Highlights of Game 1 between Haar and Solingen

Highlights of Game 2 between Haar and Solingen

The German playoffs started last weekend with the first two games of the quarterfinals. Three of the four matchups are tied at 1-1. Only the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg were able to win both games. Thanks to strong pitching performances by Mike Bolsenbroek and Gianny Fracciolla Regensburg won 4-1 and 5-1 against the Hamburg Stealers and need just one more win to clinch a spot in the semis.

Meanwhile the other three series will go at least four games. Reigning champion Solingen Alligators had to settle for the split after a 7-1 win and a 3-5 loss against the Haar Disciples. In game one Andre Hughes and Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez kept Haar to one run with Marquez-Ramirez striking out five in four no-hit innings in relief. One day later Gabe Sandersius struck out nine to lead the Disciples to the victory.

Northern champion Bonn Capitals needed a two-run double by Wilson Lee in the ninth to force extra innings in game one against the Mainz Athletics, where they scored twice in the tenth to prevail 5-3. They overcame eight strong innings by Jan-Niclas Stöcklin in the process. In the second game Mainz held on to a 3-2 win, edging out Lee, who went deep for a solo home run but also took the loss.

The Untouchables Paderborn used a curious pitching strategy to unnerve the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe in a 5-3 win in game one. In the second, Heidenheim scored six runs in the sixth en route to a 9-1 win to tie the series. Paderborn used five pitchers in the first and six in the second match to give the powerful Heidenheim offense various looks on the mound.

Games three to five will be played from Saturday to Sunday.