by Peter Ferak, coverguy.wordpress.com
The Athletics steamrolled the Schwaz Tigers and are now looking to get a good start into the ABL-Finals in Kufstein this weekend. Meanwhile, the Vikings grabbed a ‘last minute ticket’ and will try to take advantage of their homefield-advantage in the first two games. This year they are 12-4 on home-turf. If they want to keep the series open they need at least one win at home.
The two teams take a distinct approach to the game
The UNION Kufstein Vikings are a hard working team that’ll find a way on base and isn’t afraid to pressure the opposition with bunts and steals. They will scrape in runs here and there. The question is how well they can keep down the opposing bats. It’s going to be the Vikings’ Battle as it has been in the past years, they always find a way to rally their troops for the post-season, even if that means bringing back a pitcher who hasn’t thrown an inning all season.
The key to success for the fierce warriors from Tirol will be to pitch outstanding games. Everything they lack on defense and offense they need to compensate for with their pitching. Luckily, their two best players are their two starters: Werner Harrasser an Austrian all-time great and Australian Todd Fairbrother.
In the other corner of the rink the Athletics are prepping for their fight, listening carefully to the words coming out of the coaches’ moustache, and wiping the sweat from the forehead. The Series against the Tigers didn’t prepare them for a dog-eat-dog type of fight, which is what the Vikings are all about. In years past when the A’s took one in the chin they had a hard time getting up again. So the question is how they will respond when the oil runs out and the old engine starts to scrape and scream.
Are the Athletics too strong this season?
If they find themselves in difficulty they will have to keep everything a float and deter from pushing against the current. And it seems they finally have the right set of characters to do that. The big three bats: Arian Quirantes, Martin Rabengruber, and Michael Gehringer carried them all season, now it’s time for them to come through in the up-coming ABL-Finals. Finally, for the A’s, the supporting cast complemented their top-players. They are a very well-rounded team that is solid across the diamond, strong on the mound, and averages over ten runs a game this post-season. If only the Vikings didn’t have a reputation for spoiling great seasons.
Schedule:
Saturday, September 27:
13:00 Vikings – Athletics
16:00 Vikings – Athletics
Saturday, October 4:
13:00 Athletics – Vikings
15:30 Athletics – Vikings*
Sunday, October 5:
13:00 Athletics – Vikings*
(*if necessary)