Season Opener Recap:
The 2025 season opener between the Bochum Barflies and the Marl Sly Dogs was a real tale of two halves.
Under sunny skies and pleasant 20°C weather, the Barflies kept things close for the first four innings, leading 2:1. The defense was sharp early, making big plays — including a relay from center-right to cut down a runner at third, and inning-ending double plays with runners in scoring position in both the 2nd and 3rd innings.
In the 4th inning, controversy struck. With runners on first and second, a grounder to short led to an out at second, but an errant throw on the double play attempt sent chaos around the bases. After an initial safe call at the plate, the umpiring crew gathered and ruled the runner out for leaving the base path, wiping a run off the board.
Unfortunately, the second half of the game belonged to the Sly Dogs. They surged ahead, outscoring Bochum 14:1 in the final four innings to seal a 17:3 win under the mercy rule after eight innings.
There were bright spots for the Barflies. MVP Adrien went 2 for 4 with 3 stolen bases and scored twice. On defense, Ilia made a diving stop at first to prevent two runs with the bases loaded, and Stephan pitched two solid innings allowing just one run. Newer players Fabiano, Carina, and Jacky also gained valuable game experience.
The season is still young — and the Barflies are looking forward to bouncing back this Saturday against Hagen!
Stay tuned — and check out the game highlights on our YouTube channel!