Saturday:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Soroptimist Stockerauer Cubs
The A’s travelled to Stockerau to play the Cubs in a matchup that wasn’t expected to be too much of a challenge for the standings leader, although an injury to Andre Gruber put a hole in the A’s defense. After the A’s leadoff in the second inning reached on an error, Martin Rabengruber knocked a triple to right to bring in the first run of the game. In the fourth and fifth innings, the A’s extended their lead to 5-0 by way of homeruns off the bats of David Burns and Johnny Kashuba. For the hosts, their bats had trouble with Attnang SP Schrittwieser from the get go, until Wolfgang Strini took over on the bump for the guests. The Cubs found a way to mount some offense against the reliever, but the A’s countered with a couple more runs to protect their lead in the late innings. Final score: 7-4.
A pitchers duel was on tap for Game 2, with Josh Castanza on the hill taking on Scott Holstein of the hosts. Each has had some impressive starts this season and proven their value to their respective teams, putting this game in the limelight for Austrian Baseball. Just as in the first game the A’s struck first, but the Cubs came right back with some runs of their own, using some tactical execution, defensive errors, and infield hits to mark up three runs. While Castanza recovered to end up striking out 14 on the day, Hosltein trumped him by allowing just two hits over nine innings. The two had their opposing offenses well in hand over the final innings, so that the final score of 3-1 saved a split for the hosts, which marked just the third victory a team has picked up against the defending champion A’s.
Kufstein Vikings @ RiCo Highlanders
Thomas Krimbacher, who was outstanding last week, was tabbed to start again this week against the Highlanders. The key over the weekend would be to again keep the hitters honest with lots of strikes. Dominik Gerner got to start for the Highlanders, which was a good omen for the Vikings, as they put runners on base at will and got on the board early. The highlight of the high scoring game was a homer from Mark Marelich, who went 4-4 in the game. While the hosts were able to get on the board late, they never put the Vikings lead in question and the Vikes took it 15-5.
Game two was the pitching debut for Australian Wayne Ough for the host Highlanders, but it started unceremoniously as his defense bumbled about and allowed three runs in the first. Ough recovered quickly, though, and with the help of his patchwork defense didn’t give the guests many more chances to get on base. Run support also found its way into the Highlander dugout, as they battled against Werner Harrasser, who has been hit around a bit recently. They went on to post 13 runs, and give up just one more to their guests, earning an important split.
Sunday:
Schwaz Tigers @ Vienna Metrostars
As expected, the teams fighting over third place were armed to the teeth for the battle. The Metrostars gave Richard Alzinger his ABL debut on the Spenadlwiese mound. His team didn’t give much support early on, however, as they fell behind 0-5 early. Working their way back in to the game slowly, they put up run after run until they had overcome not just the brutal heat but Tigers top pitcher Paul Astl to tie the game at five. In the eighth, Haisjackl took over the bump for the guests. The Mets capitalized on the pitching change, using a walk-off hit in the ninth to win 6-5.
Game two saw Haisjackl return to the mound, and the Metrostars broke out the tough wood against him to grab the lead. The heat played an important factor in the game, wreaking havoc with the concentration of both teams. The back and forth of mistakes allowed the Tigers to keep the high scoring affair close, and in the last inning they found a way to score three and knotted it at 10 to force extra innings. Haisjackl, still on the mound even after pitch number 200 on the day, was given a lead in the extra frame, and made it work. With the bases loaded and the score at 13-11, he got the Mets hitter to ground out, picking up a well deserved win.
Vienna Wanderers @ Schwechat Blue Bats
The Wanderers, on the road in Schwechat, showed from the first inning that they were ready to sweep. They were also ooking to break the grasp which opposing pitcher Fabian Hirnschal has held over their lineup over the last few times they’ve faced him. With the first couple extra base hits, they felt the liberation of their bats, and kept it going from their, running up a 7-1 lead over their hosts. Clemens Cichocki was making his first start of the season since returning to Vienna a month ago, and played the roll of hero on the mound, striking out 13 Blue Bats. While Cichocki was sitting down the opponents hitters, his own team kept the basepaths busy, ultimately taking a 11-2 win in the first game of the day.
Hungarian National Team pitcher Zsolt Zalabai hoped to turn around his teams fortunes in the second game, matching up against Tate Kelly, who would be making his final appearance in the Wanderers uniform this season. It wouldn’t be a nice farewell for Kelly, as he was yanked after the first hitter reached base in favor of import Chris Magarian. While Magarian allowed the runner to score, he was given plenty of support by his offense: they had no problem reaching base against Zalabai and won the game 20-3 in seven innings.
RESULTS
Saturday:
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Soroptimist Stockerauer Cubs
Game 1: 7:4 – WP: T. Schrittwieser; LP: M. Schneider; S: W. Strasser;
HR: J. Kashuba; D. Burns;
Game 2: 1:3 – WP: S. Holstein (CG); LP: J. Castanza (CG);
Kufstein Vikings @ RiCo Highlanders
Game 1: 15:5 – WP: T. Krimbacher; LP: D. Gerner;
HR: M. Marelich;
Game 2: 4:13 – WP: Wayne Ough; LP: W. Harrasser;
Sunday:
Vienna Wanderers @ Schwechat Blue Bats
Game 1: 11:2 – WP: C. Cichocki (CG); LP: F. Hirnschal;
Game 2: 3:20 – WP: C. Magarian; LP: Z. Zalabai;
HR: R. Bermudez;
Schwaz Tigers @ Vienna Metrostars
Game 1: 5:6 – WP: H. Weiser Jr.; LP: F. Haisjackl;
HR: A. Hilliard;
Game 2: 13:11 (10) – WP: F. Haisjackl (CG); LP: L. Rauch;
{mrb-standing:austria-2011}