German Baseball Finals

GM1 Heidenheim Heidekoepfe - Mannheim Tornados 1-4 Box score

The Tornados have taken a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series of the German finals after winning the opener 4-1 on Saturday in Heidenheim. Martin Dewald (W 6-0), who actually should have been in the United States, beginning his new college year, surprisingly started and led them to the victory with a complete game performance. He gave up just one run on seven hits, while striking out six.

The Heidekoepfe actually had the better start into the match, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame on consecutive two-out hits by Ryan Lilly and Robert Gruber. Lilly reached with a single and scored from first on Gruber’s double. But it was the last time, the favorite would put something productive on the board.

Mannheim on the other hand needed until the fourth to find an answer. After Sascha Lutz and Chris Falls had reached on a single and an error by the first baseman, Billy Hess tied the contest with a sac bunt, plating Lutz. Two batters later they got the lead on a RBI single by Jens Heymer. They added two more runs in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles by Dominik Hoepfner and Falls.

Heidenheim’s Markus Winkler (L 3-1) also went the distance, issuing eight hits, four runs (2 ER) and four walks in nine innings. He struck out three.

Game two of the series will be played on Sunday, August 23 at 1pm, again in Heidenheim.

GM2 Heidenheim Heidekoepfe - Mannheim Tornados 5-0 Box score

The Heidekoepfe have tied the best-of-five championship series in the Baseball-Bundesliga against the Tornados with a 5-0 shutout on Sunday afternoon. One-time Major Leaguer Dusty Bergman (W 3-1) threw a three-hit complete game to lead the way.

Bergman, who pitched for the Anaheim Angels in the big leagues in 2004, issued just three hits and four walks going the distance. He struck out four and allowed just one base runner to reach third base. The defense of Heidenheim helped with three double plays behind him, turned by shortstop Ryan Lilly, second baseman Sam Whitehead and first baseman Robert Gruber.

The offense only needed until the third frame to break the scoreless tie. Whitehead opened the inning with a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt by David Fuesser and scored easily on a double by Ray Stokes. The fast center fielder later scored on a RBI single by Andreas Janzen.

Two periods later the Heidekoepfe loaded the bases with two outs on two walks (one intentional) and an error. Gruber and Peter Dankerl cleared them with a pair of singles to make it 5-0. They couldn’t get anything more going afterwards, but with Bergman pitching a gem, it wasn’t necessary.

Rene Franke (L 1-3) got the starting nod for Mannheim and surrendered five runs (2 ER) on five hits and five bb in seven innings. He struck out two. Jan Ruessel closed it out with a scoreless eighth.

The best-of-five series is going to continue next weekend with games three to possible five at the Roberto Clemente Field in Mannheim.

Playoff-Series
(best-of-five)
Quarterfinals
Regensburg - Hamburg 3-0
Solingen - Mainz 3-0
Paderborn - Mannheim 1-3
Heidenheim - Dortmund 3-0

Semifinals
Regensburg - Mannheim 2-3
Solingen - Heidenheim 2-3

Finals
Heidenheim - Mannheim 3-2

Congrats Heidekoepfe!