Heidenheim
now has won German baseball titles in 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and
2023. They now moved into sole possession of second place in the all-time
ranking behind record title holder Mannheim Tornados (11).
It was a
thrilling final series. Heidenheim won game one 17-8. Then Paderborn tied the
series with a 7-2 win in game two. In game three the Heidekoepfe overcame a
late 0-4 deficit to beat the Untouchables 7-4. In the decisive fourth game of
the series Daniel Vavrusa had two RBI, while Shawn Larry scored twice to
produce enough run support for Mortensen’s gem.
The
Heidekoepfe, which first in the south after the regular season, reached the
finals after defeating the Dohren Wild Farmers and Guggenberger Legionaere
Regensburg in the quarter and semi-finals. Paderborn, which was the
number-three seed in the north behind northern champion Bonn Capitals, beat the
Mainz Athletics and defending champion Bonn on their way to a return trip to
the finals, where they now have lost two years in a row.
For the Untouchables the season is not yet over. As runner up they will host the Guggenberger Legionaere in the finals of the German Baseball Cup on October 7 and 8, a league-cup style tournament, which will determine the second participant for next year’s European Champions Cup from Germany besides newly crowned champion Heidenheim.
Photo by Thomas Schoenenborn
