The series between Haydenheim and Regensburg provides a MLB vibe.
On the Ascension Day baseball long weekend, the teams will face a test. Participants from each will play four games over the doubleheader on the sixth and seventh days. The four matches of the Bundesliga Southern League will be between the Gungburg Legionnaires and the Heidenheimers. On Wednesday (7:00 PM) and Thursday (2:00 PM) in Regensburg, and on Friday (7:00 PM) and Saturday (2:00 PM) in East Schwabia, the battle for the top spot in the standings will intensify. The Munich-Hall Disciples and the Mainz Athletics will play a doubleheader on Thursday (starting at 12:00 PM) in Hall and two nine-inning games on Saturday (7:00 PM) and Sunday (1:00 PM). The two matches between the Stuttgart Reds and the Hünstetten STORM (Thursday/Sunday) will be doubleheaders.
The two top teams from the south will meet for the last time in this year’s regular season, ending with four games on Saturday. Gungburg Legionnaires hold a better starting position. After the first third of the season, Regensburg leads with an 8-2 record at the top of the table, followed closely by Heidenheim (5:3). But it’s hard to see a trend from this situation. Both opponents also had victories early in the season, making it difficult to determine the favorites for the top showdown.
The rehearsal results of the two heavyweight figures from the southern group are equally mixed. The Legion faced a second defeat of the season in the Bavarian derby against Hall, in front of their home fans. The debut of new pitcher Aljo Suyak didn’t fully meet expectations. Nevertheless, the American’s signing shortly before the marathon week certainly wasn’t a coincidence. It can be assumed that Suyak will support regular starters Joe Cedeno DeLeon and Scott Hagan. At least elsewhere, alarms have been lifted: Alex Schmidt and Devin Ramirez can both play after their collision on Saturday. However, Heidenheim unexpectedly lost to bottom-ranked Hünstetten. However, this may not change the course of the summit. With Sven Schuler, Mike Bohlsonbrook, Jared Mortenson, and Drew Jansen, Heidenkopf also has enough options on the pitcher’s mound to seriously address the plan in the coming days. Fans can expect an exciting clash between the two dominant southern teams of the past decade in the form of a four-game series, as we know it in the USA. The remaining schedule for the southern quartet is not as tight. After the two games on Thursday, the Munich-Hall Disciples and Mainz Athletics as well as the Stuttgart Reds and Hünstetten Storm can rest on Friday. The Disciples and Athletics drew before the game. Four wins and four losses mean equal records for the two playoff-bound teams. In the first clash this year, Mainz won twice at home (9:3, 6:0).
Hall and Mainz are currently where Stuttgart Reds want to go. Fifth place is currently a reflection of the Swabians. In order to avoid falling behind in the playoff race before the second half of the season, the Bad Cannstatt team is almost forced to win back-to-back against sixth-placed Hünstetten. The Storm’s recent coup against Heidenheim caused a sensation. Meanwhile, the “Reds” suffered two defeats in Mainz. Stuttgart’s seven defeats (three victories) are the most in the Southern League.