Summary
After allowing just one series to be played the previous weekend, the weather was again a deterrent to scheduled play in the German Bundesliga, with the Paderborn-Cologne series needing to be postponed and cool temperatures marking play across the country.
In the North, Bonn got off to the expected start, with a sweep of Hamburg, while a 14-inning contest in Berlin ended with the guests from Dohren laughing last.
In the South, last year’s juggernauts from Heidenheim and Regensburg stumbled out of the blocks, with each taking a loss, allowing Tübingen, who scored 26 runs in Ulm, to enjoy the view from the top of the standings after the first weekend of play.
Results (box scores linked)
North
Bonn Capitals v. Hamburg Stealers (12-1, 4-0)
Untouchables Paderborn v. Cologne Cardinals (ppd, ppd)
Berlin Flamingos v. Dohren Wild Farmers (4-5, sspd)
Bye week: Dortmund Wanderers.
South
IT sure Falcons Ulm v. Tübingen Hawks (9-14, 2-12)
Heidenheim Heideköpfe v. Mainz Athletics (7-2, 5-9)
Munich-Haar Disciples v. Guggenberger Legionäre Regensburg (5-4, 4-11)
Mannheim Tornados v. Stuttgart Reds (3-5, sspd)
Highlights
Bonn’s Noah Lindt, who as mister-ball.com has reported has signed to play at Vernon Community College (TX), allowed just two hits in six innings, striking out eight, in a 12-1 win.
Game 2 in the Bonn-Hamburg series saw the Bundesliga debut of former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas. The 29-year-old Lithuanian, who pitched in parts of four MLB seasons for the Pirates, and who spent last year in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball, struck out the side on nine pitches in his lone inning of work.
Berlin and Dohren needed 14 innings to determine a winner in Game 1, with Dohren scoring twice in the final frame to break the 3-3 tie. The Flamingos got the tying run into scoring position with two outs in their half of the inning, but the Lithuanian Edvardas Matusevicius, who threw 102 pitches in six innings of relief, collected his eleventh strikeout to end the game and collect the W. The five-hour Game 1 resulted in Game 2 extending until 9:30 pm, when the floodlights had to be turned off per local regulations. The game will be continued at an undetermined time, with the Wild Farmers leading 10-6 and needing just three outs to secure the sweep.
Game 2 in the Mannheim-Stuttgart series was suspended due to darkness, with the Tornados leading 3-2 after seven innings. The game will be continued at an undetermined time.
Tübingen’s big offseason acquisition, Will Germaine, went hitless in Game 1 against Ulm (0-for 2, three walks) but swung a big bat in Game 2, going 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBI.
Heidenhim’s Mitch Franke bashed two home runs in Game 2’s 7-2 victory over Mainz.
Regensburg’s Kaleb Bowman picked up where he left off last season, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 in five innings in Game 2 against Haar.
Standings
| North | |||
| W | L | ||
| Bonn | 2 | 0 | |
| Dohren | 1 | 0 | |
| Berlin | 1 | 2 | |
| Hamburg | 1 | 3 | |
| Cologne | 0 | 0 | |
| Dortmund | 0 | 0 | |
| Paderborn | 0 | 0 | |
| South | |||
| W | L | ||
| Tübingen | 2 | 0 | |
| Stuttgart | 1 | 0 | |
| Regensburg | 1 | 1 | |
| Heidenheim | 1 | 1 | |
| Mainz | 1 | 1 | |
| Haar | 1 | 1 | |
| Mannheim | 0 | 1 | |
| Ulm | 0 | 2 | |