Yannic Walther Earns Victory for Reds in No-Hitter Against Main-Taunus Redwings
Yannic was brilliant on the hill on Saturday, as he threw a no-hitter to lead Reds past Main-Taunus Redwings 15-0. Yannic took the win for Reds, allowing 0 hits and 0 runs over 4 innings, and striking out 8.
The Reds opened up scoring early in the first inning, when Moritz Van Bergen doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring Oscar Hundt on the play. Philip Jäger and Connor Huffman were both driven in on a double to left by Konti Klein. The Reds tallied 7 runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Moritz vB’s inside the park homerun and a 2-run triple by Felipe Homberg. Marcus Laine crossed the plate providing the last run of the game before it was called at the time limit.
The Reds scattered 9 total hits, with Yannic, Moritz vB, and Konti collecting 2 each. Moritz vB, Connor and Konti also had 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs (3 for Moritz).
The Reds were sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Sam Curry, Jr. was rock-steady behind the dish, leading the team in the field with 8 chances. The team was also busy on the base paths with 8 total steals--Sam, Philip and Connor swiped 2 bases each.
Two Pitchers Combine in No-Hitter as Reds Takes Victory Over Kiel Seahawks
Felipe Homberg was spectacular on the mound, allowing 0 hits and 0 runs with 6 strikeouts and 0 walks in his 2 innings of work. Moritz Köhler added an inning of relief and a strikeout of his own to seal the deal in the Reds' 29-0 defeat of Kiel Seahawks. Felipe’s great day was not restricted to the mound. He helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-2 and leading the Reds with 4 RBIs.
The Reds got their offense started early, putting up 12 runs in the first inning. The second inning was highlighted by Moritz Van Bergen’s 2-run inside the park homerun. The third inning was another big inning for the Reds, with 15 more runs tallied--Felipe, Joel Petzold, Henry Hüttner, Moritz vB, Connor, and Moritz K all powered the inning with RBIs. The Reds racked up 16 hits in the game with all batters reaching base and scoring in the game—among others, Felipe, Moritz K and Carter Nickless all scored 3 times. With the Seahawks showing great heart and an unwillingness to forfeit, the Reds were poised to continue their onslaught until Philip, Moritz vB and Connor displayed great maturity and sportsmanship by sacrificing themselves in play to end the game on a gentlemanly note.
The Reds did commit 2 errors in the game, but they were able to limit the damage and prevent runners from scoring. Carter was a leader behind the plate, seamlessly filling the critical position and calling the shots for his team’s near-perfect game.
Two Pitchers Team Up as Reds Shut Out Bremen Dockers
Konti Klein led things off on the mound for Reds, allowing 0 hits and 0 runs over 2 innings, while striking out 3. Moritz Köhler again provided 1 inning of relief and a strikeout to help secure the Reds’ 13-0 victory over the Bremen Dockers.
Reds again got on the board early, with Philip Jäger crossing the plate on Connor Huffman’s liner to left. The Reds grabbed total control with an 11-run second inning: Sam Curry, Jr., Aidan and Oscar Hundt all reached safely before Yannic opened up the scoring with a 2-run single to right. Oscar ultimately sored in the inning before driving in another run later in the same inning with a sacrifice fly to left field. Connor went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Reds in hits (2) and RBIs (3). Yannic Walther, Philip, Sam and Aidan Andre led the team with 2 runs each.
The Reds didn't commit a single error in the field, as Aidan established a confident tone from behind the plate. The Reds also tore up the base paths with 13 total swiped bags--Yannic (4), Connor (3) and Sam (2) set the pace.
Walk-off Gives Reds Victory Over Bonn Capitals
Reds defeated Bonn Capitals 14-13 thanks to a walk-off single that capped an improbable and unbelievable finish to the season for both teams. The game was tied at 13 with Reds batting in the bottom of the seventh when Felipe Homberg singled on a 1-0 count with the bases loaded. From there the celebrations began for the Reds as they mobbed Felipe, who was later named the tournament MVP.
The Reds earned the victory despite allowing Bonn Capitals to score 8 runs in the fourth inning. (For context, the Reds gave up 8 runs in a GAME only once all season.) The Reds did themselves no favors, committing 12 errors in the game across 7 different players—their single worst defensive outing of the year. The Reds also struggled on the mound, giving up only 6 hits but walking a season-worst 9 batters. The young hurlers found their struggles both physically in missing their spots more than usual, but also mentally in facing a challenging and somewhat unpredictable strike zone over the course of the game. Ultimately, they steadied themselves just enough to get the outs they absolutely needed, just when they needed them. The saving grace for the Reds was their faithful offense and fleet feet—though both were stymied early in the contest.
The Reds found themselves behind 2-1 going into the fourth inning, when the Bonn Capitals put up their 8-run inning. Now behind 10-1 in the bottom of the fourth, for some fans the game started to look out of reach and the Reds hope for a perfect season (and championship) seemed to be slipping away. However, this was a different Reds team than a year ago when the Jugend were psychologically beaten and left unable to rally from only a few runs down in the 2017 championship. The 2018 Reds were having no part of a psychological defeat, nor were they ready to concede their ambitions for a National title. The Reds notched seven runs to close their deficit to just 2 runs.
The Reds’ defense returned to the field significantly more confident, and they rallied behind their pitchers to limit damage to only 2 runs in the top of the fifth inning. Trailing now 12-8, but with the top of their order fast approaching, the Reds knew they had an opportunity. Tobi Schestag started things off with a walk, a stolen base and he eventually came around to open up the scoring again for the Reds. They were able to capitalize with a 5-run bottom half of the inning, which put them up 13-12 with only two innings remaining. After giving up a run in the top of the sixth, the Reds found themselves again battling. They were unable to muster any runs in the bottom half of the inning, but they did manage to hold the Capitals scoreless in the seventh behind the clutch relief pitching of Philip Jäger.
That set the stage for the Reds’ most exciting finish of the season. Philip led off the inning with a single. Already with two homeruns in the tournament--and later named its Best Batter--Moritz van Bergen stepped to the plate, poised for a big hit; he got it with a sharp double to right field. Philip was held at third at the last minute, preventing him from meeting the catcher at home plate for what certainly would have been a close play. With runners on second and third, Connor Huffman dug into the batter’s box, looking for anything close to hit. He was an offensive leader throughout the tournament, and a deep fly ball is all it would take. However, on this day he’d have no such opportunity as he was walked on 4 straight pitches to load the bases--Bonn was looking to extend their season by setting up a potential force out at home. Felipe Homberg now had the chance to help bring to his team what they let slip away a year earlier. With a 1-0 count, Felipe seized the moment; he saw his pitch and confidently put it in play. Bonn’s corner infielders were playing shallow anticipating a (hopeful) force play at home. Felipe’s hit bounded over and around the outstretched arms of the third baseman, while snaking its way just to the right and out of reach of the shortstop. The ball was cleanly through the infield; Philip stepped safely on home plate; and the Reds’ on-field celebration commenced.
Philip not only scored the winning run, but he also earned the win for the Reds. He provided 1 1/3 strong innings of relief, allowing 0 hits and 0 runs while striking out 3. Connor battled on the mound as the team itself battled through defensive struggles, and he chewed through 2 1/3 innings in relief. Moritz vB started the game for Reds. He too endured the defensive struggles, but he managed 3 1/3 innings on only two hits and collecting 7 strike outs.
The Reds totaled 10 hits in the game, with Moritz vB, Connor, and Konti Klein each contributing 2 of their own. Oscar Hundt—who scored nearly every time on base in the tournament—was joined by Yannic Walther, Philip, and Tobi to each score multiple times in this game, thus promoting and sustaining their team’s major rallies. Staying true to form, the Reds also remained active on the base paths, where Tobi and Yannic led the team with 2 each.
The win capped off a perfect season for the Reds Jugend, and it provided the young men a small bit of redemption following last year’s heart-breaking loss in the championship game. Coach Xavi Gonzalez did a brilliant job preparing the team and helping them grow and mature over the past 12 months. He helped them rise up from their 2017 championship game struggles and guided them to their collective team goals of securing a national championship and owning a perfect record on the season.
Hats off to Coach Xavi, Charly, Frederic and the 2018 Jugend Deutsche Meister Reds!
Die Bilder von Iris und Frederic Drobny gibt es hier und hier.