After two Interleague weekends, it's already possible to draw some early conclusions: the new format has been a complete success! Rare matchups, plenty of excitement, and the long-awaited battle between the North and South divisions have delivered outstanding entertainment. All in all, the Interleague has provided exactly what German baseball fans had been hoping for.
Interleague Recap So Far
Each team has now played four Interleague games. The Bonn Capitals (9–3) claimed sole possession of first place after sweeping last-place Mainz this past weekend. Close behind are the two top teams from the South Division: Heidenheim (8–4) in second place and Regensburg (7–5) in third.
The remaining North Division clubs also made a statement. Both the Hamburg Stealers and the Untouchables Paderborn earned splits against favored opponents from the South, allowing them to move closer to the top of the overall standings. Paderborn (6–6) currently sits in fourth place, while Hamburg (5–7) occupies fifth.
The Mainz Athletics (1–11), meanwhile, are still searching for their first Interleague victory. Although they kept most of their games against North Division opponents competitive, they ultimately came up short each time and have lost some ground on the rest of the field.
The Action Continues!
Before the DBL resumes Interleague play, attention turns to the German National Team, which will compete in the Prague Baseball Week during the week. Germany will be looking to successfully defend the title it won last year.
Interleague action resumes on Saturday, July 11, with another exciting slate of games. The Mainz Athletics travel to face the Hamburg Stealers in a matchup between the bottom two teams in the standings, with Mainz hoping to earn its first Interleague win. At the same time, Bonn and Heidenheim will meet in a rematch of last year's BECC Final. Meanwhile, the Guggenberger Legionäre travel to face fellow contenders Untouchables Paderborn in a key matchup with important implications in the race for the top spots.