Regensburg Saturday’s game against Regensburg as a heartbreaker for Schanzer Jugend, as they lost the lead late in a 6-5 defeat.
Regensburg was down 4-0 at the bottom of the third inning. With 2 outs and bases loaded, Regensburg took advantage and doubled to get 3 runs on the board.
The bottom of the fifth inning with Ingolstadt leading 5-3 was the turning point of the game. Regensburg homered scoring three runs taking over the lead 5-6.
At the top of the 6th and final inning with 2 Schanzer base runners on in scoring position, 2 outs, and Daniel Koch at bat, the threatening drive was put to a halt with an unexpected strikeout. Ball game!
Schanzer hit one home run on the day. Julian Günther put one out in the third inning, which was his debt he had to pay his coach for missing batting practice.
Raf Dutra toed the rubber for Schanzer Jugend. The pitcher went three innings, allowing three runs on one hit and striking out nine. Tim Graupner threw the remaining two innings out of the bullpen striking out 4.
With this being the final game of the first round, the Schanzer Jugend will be going into the summer break with their heads up high. This was the best game played so far.
Ingolstadt was the better team in the group despite the final standings and results of the first round. One of the biggest challenge this year was having to overcome the loss of one of the best players in the line-up Jinseo Ahn, who relocated abroad with his family.
Unfortunately, out-hitting all the opponents wasn’t enough alone to secure the “W’s”. The lack of maintaining focus and some luck were the main contributing factors determining the outcome of the previous games.
The Jugend demonstrated this last game that they have developed and matured as a good team!
More to come in the final round after the summer break.