Back to Bavaria!

The week went by a little slower than usual this time around. Anticipation was not a big enough word to describe the weekend ahead of us. It was either stay and play, or bye-bye Germany. We practiced as usual on Tuesday and Thursday, with our team soccer game "warm-ups" on Tuesday. (Yes, we play soccer at Baseball practice; Please refrain from Judgement) I have to tell you how much I HATE playing "fusbol" on a baseball field, but when in Germany, you do what Germans do best, and it isn't baseball. I must say, as much as I hated running up and down the field it was a good warm-up, although I am surprised nobody ever got hurt. I also found my calling as a goalie. Fitting that a catcher becomes the goalie with the same goal being "keep the ball in front of you at all costs!" I made some of my teammates so mad a few times when I would block a good shot and it was great.

Upon Friday it was time to head back to Regensburg, Bavaria. The Leigonaire played in by-far the nicest facility in all of Germany. We had played there in May, and had an incredible experience winning the all important Buchbinder Cup. Needless to say, we were 3-0 on that field and we knew we could win!

Two weeks previous we had not fared so well on the road. We lost the first two games to Mannheim, and Red was furious with a couple of guys, stating that some of out veteran players had to much fun the night before. Personally, I didn't get a chance to have fun with them the night before, but I thought it was hilarious that we blamed losing on "going out on the town." This is a team with a rich history of guys going out the night before CHAMPIONSHIP games and staying out until dawn. Personally, I could never do it, but some of the "veterans" that had played for the Untouchables for many years were well adjusted to it. Also was the fact that we did not get to play in other towns very often, and many of the guys who have families and kids back at home look at it as a chance to hang with the boys.

I was well aware that if we lost two games down here that we were leaving, and I intended to enjoy my time in Bavaria, as well as in our games against Regensburg. I did not want to look back and say, "That was an ok weekend." I wanted to have the time of my life, and that included getting to spend some time with many of the teammates that Danny and I had gained such a good relationship with over the past 6 months. Also, was the fact that this might well be the last time I suit up for real competition.

The Friday night we arrived, we checked into the hotel and a small batch of us went into the town center and enjoyed an incredible dinner. Bavarian food is much different that most of the country and I tried duck for the first time in my life. It was amazing! Upon our return back to the hotel I found myself hanging out with one of the team's owner, and I got a chance to have a few Weizen Beers and talk about baseball, and the experience as a foreigner in Germany in the lobby bar. As we talked, I couldn't help but focus on what an amazing time it really was. I was in a celebratory mood, as was our team owner, and we shared a few good laughs.

The next morning our hotel had a buffet that rivaled any of those I had ever had. I stuffed my face and got to the yard feeling very refreshed and ready for the upcoming games.

Pre-game went quick and the day was beautiful. Clear skies with a temperature right around 75 degrees. It was a perfect day for baseball. As game one started, I couldn't help but think about how awesome it would be to win two games and celebrate that night in Regensburg. Also was the thought that if we did win, we would be able to go to Octoberfest the following weeks to come which would be amazing.

Regensburg had different plans! Much like his previous two starts, Augie had a really hard time getting outs. We made some really bone-head plays on defense and did not take care of the baseball. By the third inning, we were behind 7-1 and although we responded after a terrible inning defensively, we lost the first game 9-2 putting our backs against the wall in game two as we were now facing elimination. I give a lot of credit to the Regensburg starter because he kept us off balance the entire game, forcing us to hit his pitch as we fell behind in most counts.

With Danny on the mound in game two we still had a lot of confidence, and we now had to focus on getting to Sunday for a decisive game 5. This one was for all the marbles!!

Danny had fantastic stuff for the entire day. He gave up a run in the second, but we responded with 2 in the third and one in the fifth, extending a lead to 3-1. We felt extremely confident and we knew it was ours. Right up until the eighth inning Danny was cruising, and I was certain that we would be playing on Sunday.

Regensburg started off the bottom half of the inning with two straight hits and all of a sudden the wheels fell off! An error on the next hitter and all of a sudden the bases were loaded and Danny was done. Just like that, the game had shifted and you could feel the anticipation and momentum shift from Regensburg.  If you have ever been at a game like this, you see it happening, and as a player; more important as a catcher, you really feel helpless.

As we still had a one run lead, our relief pitcher came in and surrendered a run by walking the first batter with the bases loaded. I could not call a pitch that he would throw for a strike. All of a sudden the game was tied, and we still had no outs. We would eventually give up two more runs, and what was worse was that I quickly realized how fast it all came tumbling down. We had a secure lead going into the eighth, and then all of a sudden it vanished!

We never recovered in the ninth and as I watched the Regensburg Legionare storm the field after the final out I felt responsible for the loss. Not only had I called the pitches that led to our loss, but I also did not get any hits for the first time since June, and I left a lot of runners in scoring position. That feeling was quickly replaced by the sadness that our season, and my baseball journey were over. "Helluva time!" The emotions ran away quick as we shook hands and congratulated Regensburg. We gathered as a team and shook hands and said farewell to a few guys who were hanging it up and had been a part of the team since the early 90's. I couldn't imagine being a part of something in baseball that long. Most times, you are lucky to get 4 years somewhere, and then all of a sudden that was it for these guys. It sure put things in perspective.

The final moments on the field were good, and as upset as I felt moments before, I replaced it with pride. I was proud that after four years, I still had it in me to play competitively, I was proud that Danny and I were such a big part of this teams success, and also proud that I had left it all on the field. I felt lucky. I shook every teammates hand that I could, because in all reality this was the last time I would see them all together in the same place.

The baseball adventure was over, and as upset as I was about the loss I didn't look back and wonder about what could have been. I had no more Monday Morning Quarter Back left in me, and neither did Danny. I don't think we ever talked about it, and why should we. We both knew that Baseball is a funny game and, well, shit happens! We gave it our best effort and focus and that is all anyone can ever do.

Semi Finals!

After an incredible comeback against Mannheim, one that had never been done by a Paderborn team in the history of the organization, we were set to play at home again against Regensburg. Because we were the second place team from the north, and they were the first place team from the south, they had home field advantage just as we did against Mannheim. So in the case that we played 5 games in the best of five series, they would host the final three of the 5 games at their places. Playing in Regensburg is as close to "American" professional baseball as you can get in Germany. We had played their earlier in the season when we won the Buchbinder Cup, beating Regensburg in the championship game on their field.

There was no doubt in our minds that our team was getting hot and we were peaking at the right time. Everything started to come together to create a championship team. Solid pitching, defense, and timely hitting.

Hosting the first two games on the series at our place it was critical that we win at least one game, if not both games. If we could head south to Bavaria with two wins under our belts we had a great shot at making it to the championships. If we split, it would be tough to win 2 of 3 at their place, yet doable. If we lost two at home, we had the advantage of coming off a 3 game comeback, but it would be really hard winning three in a row on the road.

In game one we jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off after I had an RBI groundout in the first. Regensburg responded with a run in the top of the 3rd but the game was stagnate until the 9th. Augie (Eugen) pitched amazing for us! In a 1-1 tie, Augie gave up a 2 run double to Regensburg's American shortstop who drove in 2 runs. I can't say that it cost us the game because we didn't score anything before that. We had a lot of opportunities to make adjustments at the plate and produce some offense. However, Regensburg's starter did an unbelievable job of keeping us off balance and not allowing any offense to produce. When the last part of the 9th came up we scored a run, but it was too little too late as we ended up losing 3-2.

That was not an easy lose to swallow! I felt that we definitely should have won that game, and it hurt a little bit because we knew the next game was vital to win. We should have made an adjustment to their starter, who did a good job of mixing speeds and throwing off-speed pitches in odd counts. This is something we did not adjust to as a team all year, and it caught up to us in the first game of the semi's.

The second game was a bit different, we came out strong and ended up finishing the game with a 10-3 win. It was a good win, and much needed for a chance to move to the finals. It would be really hard to go down to Bavaria and win 3 in a row. Although we had done it before, we didn't want put ourselves in that position again.

With the series tied 1-1, it was going to be another crap shoot the next weekend in Regensburg. We were scheduled to play a double header on Saturday and one on Sunday if necessary.

The one thing that stuck in my mind was the thought that whoever won the first game on Saturday was likely to win the second, just as we had done to Mannheim earlier in the playoffs. Game one on Saturday was vital to win. Especially if we were playing at their place. We had all week to work on the little things that would be big and one thing was for sure, we were going down to Regensburg with the confidence that we could beat them again at their place.

Danny and I had noticed that they did not carry the same swagger and definitive confidence that they had when we handed them their first loss of the season back in May. They came into our ballpark with a little bit of respect and we let them off the hook a little bit because we lost the first game. However, winning game two was big and with the series tied 1-1, anything could happen next weekend.