Vienna Wanderers sign SS Matt McCallister

With two weeks to go until opening day the Vienna Wanderers strengthen their roster with a new short stop who will arrive just in time for the club’s spring training camp in Italy.

Matthew McCallister

Out of Glendale, California, USA the 23-year-old comes to Austria with 4 years of college ball experience. Matt played two years for the Glendale community college before switching to the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. In High School McCallister was named to the was named to the all-league second team as a junior and as a senior he was named to the all-league first team, all-city second team, was awarded MVP of the East Valley League and Pitcher of the Year. According the Wanderer’s homepage the Mean Green will bring up McCallister’s past and send him to the mound frequently. The right-hander will certainly bring a much-needed improvement at short stop and at the plate. In his last year with the UNLV Rebels he hit for .250 with 14 2B and 3 HR and was named to Perfect Game’s 2014 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team.

With this signing the Vienna Metrostars are the only ABL club left without an import addition for the 2015 season.

EC Qualifier 2015: Austria’s 60-man roster announced!

The ABL season has come to an end but Baseball Austria will not be idle during the offseason. After 2013 Vienna will host the EC qualifying tournament once again in 2015. The ABF is wasting no time and will start preparation work in the offseason with regional work outs. The first step however was the announcement of the expanded 60-man roster which will eventually and through a long selective process be cut down to active roster that will represent the ABF in the tournament held from 27 July to 2 August 2015:

Austrian National Team 60-man roster:

Alteneder Jan Alzinger Richard Astl Paul Bernacki Christoph Bischof Dominik Böhler Hubert Brunnthaler Mark Bunk Christopher Ceska Marcel Christof Benedict Cichocki Clemens Dorffner David Ferak Peter Frick Joachim Godler Johannes Hackl Moritz Hackl Samuel Haisjackl Franz Hauswirth Richard Hirnschal Fabian Husty Benjamin Jäger Marcel Jäger Michael Kalcher Gert Köchl Jochen Koller Michael Kotrba Sascha Letouze Didier Letouzé Thierry Löffler Dominik

Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks Vienna Homerunners Schwaz Tigers Vienna Homerunners Feldkirch Cardinals Hard Bulls Stockerau Cubs Kufstein Vikings Vienna Homerunners Schwechat Blue Bats Vienna Bucks Vienna Homerunners Vienna Homerunners Dornbirn Indians Vienna Wanderers Stockerau Cubs Stockerau Cubs Schwaz Tigers Stockerau Cubs Schwechat Blue Vienna Wanderers Dornbirn Indians Dornbirn Indians Vienna Wanderers Kufstein Vikings Traiskirchen Grasshoppers Vienna Homerunners Vienna Homerunners Vienna Homerunners Vienna Homerunners

Ludescher Stefan Many Amin Niel Elias Niel Florian Obed Ferdinand Peter Simon Plagg Simon Proksch Martin Rieger Jan Rigele Lukas Rupp Ryan Salzmann Benjamin Salzmann Michael Scheicher Lukas Scheicher Matthias Schermer Tobias Schneider Michael Schütz Lukas Seiser Claus Seiser Clemens Siegler Bernhard Simonsen Jakob Strasser Walter Talir Dominik Teufel Matthias Tomsich Christian Weiser Hubert Widemschek Moritz Winder Marcel Zimmerle Felix

Vienna Homerunners Vienna Wanderers Vienna Homerunners Vienna Homerunners Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks Hard Bulls Dornbirn Indians Tulln Ravens Traiskirchen Grasshoppers Vienna Homerunners Hard Bulls Vienna Homerunners Dornbirn Indians Attnang-Puchheim Athletics Diving Ducks Wr. Neustadt Kufstein Vikings Stockerau Cubs Schwechat Blue Bats Diving Ducks Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks Wr. Neustadt Traiskirchen Grasshoppers Vienna Homerunners Attnang-Puchheim Athletics Stockerau Cubs Vienna Homerunners Vienna Wanderers Vienna Homerunners Feldkirch Cardinals Hard Bulls Vienna Wanderers

The coaching staff stayed pretty much the same. The only personnel change is that Hiro Sakanashi – the Vienna Wanderers’ headcoach – will take over as skipper of the Austrian national team. Robert Buchelt – the team’s skipper in 2013 – will however sty on the staff as general manager.

General Manager – Robert Buchelt (AUT)
Headcoach – Hiro Sakanashi (JAP), Headcoach Vienna Wanderers
Pitching-Coach – Dan Hall (USA), Headcoach Dornbirn Indians
Hitting-Coach – Arian Quirantes (CUB), Assistant Coach Stock City Cubs

Stay tuned for more updates as the preparation for a run at the European Championships 2016 continues..

 

ABL 2014 Finals – Round 3 (Games 6 and 7)

 

The Vienna Metrostars are 2014 ABL Champion!!!

Well, well, well…. the season is over and the Vienna Metrostars finished it with style. With their season on the line and trailing 3-2 in the finals series the Metrostars came back to life. In game 6 J.T. Hilliard gave all he had and then some. With one of the best outings all season (and this probably by any ABL pitcher) Hilliard went the distance (8 innings) without allowing a single run. The Dornbirn Indians somehow where not able to produce any offense getting only 4 hits of the Metrostars pitcher. And as you might have guessed 4 hits are not enough to win a game. The Metrostars scored 1 run each in the first three innings to lead the way 3-0. With outstanding offense throughout the entire line-up combined with 3 errors by the Indians defense the lead increased to a 10-0 in the bottom of the 8th inning after which the game was called due to the mercy rule in force in the ABL. (If a team is ahead by 10 runs after 7 innings played the game is called as complete) Dustin Ward – Indians’ game 6 starter – who had been named best pitcher several times throughout the playoffs couldn’t find into the game at all and with the title only one win away he had probably his worst outing going 5 innings allowing 7 runs. The series was now tied at 3-3 and the Metrostars managed to force the winner-takes-it-all game 7.

No surprise there, Jakob Simonsen started for the Vienna Metrostars. And he did it just the way J.T. Hilliard did in game 6. Fired up by the home crowd, Simonsen matched himself not with the Indians offense but more with J.T. Hilliard’s performance. Again  the Metrostars offense got to the Indians very fast scoring 2 runs in the second inning. After three innings they were up 4-0. This was when starter Paul Astl got taken out of the game and the greatly disputed late addition to the Indians roster – Franz Haisjackl – came in. However, the Metrostars were unstoppable once again, now with the trophy ever so close. After 3 more runs in the 4th inning no one doubted who will emerge as victor of game 7. In the meantime Jakob Simonsen had himself a shutout going into the 7th inning allowing only 5 hits to a surrendering Indians offense. Some say defense wins a championship – well I would like to say this time defense LOST a championship after 3 errors in game 6 the Indians had 4 in game 7. The Metrostars ended things in the 7th inning scoring 3 more runs to end game 7 prematurely with another 10-0 victory. On the final weekend of the season the Indians got outscored 20-0 by the now reigning champion. After being ahead 3-2 in the series this probably marks one of the biggest collapses in the ABL history.

For the Vienna Metrostars this win comes just right after a heart breaking defeat by the Wanderers in last years’ finals. This title marks the 13th title for the Viennese and the story of the 2014 finals will be told quite some time. On a side note, 2014 also marks the last year of the present ABL trophy as in a curious moment Peter Ferak Jr. excessively celebrating knocked the trophy of the presentation table. Let’s see what the ABF will come up with for a new trophy.

Player of the Round

Last but not least also for round 3 of the ABL finals I want to honor the best players of the round. Starting with the best pitcher(s) of round 3. It was a really tight race between the two Metrostars starters and a tough decision. Both – J.T. Hilliard and Jakob Simonsen – pitched a complete game shutout against one of the most dangerous offenses in Austrian baseball. Although winning the decisive game 7 Jakob Simonsen (7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA, 1.143 WHIP) was definitely a key player and deserves a shoutout but it was J.T. Hilliard in game 6 who earned the nomination as Pitcher of the round as he had a slightly better outing (8 IP, 4, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA, 0.750 WHIP). This marks the first and only round of 3 where the Metrostars were able to bring out the best pitcher.

But also in the offense – after two Indians – the position player of the round nomination goes to a player of the reigning champion. The Dornbirn Indians offense was simply not existant in round 3 which made the choice fairly easy. For the Vienna Metrostars it was mostly a team effort to which every single player contributed his part. Two of the most productive were Hubert Weiser Jr. who went 3-6 (8 PA, 6 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0.500 AVG, 0.625 OBP, 0.500 SLG, 1.125 OPS) and Dominik Löffler who went 5-8 in round 3 including one double and scoring 4 runs (10 PA, 8 AB, 4 R, 5 H, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0.625 AVG, 0.600 OBP, 0.750 SLG, 1.350 OPS). But the most outstanding position player – for the second time in the playoffs – was Didier Letouze going 3-4 scoring 3 runs (7 PA, 4 AB, 3 R, 3 H, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2 HBP, 0.750 AVG, 0.857 OBP, 0.750 SLG, 1.607 OPS).

Vienna Metrostars (1) vs. Dornbirn Indians (3)

Game 1: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 6-10

Game 2: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 2-1

Game 3: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 4-12

Game 4: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 8-6

Game 5: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 6-10

Game 6: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 0-10

Game 7: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 0-10

ABL 2014 Finals – Round 2 (Games 3, 4 and 5)

What a weekend round 2 of the 2014 ABL finals has been. Game 3 started just like games 1 and 2 the week before. It looked like both teams were matched up even. After the Dornbirn Indians drew first blood in the 3rd inning scoring 2 runs the vienna Metrostars were able to tie the game again. The spiel continued until the middle of the 5th inning with the game now tied at 4-4. This was however when the Indians offense broke out against Metrostars Starter Jakob Simonsen. After giving up 2 runs each in the 3rd and 4 th inning he allowed 3 more in the 5th and 4 more in the 6th before Skipper Tim Patrick took him out of the game. The score was now 12-4 – a hole from which the Metrostars couldn’t find a way out against the superb Indians Starter Paul Astl (more on that later on). Thus, the Indians took the sereies lead 2-1.

This lead shouldn’t last long though. In game 4 which was played subsequent to game 3 first started of in known fashion. The Indians scored first again – 2 runs in the 1st – and in the second inning the Metrostars – again – tied the game. This time however the Indians offense was not able to much pressure on the Metrostars pitching staff. It was time for the Metrostars to send an answer to the steamroll put on them in game 3. By the 7th inning the Black and Orange were up 8-3. Starter J.T. Hilliard again provided last year’s finalist with a quality start taking the game into the 7th allowing only 5 runs (3 earned) before being substituted by Stefan Ludescher. The score was now 8-5. AS the Metrostars’ bats went cold after the 6th innings the Indians came close to a comeback in the bottom of the 9th closing the gap to 8-6 but it was not enough. The series was now tied again at 2-2 and the stage was set for game 5 on Sunday before the series would return to Vienna for a game 6 and maybe game 7.

After getting some rest after to demanding games it was time for game 5. The pressure was on as the team winning would take a 3-2 series lead to Vienna putting the other team on the brink of elimination. This time the Metrostars scored first but neither team could carve out a big lead or hold on to their lead. Both starters held the opponents’ offense production to a minimum. Stefan Ludescher (last nights’ closer) went for 6 innings allowing 4 runs (1 earned) and Michael Jäger who got lit up by the Metrostars in game 1 lasted for 4.1 innings giving up 4 runs (4 earned). After 7 innings the score was tied at 5 runs a piece. With Ludescher gone (he appeared in 4 of the 5 games of the series) First Lutz Rauch took over allowing the tying run. Richard Alzinger got the call to the mound to close out the inning. Unfortunately he could not continue his dominance in the 8th quickly giving up 3 runs (3 earned) and thus the regained on run lead. Hubert Weiser Jr. too couldn’t stop the bleeding – Final score 10-6. The Dornbirn Indians winning 2 games on the weekend are now ahead in the finals series 3-2 and thus only one win away from their 3rd title in franchise history.

The series will return to Vienna on Saturday, 4 October were games 6 and if necessary game 7 will be held. If you haven’t had a chance to watch any finals games, now is the time as it is all or nothing for the Vienna Metrostars. So be assured, it is going to be tough and hard-fought games. A must watch for every baseball fan in Austria!

Player of the Round

Alright, it is time for this rounds’ best players. In round 1 the Indians provided for both position player and pitcher. In round 2 we got to see a lot of different pitchers (11) with a combined score of 28 – 18 in three games it was not much of a pitchers weekend. However, one hurler stood out from the crowd. It was the Dornbirn Indians’ starter of game 3 Paul Astl. Astl who had shown dominance over both the semifinals and finals so far continued to rule the mound. In game 3 he went for a complete game win allowing 4 runs (only 1 earned) to put up outstanding numbers and earn himself a nomination as pitcher of the round (9 IP, W, 11 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).

From the offense point of view round 2 was something of a slugfest supported by erroneous defenses on both side (16 errors!!!). Sticking out from the crowd and in the fight for player of the round were a couple of players. Alex Hilliard (SS, Metrostars) went 7-14 with 2 RBI’s, Benjamin Salzmann (C/2B, Metrostars) went 4-9 with 1 RBI and Dan Hall (DH/RF/P, Indians) went 4-10 with 4 RBI’s. Best offense players from the Vienna Metrostars was Peter Ferak Jr. (1B) going 7-15 hitting for 2 doubles (15 AB, 7 H, 3 R, 3 RBI, 0.600 AVG, 0.600 OBP, 0.733 SLG, 1.333 OPS). But with even slightly better numbers position player of the round is……. Kieran Bradford (C/3B, Indians) going 8-12 with 1 HR (12 AB, 8 H, 5 R, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SF, 0.667 AVG, 0.600 OBP, 0.916 SLG, 1.516 OPS).

Vienna Metrostars (1) vs. Dornbirn Indians (3)

Game 1: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 6-10

Game 2: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 2-1

Game 3: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 4-12

Game 4: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 8-6

Game 5: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians 6-10

Game 6: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars, Sat, 04.10. 1300

Game 7*: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars, Sat, 04.10. 1530

*if necessary

ABL/BBL Playoffs – Week 5

Last weekend besides the ABL Finals in Vienna – the Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks and the Vienna Bucks squared off in Week 5 of the ABL/BBL playoffs. The Vienna Bucks are still in contention for a 2015 ABL spot but air is getting thinner. After being swept in week 4 by the Athletics the White and Green out of Vienna tried to snap out of their losing streak. But the weekend didn’t start quite as expected. The Ducks steamrolled the Bucks with an offensive slugfest. Final Score 18-1. But the Bucks managed to recover in game 2 of the double-header and the Diving Ducks’ needed some rest apparently. With a pretty close 2 run lead the Bucks won their 4th game of the playoffs. this is only the second loss in 6 games so far for the Ducks who try to remain in the ABL.

On Sunday the other two teams were assigned for duty. The BSC Kufstein Vikings couldn’t impress so far in the playoffs and unfortunately for the team the Athletics again proved superior. Just as the Ducks the Attnang-Puchheim Athletics were able to overpower their opponent in the first game winning it 13-3. In the second game the Vikings showed a little residence but not enough. The Athletics also took the final game of the weekend and their last against the Vikings during the course of the playoffs (4-0 the game count). The Vikings however got close to their second win of the playoffs. Final Score: 2-1.

Vienna Bucks @ Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks 1-18

Vienna Bucks @ Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks 2-0

BSC Kufstein Vikings @ Athletics Attnang-Puchheim 3-13

BSC Kufstein Vikings @ Athletics Attnang-Puchheim 1-2

Teams	G	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak	E#
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics	8	7	1	0,875	0,0	4	x
Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks	6	4	2	0,667	2,0	-1	7
Vienna Bucks	10	4	6	0,400	4,0	1	3
BSC Kufstein Vikings	8	1	7	0,125	6,0	-3	2

x – clinched ABL spot

Just as after week 4 the playoff picture hasn’t changed all that much. However, the Vienna Bucks are running out of chances as they only have 2 games left to play. Those will be against the Athletics this weekend. It isn’t looking good for the 2014 BBL champion – the Athletics have only lost 1 game so far and the loss came against the second ABL team – The Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks. The Vikings will be playing the Ducks this weekend. Their chances to play in the ABL next season however are close to zero as their magic number is down to two games. But it ain’t over ’til it’s over! With last weeks sweep of the Bucks the Athletics though have already clinched their ABL 2015 spot and for now it looks like the Ducks will be joining them next season but there is still some baseball left to play! So stay tuned as Week 6 could bring the final decision on who’s going to play in the 2015 ABL!!!

 

ABL 2014 Finals – Round 1

Alright, it is on! The ABL 2014 finals are on their way. And they started with a bang. The Dornbirn Indians drew first blood in Game 1 scoring 2 runs in the 1st and 3rd inning each. After adding another run in the 5th inning the Indians managed to hold on to a 5-3 lead until the bottom of the 8th. The Metrostars however weren’t quitting just yet. The crucial moment came when Indians’ head coach pulled his starting pitcher Paul Astl who had pitched a great game thus far only allowing 3 runs (2 earned) over 7 innings. With Michael Jäger on the mound and quite some help providing by the Indians’ defense the Metrostars did not only tie the game but took an astonishing 10-5 lead scoring 7 runs before recording three outs. Fortunately for the Indians, but a tad to late Simon Plagg (2B starter) came in to stop the bleeding. In the 9th the Indians were able to score one more run but that of course was not enough. Thus, the Vienna Metrostars took Game 1 by storm (or better by a storm inning) and the series lead.

Game 2 of the series was no resemblance of the offense power shown by both teams in game 1. The Dornbirn Indians started with Dustin Ward on the mound. As most of you will remember Ward left quite the impression in the semifinals being named Pitcher of the Round twice! For the vienna Metrostars J.T. Hilliard took the ball in game 2. Both starters were able to hurl a great game starting with 2 scoreless frames each. But again, as in game 1, the Indians scored first in the 3rd inning.  The lead however did not last long as the Metrostars came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the 6th. At that point the Metrostars’ skipper took out his starter to give the ball to Stefan Ludescher – who also closed game 1 allowing one run in the 9th – while Dustin Ward stayed on the mound. Both offenses didn’t produce much in the entire game. But it was again the 9th inning and Dornbirn came creeping. After a walk Kieran Bradford made his way to third base after a wild pitch and ground ball out. The stage was set for Simon Plagg. Top of the 9th 2 outs runner on third and the score 1-1. Plagg didn’t take long and scored Bradford with a single to third base. With the Indians’ now ahead 2-1 the Metrostars had one final chance to turn the game around. But Dustin Ward again hurled a scoreless frame to end the complete game win. Thus, the series will continue this Saturday in Dornbirn tied at 1-1.

Player of the Round

Of course BleacherWisdom will again present to you the Player of the Round nominations. Naturally the selection pool has diminished quite a bit as only two teams are remaining. Let’s start with the pitching. In game 1 Paul Astl (Pitcher of the Round in the semifinals round 1) went for 7 innings leaving at a score of 5-3 which would have given him a win. Unfortunately his W was lost during the 8th inning. Never the less a great performance. On the other side, Jakob Simonsen went for 8 innings allowing 5 runs which all together is also quite a reputable outing which secured him the first finals W. Game 2 was more of a rubber match. While the Metrostars combined for 9 innings with J.T. Hilliard and Stefan Ludescher, Dustin Ward again proved to be one of the best – if not the best – pitchers in the ABL recording his first finals win with a complete game (9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP) and the thus the nomination as Best Pitcher of round 1. As far as position players go I would like to say that the production was distributed quite evenly among all players – especially the Metrostars where in game 1 most players recorded 1 hit but only Peter Ferak Jr. was able to get two hits during the course of the game. Game 2, despite Simon Plagg’s heroic RBI single in the 9th wasn’t that much of a slugfest either. Never the less, emerging as best Position Player of round 1 is unsurprisingly a man featured quite often in the regular season Starting 9 and also named one of BleacherWisdom’s starting 9 2014 – Dornbirn Indians’ First Baseman and Catcher Michael Salzmann (8 AB, 4 H, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO, 0.500 AVG, 0.600 OBP).

 

Vienna Metrostars (1) vs. Dornbirn Indians (3)

Game 1: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 6-10

Game 2: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars 2-1

Game 3: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians, Sat, 27.09. 1300

Game 4: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians, Sat, 27.09. 1530

Game 5: Vienna Metrostars @ Dornbirn Indians, Sun, 28.09. 1200

Game 6*: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars, Sat, 04.10. 1300

Game 7*: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Metrostars, Sat, 04.10. 1530

*if necessary

ABL 2014 Finals Schedule

The 2014 ABL Finals are starting tomorrow featurin the Vienna Metrostars (1) and the Dornbirn Indians (3). Due to the final standings the Metrostars will enjoy home field advantage. Thus, Games 1 and 2 will be played on Spenadlwiese, Wien; Games 3-5 will be played in Dornbirn, and Games 6 and 7 (if necessary) will be played back on Spenadlwiese, Vienna. I promise you this fainls series will be an exciting one so make sure you are there to witness some playoff magic!!!

ABL Playoffs 2014 – Round 3 (Game 6)

The semifinals are over and we have to teams advancing to the 2014 ABL finals! The Vienna Metrostars are back on the big stage again after losing to the Vienna Wanderers in 2013 and will try to win it all this year. But they are in competitive company. The Dornbirn Indians fought hard all season and are back in the finals after 11 years. the last time the Indians played in the finals, they won. Both teams win their respective series on a 3 game winning streak 4-2.

After losing two consecutive games against the Wanderers the Indians recovered pretty good and taking 2 games in Dornbirn outscoring the Wanderers 26-4 to set the stage for game 6 in Vienna. It was as tight as it gets, guys. The Indians scored first and went ahead 2-0. With their season on the line the ‘Mean Green’ fought back and were able to tie the game at 2-2 in the eighth inning. But that’s about when luck ran out for the defending champion. After a lead off double by import Kieran Bradford, a hit by pitch and a walk Bradford was able to score on a sac fly by Simon Plagg to take the lead 3-2. In the home half of the 9th the Wanderers could not come back and reliever Dan Hall secured the win. Thus, the defending champion has been decrowned and the Dorbirn Indians take the long-awaited return trip to the ABL finals.

A day before the Vienna Metrostars, keen on returing to the finals faced off against playoff rookie – Stock City Cubs. The Cubs as well were able to holf the Metrostars at bay the entire series and entered game 6 being outscored only by one run (20-21). Talk about a close series! Game 6 started out to be a perfect resemblance of this semifinal series as the Cubs took a tie game into the bottom of the 5th inning. Then all hell – and the Metrostars offense – broke loose. The Black and Orange scored 5 runs off reliever Mark Brunthaler to take an 8-3 lead. This proved to be enough to win game 6 and punch a ticket to the 2014 ABL finals. Final score: 10-5.

Player of the Round

Once again it is time for the Player of the round. Starting with the most outstanding pitcher of round 3, again it was a very tight race at the top. No pitcher was able to go the distance in game 6 – J.T. Hilliard made it through 6 innings and faced two batters in the 7th inning before he was taken out of the game making him the longest lasting starter this round. However with  an outstanding ERA of 1.80 Dustin Ward – starting for the Dornbirn Indians – had the best pitching performance of the weekend (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP). This is the second time Ward came out as the best pitcher. Congratulations! In the offense, based on his overall performance at the plate Didier Letouze – playing 1st Base for the Vienna Metrostars – proved to be the most valuable asset in the line up of last year’s finalist (3 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 0K, 0.667 AVG, 0.800 OBP) followed closely by the Metrostar’s power hitter Benjamin Salzmann (5 AB, 1 R, 3 H, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 0.600 AVG, 0.600 OBP). Now, looking back at all three rounds the Indians are 3 for 3 in the best pitcher department and the Metrostars are 2-3 in the offensive department. This should make for an exciting finals match up starting this Saturday.

Vienna Wanderers (2) vs. Dornbirn Indians (3)

Game 1: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 4-0

Game 2: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 5-4

Game 3: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 4-3

Game 4: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 1-3

Game 5: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 3-23

Game 6: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 3-2

Vienna Metrostars (1) vs. Stock City Cubs (4)

Game 1: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 4-5

Game 2: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 7-3

Game 3: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 1-2

Game 4: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 5-3

Game 5: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 7-4

Game 6: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 5-10

ABL/BBL Playoffs – Week 4

Not only the ABL playoffs were played last weekend! The 2014 ABL/BBL playoffs continued as well with the match up Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Vienna Bucks. The Bucks are the hottest team out of the BBL and are trying to climb up the ladder and gain a spot in the ABL 2015. But this journey is not an easy one. The Athletics after two horrific season are threatened once again with being demoted to the BBL. This probably sparked their inner spirits. The Athletics managed to carve out a really close 15-14 win in the first game of the double-header. In the second game the Vienna Bucks didn’t find an answer and lost 3-7. This sweep puts the Athletics ahead in the standings with 6 games to go. The Vienna Bucks stay in third place and thus on the cusp to a spot in the ABL. However, the white and green out of Vienna are now 3 games behind and have only 4 to go so their chances are plummeting fast.

Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Vienna Bucks 15-14

Attnang-Puchheim Athletics @ Vienna Bucks 7-3

Teams	G	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Attnang-Puchheim Athletics	6	5	1	0,833	0,0	2
Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks	4	3	1	0,750	1,0	1
Vienna Bucks	8	3	5	0,375	3,0	-2
BSC Kufstein Vikings	6	1	5	0,167	4,0	1

The ABL picture hasn’t changed after week 4. The Athletics and Diving Ducks are still keeping their spots and their chances are pretty good considering. Although the ABL Finals will commence this weekend (20.09.) the 4 teams won’t rest as we will see the match ups Vienna Bucks @ Wr. Neutstadt Diving Ducks on Saturday and BSC Kufstein Vikings @ Attnang-Puchheim Athletics. With some luck the Athletics could clinch a spot in the ABL this weekend so it’s sure going to be an exciting weekend for baseball. BleacherWisdom will be back for you with an update after Week 5 play, so stay tuned.

ABL Playoffs 2014 – Round 2 (Games 3, 4 and 5)

I promised you this year’s playoffs are going to be exciting. Round 2 was nothing short of what we saw in round 1 with two one-run games and two two-run games. the Stock City Cubs seem to write history with nearly every game they play. Due to rain on Saturday both games had to be cancelled. Unfortunately the game plan in the playoffs is that usually the games are held on saturday and sunday serves as a back up in case of a rain out. Well so in round 2 of the playoffs there was also a game scheduled for Sunday as well. This lead to the first ABL triple header ever – a sure demanding feat for everybody concerned (players, coaches, umps, fans). The Cubs managed to take the first game of the day with 2-1 and thus the series lead. The lead should not last long as the Metrostars recovered quickly and showed more durability winning both game 4 (5-3) and game 5 (7-4). The Vienna Metrostars thus return to their homefield on Thursday only one win away from the 2014 finals. But don’t count out the Cubs as they have proven to be able to compete with Tim Patrick’s squad.

Onthe other side of Austria the schedule did not have to be changed and the games were played as planed. The Vienna Wanderers backed up Pitcher Fabian Hirnschall with a 3-run 6th inning to take game 4 with a 4-3 win. But much like the Stock City Cubs the ‘Mean Green’ – as the Wanderers like to call themselves – couldn’t uphold the series lead. Thanks to Kieran Bradford the Indians overcame an early 1 run deficit to win game 5 3-1 and even the series. One thing was certain on Sunday, the victor would return to Vienna with a 3-2 series lead only one win away from the finals. And again the Wanderers took a 1 run lead in the second inning but after that everything went downhill. After a 15 run inning by the Indians and 7 more runs in the 3rd inning the game was called prematurely after 5 innings due to a Mercy-Rule. Final score: 23-3. However, game 5 was played under protest by the Vienna Wanderers as the Indians allegedly had to few Austrian native players on the field and thus violating the league’s violations. Thus, the game will be under further review by the ABF commission. Until a final ruling the win will be awarded to the Dornbirn Indians who now lead the series 3-2 but if in fact there had been a violation the win might be awarded to the Wanderers. For now we will have to wait for the ruling and the games 6 and if necessary 7 will be played as scheduled.

Player of the Round

It is now time once again for the Player of the Round. Let’s start again with the best pitcher of round two. It was a pretty tight race between 6 of the 12 starting pitchers as two – Stefan Ludescher (Vienna Metrostars) and Fabian Hirnschal (Vienna Wanderers) – pitched a complete game win allowing only 4 and 3 runs respectively. Overall however, the performance of Dustin Ward of the Dornbirn Indians proved as the best one with an exceptional statline against the reigning ABL champion (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.57 WHIP). Offensively the choice wasn’t easier I have to admit which again proves the pitchers’ dominance in round 2. Again there were a couple of stand out offensive players in this round – 6 players with a batting average of at least .400 – but after careful considerations and due to the fact that he has shown production throughout all of the three games he played player of round 2 is going to be Danny Grauer of the Vienna Wanderers (11 AB, 2 R, 5 H, 1 RBI, 1 K, .455 AVG)

Vienna Wanderers (2) vs. Dornbirn Indians (3)

Game 1: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 4-0

Game 2: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 5-4

Game 3: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 4-3

Game 4: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 1-3

Game 5: Vienna Wanderers @ Dornbirn Indians 3-23

Game 6: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 13.9. 13.00

Game 7: Dornbirn Indians @ Vienna Wanderers 13.9. 15.30*

*if necessary

Vienna Metrostars (1) vs. Stock City Cubs (4)

Game 1: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 4-5

Game 2: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 7-3

Game 3: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 1-2

Game 4: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 5-3

Game 5: Vienna Metrostars @ Stock City Cubs 7-4

Game 6: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 11.9. 20.00

Game 7: Stock City Cubs @ Vienna Metrostars 13.9. 20.00*

*if necessary

 

Please note that this weekend (6.9. and 7.9.) there won’t be any playoff baseball due to the Austrian U18 Championship. But don’t be too sad the following week both the ABL Playoffs and the ABL/BBL Playoffs will return and so will another post to keep you up to date. Stay tuned…