Regensburg strikes back in German championship series

The German championship series moved from Mainz, where the Athletics took advantage of their home field advantage by winning both homegames, to Regensburg, where the Legionaere were in a must win situation. If they lost it would have been the second consecutive championship series bust for the team from Regensburg. Last year they fell in five games to the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe. But this game they would let themselves be ousted. 

In what was 1,635 fans saw a real pitchers duel, in which both pitchers were flat out dominant. Dutch international Mike Bolsenbroek lasted 7.2 innings for Regensburg, while Jan-Niclas Stoecklin lasted 7 innings. Bolsenbroek allowed only four hits as he walked five and struck out six, Stoecklin issued the sole run of the game on four hits. He walked three and struck out seven.

Perhaps it was because of the must win situation but Regensburg started the game rather nervous. Thanks to an error in the top of the first inning, Mike Bolsenbroek was in trouble but got out of the inning without any damage.

Regensburg on its turn scored the opening run, and what appeared to be the game winning run, when Nino Sacasa got on third base and was driven in on Mike Ehmcke’s sacrifice. This lead by Regensburg was the first of the team in this year’s championship series.

The Athletics pushed one more time in the eighth inning when Max Boldt led off with a walk, followed by a double to center field, hit by Trey Stover to get runners in scoring position. But then manager Kai Gronauer decided to pull Mike Bolsenbroek in favor of Jonathan Eisenhuth, who recorded the final out of the eighth and retired the side in the ninth for the save.

Mike Bolsenbroek earned the win and Jan-Niclas Stoecklin took the loss. Marcel Jimenez was the best hitter as he collected two hits out of three at bats, half of the total number of hits that Regensburg collected.

With this win Regensburg is back in the best of five series. They are still in a must win situation though. But if they win they still have a chance to clinch their sixth championship. If Mainz wins tomorrow’s game, the team will win its second German championship ever.