On Sunday (June 12) the local district duel is on the program at the sports center in Holm. The lizards from Elmshorn rely on two US import players who have just flown in.
Dennis Scherfisee was at Hamburg Airport twice within three days – but he didn’t go on vacation. Rather, the coach of the Elmshorn Alligators baseball team welcomed two newcomers. US import player Luke Turner landed at Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt on Wednesday, followed almost 48 hours later by teammate Ryan Mullahey. Thus, the Allis have significantly strengthened a few days before the second division derby against the Holm Westend 69ers (Sun., 12/3.30 p.m., Holm, Am Sportzentrum).
“We are very happy that the two are finally here and want to use both players in the derby,” says Scherfisee. While Turner was in agreement a long time ago, Mullahey was only signed a few weeks ago. Donnie Stone was supposed to be making hits, but Stone got injured and Turner put him in touch with his Long Island University Sharks teammate, Ryan Mullahey. “Luke can play first or third base and Ryan can pitch, catch and first base – and of course both should provide numerous hits,” Scherfisee expects a lot from the newcomers.
US import player Luke Turner (second from left) is welcomed at Hamburg Airport by coach Dennis Scherfisee (left), pitcher Robbie Ingram and board member Fiete Stamer (right).
Photo: Elmshorn Alligators
Baseball in front of 3000 spectators in America
The US boys were greeted at the airport in Hamburg by the third American in the team, Robbie Ingram, among others. Turner and Mullahey come to Elmshorn, tried and tested in competitions. Both athletes showed their skills in the college league in front of 3,000 spectators in Maryland in early June – but their team ended up losing the NCAA Baseball Championship game.
In the derby against Holmer, only two wins count for Elmshorn – after a mixed start to the season, Scherfisee wants to win at least nine of the remaining ten games in the 2nd division north.
Holm looks to Elmshorn
The Holm Westend 69ers see themselves as clear outsiders in the district derby. “The Alligators are still one step ahead of us. The Allis, for their part, clearly want to make the play-offs, for us it’s all about staying up in the league,” Holm coach Christian Opitz calculates with the move into the relegation zone. The season is a transition series for the Holmer, the offspring should be further integrated. “We have a lot of experienced players and a lot of talent – we’re currently lacking the middle management,” says Opitz and looks at the opponent. The Alligators are a kind of role model for the 69ers. “The Elmshorners also had a change a few years ago and weren’t always at the top. We want to really attack in a few years,” said Opitz.
