The Hörlkofener preparation: Schafkopf before the Bundesliga final sprint
Created: 01/13/2023, 05:00 p.m
By: Dieter Priglmeir
Thomas Elsenberger starts in Bad Woerishofen.
© Private
Thomas Elsenberger wants to win the league with EC Sassbach and qualify for the DM.
Hörlkofen
– “The treble would be great.
But that's wishful thinking," says Thomas Elsenberger.
By that he means the European Cup victory as well as the triumph in the Bundesliga and the German Championship.
Part one, international success, has been achieved.
Part two is to follow at the weekend – and it doesn't look bad at all.
With EC Sassbach, the 48-year-old is in the final sprint of the Bundesliga in Bad Wörishofen, which his team is leading.
Under the direction of TSV Peiting, the final days of the 1st Bundesliga South are on the program for the 28 best southern German communities.
"First I had to see where Bad Wörishofen was located," says the Hörlkofener.
The veteran knows a few halls, but this one is new to him.
"But that's fine with me too.
At least it's not as cold as the one in Peiting."
Elsenberger should get hot by itself.
The team game starts on Saturday at 8 a.m. with rounds 13 to 24. The last four games follow the next day at 9 a.m.
The top five qualify for the placement games.
Sassbach wants to defend first place in the group games and then win the game first on lane one.
That would make the Bundesliga success perfect.
Elsenberger describes the victory in the southern league, one of five federal leagues, as the "most honest title, because here you have to compete against 27 teams and always remain constant".
Sassbach won the Bundesliga only once, "then you can see how difficult it is," says the senior teacher, who starts last in the Sassbach team.
"I'm the one who has to score the points.
As a target player, I'm predestined for it," he says himself. The constant change is what appeals to him.
"There's always something else coming up.
You have to use the right momentum and hit it very precisely.
Often there are more sticks in the house, which doesn't make it easier.
You need a certain nerve of steel.
"
But Elsenberger sees himself armed.
The last training went very well and Sassbach can start with the best team.
“We will all arrive on Friday and still have a nap in the evening.
That challenges the spirit.”
The biggest competitors are likely to be Hauzenberg, Passau-Neustift and Hartpenning with European Champion Stefan Zellermayer.
After the performances so far, however, Sassbach is the favourite, "but placement games are also a matter of nerves," says the Hörlkofener, whose minimum goal is clear: fourth place and thus qualifying for the German Championship. That would then be title number three.
Standing after the preliminary round
1. Sassbach 21:3 points;
2. Hauzenberg 19:5;
3. Passau-Neustift 18:6;
4. Hartpenning 17:7;
5. Gerabah 15:9;
6 Engelsberg 15:9;
7. Altwasser Windorf 15:9;
8. Breitbrunn 15:9;
9. Aigen 14:10;
10. Buchbach 14:10;
11. Pilsting 14:10;
12. Kreuzberg 13:11;
13. Aiterhofen 13:11;
14. Ottenzell 12:12;
15. Penzing 12:12;
16. Surheim 12:12;
17. Peting 12:12;
18. Feldkirchen 10:14;
19.SC Cell 10:14;
20. Mitterskirchen 10:14;
21. Pilgramsberg 9:15;
22. Kirchberg 8:16;
23. Moitzerlitz Rain 8:16;
24 FC Hitzhofen-Oberzell 8:16;
25. Aham 7:17;
Mar 26 6:18;
27. Reicheneibach 5:19;
28. Unterneukirchen 4:20.