The Guggenberg Legionnaires from Regensburg are among the title favorites in the new season of the Baseball Bundesliga, which begins at the weekend. The ambitions for a sixth championship title are obvious – and those responsible express them quite confidently: “Yes, it is very clear that there are high expectations here, without a doubt,” confirms coach Martin Helmig, baseball legend and former national coach. The Legionnaires also play internationally in the Champions Cup.
International team should set course for championship title
Helmig and his colleagues have specifically strengthened the team for the new season. They looked for real difference players and put together an international team. “We have a lot of national players here and a good core of our German team, but we’re always trying to strengthen ourselves,” Helmig told BR.
US players bring a lot of experience
For the goal of “playing at the top,” the Legionnaires have also received support from the USA, the motherland of baseball. In mid-March, 32-year-old US pitcher Scott Harkin moved to the Danube. Not a man of many words, but with a lot of experience: “Great stadium, quiet city, it’s peaceful, I like it here,” is how he sums up his first impression of Regensburg in the BR interview. Harkin played in the American Atlantic League, but also impressed in other top leagues from Mexico to Australia.
The 31-year-old American Terrell Joyce also strengthens the Guggenberg Legionnaires. The “power hitter” came from the Bonn Capitals and has also moved around a lot in his career. But it’s not just the Americans that matter. Because their use on the field is limited, there is no limit for players with EU passports.
Finnish newcomer has “retrained” on baseball
A rather exotic newcomer, for example, is Konsta Kurikka. The blonde Finn moved to Regensburg as a thrower. His country is not exactly known as a baseball nation. Nevertheless, he is something of a national hero in Finland: Kurikka played the Finnish national sport Pesäpallo very successfully. It is very similar to baseball. Three years ago he switched to baseball so that he could play internationally. “The difference is that we don’t have a pitcher’s mound like in baseball, so I had to learn to throw from the mound. But now I’m pretty good and I’m getting better every day,” he promises in the BR interview.
In Regensburg, Konsta Kurikka wants to further develop his baseball skills and also try out for the US professional league MLB. The conditions for this are simply the best for the Legionnaires, the 23-year-old praises the Upper Palatinate team: “This is one of the best clubs in Europe, has the best training facilities, so this is a very good place to get better as a baseball player .”
Talents from our own sports boarding school
The Guggenberg Legionnaires also benefit from the high level of promotion of young talent. Regensburg is home to the State Baseball Center, the Federal Base South and the Academy.
The sports boarding school has also been supporting Edoardo Cornelli for two years. The Italian U18 international is considered one of the greatest baseball talents in Europe. For the new season, Cornelli is moving from the Academy team to the Legionnaires’ Bundesliga team. “I’m very happy about the chance to play in the first Bundesliga now. I want to help the team win,” emphasizes the 17-year-old. “The Academy is a good place to learn more about baseball, we also learn mental toughness here. I really like the atmosphere here and the people who train us here.”
Top sport and hamburgers
The start of the season for the Legionnaires is away at the weekend with two games against the German champions Heidenheim – the Regensburg team’s eternal rivals. The first home games against Mainz are on April 12th and 13th. In the largest baseball stadium in Germany, Regensburg fans can expect not only top-class sport, but also the best atmosphere, promises coach Martin Helmig: “We’ll play hard until the end, there will be excitement. You should really come to the stadium, have a hamburger, Grab a drink and have a nice day.” And you can always talk to people if you don’t understand a move or a referee’s decision: there are “rule explainers” in the stands.
2024-04-05 09:16:46
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