With the best ball weather, the Wolfsburg Blackbirds received the third team of the Braunschweig 89ers for the all -important DoubleHeader in the association league last weekend. It was prepared for a baseball thriller: While Braunschweig had to win both games to secure a play-off place, the hosts from Wolfsburg were enough for a single win-and it should be fought hard.
The guests from Braunschweig traveled with full bench – including numerous jumpers from the first and second team. You noticed the 89ers that they had big plans. But the Blackbirds held against everything they had – led by the Cuban Pitcher Kike, who did not allow a single run in the first three inning. Braunschweig also had a real veteran on the hill with the American Toporek, which in turn made only two points. A high-class pitcher duel that captivated the spectators in Wolfsburg from the start.
After the regular pitcher change-only three innings can be thrown by players with a foreign passport-the game remained extremely narrow. The decision was ultimately made by a moment of the extra class: Danilo Zayas from the 89ers drog a Grand Slam Homerun over the fence and thus brought four runs for Braunschweig to the scoreboard. The Blackbirds were not beaten, in the last inning we fought again with a gap of only two points to “Bases Loaded” – but the decisive hit no longer wanted to succeed. Final score: 6: 8 for Braunschweig.
The second game also started with the same pitching constellation-and again Kike got a strong day. After three flawless innings, he handed over to Walter, who gave his comeback on the Mound after a long injury break. Despite the long break, he showed a sovereign performance and allowed little.
The Blackbirds turned the tables aggressively and gained a lead of four runs with which it went into the last inn. But the Braunschweigers showed morality again: at Bases Loaded and two from Danilo Zayas again came to the record – this time, however, the Wolfsburgers decided on an “intentional walk” so as not to risk any further damage with a possible hit. A clever move: the 89ers shortened to three points, but the subsequent blow was a so -called “Blooper” (a blow into the room between Infield and Outfield) could be caught by Martin in reverse – the Wolfsburg goods were redeemed and the game was out.
With the 8: 5 success in the second game, the Blackbirds not only secured the well-deserved split in this nerve-wracking Doubleader, but also the much-longed-for and much acclaimed entry into the play-offs. The joy in the Wolfsburg camp was huge – and the opponent for the semi -finals is already clear: it goes to Braunschweig, where the second team of the 89ers is now waiting for the blackbirds. A revenge is in the air-and the next baseball thriller seems inevitable.
