Solingen Runs Win Streak To 15 Games

The Solingen Alligators will look to remain unbeaten when the North Division leaders test the HSV Stealers on Saturday in German League action.

The Alligators have put together a 15-game winning streak to open the 2008 campaign and ace lefty Enorbel Marquez Ramirez tossed a Perfect Game in a 9-0 win over Bonn last week. American skipper Craig Spilker’s squad has been pushed only twice thus far while amassing a collection of easy victories.

The Stealers (3-11) went down quietly to Paderborn, 15-3, in their opening game last week before showing signs of life in a 5-1 loss to the Untouchables in the second contest. However, Hamburg will find it an even stiffer challenge this week to muster up much offense against Solingen’s dynamic pitching staff.

Paderborn is enjoying another successful season with a pair of losses to Solingen as the only blemish on their 12-2 record. The Untouchables will be looking to solidfy their second-place ranking on Saturday when they meet the Dortmund Wanderers (6-10).

Other South Division action this weekend has the Bonn Capitals (8-7) facing the Neunkirchen Nightmare (4-12) and the Cologne Cardinals (8-7) challenging the Hannover Regents (4-11).

The Regensburg Legionaere continue to pace the North Division with a 13-1 record and Coach Martin Helmig’s talented squad will be looking to rebound from a subpar outing last week in two uninspiring wins (5-1/8-4) over the Gauting Indians. The Legionaere will battle a tough Mannheim squad on Sunday.

The Tornados (8-6) lost a 5-4 squeaker to Mainz in Game 1 a week ago before pounding the Athletics 16-3 in the twinbill finale. Coach Georg Bull’s troops have continued to struggle in close ballgames but possess one of the league’s top hurlers in American Eddie Aucoin. Mannheim’s pre-season goal of securing a playoff spot and making a championship run in the post-season is still on track.

In another key division matchup, the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe will tangle with the resurgent Athletics on Sunday. Mainz, the reigning German Champions, started the season 0-4 but has won eight of 12 games to climb back into the playoff race.

Heidenheim swept the Saarlouis Hornets last week to improve to 12-2 and have successfully upgraded a porous pitching staff from last season. Two potent American sluggers, Keith Maxwell and Ryan Lilly, will make the Heidekoepfe a dangerous squad to play once the playoffs roll around.

In other division action, the Gauting Indians (3-9) will tangle with the Haar Disciples (7-7) while the Neuenburg Atomics (2-14) will battle the Saarlouis Hornets (5-11).

STANDINGS:

NORTH: 1-Solingen(15-0) 2-Paderborn(12-2) 3-Bonn(8-7) 3-Cologne(8-7) 5-Dortmund(6-10) 6-Hannover(4-11) 7-Neunkirchen(4-12) 8-HSV(3-11)

SOUTH: 1-Regensburg(13-1) 2-Heidenheim(12-2) 3-Mannheim(8-6) 4-Mainz(8-8) 4-Haar(7-7) 6-Saarlouis(5-11) 7-Gauting(3-9) 8-Neuenburg(2-14)

PHOTO/Solingen Alligators