GERMANY – The Solingen Alligators of the German League will host a team of All-Stars from the Swiss League this weekend in a three-game exhibition series at Baseballpark Weyersberg.

The two squads will play two seven-inning games on Saturday before wrapping up the international friendly with a lone matchup on Sunday.

The Alligators are the defending North Division champion and captured the German Bundesliga title in 2006. Solingen is led by top hitters Moritz Buttgereit, Dominik Wulf, Dustin Hughes and American middle infielder Damon Lessler.

The pitching staff is led by southpaw Andre Hughes, Jens Cornelsen and American left-hander Josh Rickards

Second-year skipper Andy Fleischacker is a former player/coach for the Zurich Challengers

Former Seattle Mariners catching prospect JB Tucker, who will be calling the shots for the reigning Swiss champion Therwil Flyers, will make his European debut. He will be joined by a large cast of his new players including American Chris Blackbee, staff ace Stefan Koller, and left-handed sluggers Reto Siegel and Daniel Eichenberger.

Other Flyers making the trip are Sebastian Zwyer, Matthias Jung, Lukas Croton and Emanuel Raouzeos.

The Bern Cardinals, who won four consecutive Swiss championships from 2005 to 2008, will be represented by Dominican slugger Johnny Perigo, Angelo Rodriguez, Sammy Paulino and Alex Wächli.

Sweet-swinging outfielder Thomas Landis headlines the Zurich Challengers All-Star contingent that also includes pitcher Thomas Burger and infielder Thomas Blank.

Veteran pitcher Jerome Müller is the lone representative of the Lucerne Eagles, while Christian Klarer and Stefan Wick of the Sissach Frogs complete the Swiss All-Stars roster.

Photo courtesy of Bernd Rudolf/Solingen Alligators

Tags: Germany, Switzerland