata 6-1 (3.17) anchor the pitching staff.
| Team | Won | Loss |
|---|---|---|
| Regensburg | 17 | 04 |
| Mainz | 15 | 07 |
| Heidenheim | 13 | 08 |
| Mannheim | 13 | 09 |
| Saarlouis | 12 | 12 |
| Haar | 10 | 14 |
| Gauting | 08 | 16 |
| Tubingen | 03 | 21 |
The Saarlouis Hornets (12-12) have one of the league’s best offensive players in American import Chris Sweeney .444 (32-for-72) who has six 2B, two 3B, seven HR, and 29 RBI’s. Ales Keprta 7-3 (3.75) is the team ace as the Hornets try to stay in the playoff hunt.
The Haar Disciples (10-14) have a solid pitching staff with a nifty 3.07 ERA led by Eddie Aucoin 7-3 (1.88). Theodore Kramer .359 (23-for-64) and Gregor Klinc .313 (20-for-64) are the top hitters for a team hitting just .232.
The Gauting Indians (8-16) won only nine games last year but have been a much better team this season with improved pitching. The talented offensive duo of Chris Howard .349 (22-for-63) and Tim Newman .350 (21-for-60) both have four home runs.
The Tubingen Hawks (3-21) have struggled this season as their pitching staff – which had a 4.74 ERA last season – has a lofty 7.45 mark. Chris Falls .319 (22-for-69) and Marcel Hering .288 (19-for-66) are the top hitters.