Last Sunday after the weather cleared out, the 2023 2.BL Südwest Play-downs began with the Heidelberg Hedgehogs hosting the Frankfurt Eagles. In the play-downs, the bottom 5 teams from the regular season standings play a round-robin type series to decide the three teams with the right to stay in the DBV leagues. For the Hedgehogs, the first gameday immediately brought high-stakes games since both teams sit currently at the bottom of the standings.
| 30.07. Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| Frankfurt Eagles | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | ||
| Heidelberg Hedgehogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 6 | 7 | 1 |
After slow start, great pitching and timely hitting prove enough for the Hedgehogs to wing game 1
Lukas Raudonat started on the mound, with Andrej Heydt as his battery partner. After a first inning without any scoring, the guests took advantage of Hedgehog’s mistakes and scored 4 runs in the second. Lukas was however not shaken, and proceeded to keep the Eagles offense in check for the next couple of innings. It was then when in the bottom of the fourth, the bats woke up for the home team, tying the score after 4 hits in a row, highlighted by Raudonat’s 2-rbi double and a game tying single from veteran coach Luis Gonzalez. Due to the injury to regular third baseman Markus Golombek, the hedgehogs coach made his first start of the year, and had to take over the mound in the fifth after pitcher Raudonat loaded the bases without outs. The veteran was able to shut down the Eagles and pitch the rest of the game without allowing any run.
Highlights:
Luis Gonzalez: Win, 3 Innings pitched, 0 earned Runs, 1 K
Lukas Raudonat: 4 Innings pitched, 0 earned Runs, 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBIs
Andrej Heydt: Double, RBI
| 30.07. Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Frankfurt Eagles | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| Heidelberg Hedgehogs | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | 13 | 8 |
Despite errors, Hedgehogs take game 2 thanks to strong pitching and offense .
Newcomer Chas Richards toe the slab with young sensation Matthew Kopietz behind the plate. Again the Hedgehogs pitching staff continued to control the Eagles offense early on, and the game’s first inning ended for both teams without any runs. The Eagles scored a run in the second inning, while taking advantage of the four errors committed by the hogs. The home team bats woke up as well, and proceeded to score two runs in each of the following 3 innings, while the guest only scored once. After 4 complete innings, the hedgehogs had a commanding 6-2 lead, thanks to the bats of Dave Cox and Matthew Kopietz collecting 5 hits and 5 RBIs during that stretch. Pitcher Richards continued to dominate the „Frankfurters“ bats, and after another hit and RBI from Kopietz, the game reached the last inning with the local team on top 7-2. The Eagles made the game interesting in their last offensive chance, and after scoring two runs and loading the bases, the Hedgehogs coach turned to veteran Dave Cox to stop the guest’s threat. Cox took on the mound and proceeded to secure the victory for the home team.
Highlights:
Chas Richards: Win, 6.1 innings pitched, 1 ER, 2 for 4
Dave Cox: Save, 3 for 3, Double and 3 RBIs
Matthew Kopietz: 3 von 4, 3 RBIs
Infield: 2 double-plays
