Rain, good spirits, and excitement until the very last out
Because the rain in Krefeld prevented a normal warm-up, the Senators women showed resourcefulness and simply moved their warm-up to the dugout. This didn’t dampen their preparation or, more importantly, their good spirits.
The two games against the already crowned league champions, the Krefeld Crows, were by far the best performance the Senators have delivered this season. Especially in Game 1, the team displayed a near-perfect performance, appearing as a cohesive unit on both offense and defense.
While some initial nervousness was noticeable, particularly among the younger players, they grew more confident with each play and played a major role in maintaining their well-deserved lead until the final inning.
The key positions of shortstop, third base, and right field were deliberately filled with 14-year-old up-and-coming players, also with an eye toward the upcoming U16 German Championship in Karlsruhe, where five Senators players will compete alongside the Cologne Cardinals. But the focus is already shifting beyond Karlsruhe: Anticipation for the next season is high.
The first game developed into a pitching duel until the fourth inning. The Crows led 1-0 when the Senators opened the inning with a triple and then scored three runs. They even led 5-1 in the final inning.
“Our decisions at the plate and our aggressive baserunning were good, but what we delivered on defense was absolutely fantastic. We kept our composure until the very end and more than deserved the victory,” said Head Coach Mohr.
The Crows narrowed the gap to 5-3 and, with runners on first and third base, tied the game. That’s when the head coach signaled for an intentional walk.
“It was the only decision we could make. Not only did it give us a force play at every base, but it also took the bat out of the most dangerous hitter. As it turned out, it was the right call.”
You couldn’t have written a better script: The Crows closed the gap to 5-4 before the Senators ended the game with a caught line drive by the shortstop and a 5-3 play.
“Today we had that little bit of luck on our side, and the girls were absolutely fantastic. The best game of the season.”
The joy after the final out was correspondingly great: Everyone hugged each other as if they had won the league themselves.
In the second game, the coaches remained true to their philosophy: development over safety. The Senators may not have been able to reward themselves this time, losing 3-16, but the girls still showed what they’re capable of. Many good plays and shots brought more and more confidence to their game, and any nervousness was gone. After all, you only gain confidence and self-belief in one way: by playing.
