The Guggenberger Legionäre Regensburg have a full schedule of pre-season friendlies planned for March as the team prepares for the 2023 season under German coaching legend Martin Helmig, who has won 11 German titles as manager, five of them in Regensburg’s colors. The schedule of friendlies includes tune-ups against fellow German Bundesliga clubs Berlin, Hamburg, Munich-Haar, and Paderborn, with additional visits from Czech record champion Draci Brno and Slovakia’s Apollo Bratislava, who will be hosting the Federation Cup in June.
Helmig’s six other German championships came with the Untouchables Paderborn, who knocked Regensburg out of last season’s Bundesliga playoffs in a dramatic semi-final Game 5 victory in Regensburg’s Armin Wolf Arena.
The earlier-than-planned exit from the championship race last season, after one of the club’s most successful regular seasons, led to a fundamental review of the organization, with the decision made to replace manager Tom Bison with Helmig, who will be assisted by hitting coach Andy Tomberlin and Regensburg returnee Daniel Husband.
The 56-year-old Tomberlin played parts of six MLB seasons with five teams in the early 1990s and has since worked as a scout and coach. He was most recently employed as a hitting instructor in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Husband, who spent last season in charge of the Bundesliga’s ITsure Ulm Falcons, played under Helmig in Regensburg and celebrated titles with the now 60-year-old.
Bison will remain in Regensburg with a focus on strengthening the club’s youth work.
Helmig and the Legionäre will start the 2023 season at home on Easter Sunday, Apr 9, under the floodlights (19:00) against the newly promoted Hünstetten Storm.
Spring Training Schedule
Friday, Mar 10 — Regensburg v. Hamburg (18:00)
Sat, Mar 11 — Haar v. Hamburg (11:00) / Regensburg v. Haar (13:00) / Regensburg v. Hamburg (15:00)
Sun, Mar 12 — Regensburg v. Haar (11:00) / Regensburg v. Hamburg (15:00)
Fri, Mar 17 — Berlin v. Bratislava (16:00) / Regensburg v. Bratislava (18:00)
Sat, Mar 18 — Berlin v. Bratislava (11:00) / Regensburg v. Berlin (13:00) / Regensburg v. Bratislava (15:00)
Sun, Mar 19 — Bratislava v. Berlin (11:00) / Regensburg v. Berlin (13:00)
Fri, Mar 24 — Regensburg v. Paderborn (16:00) / Paderborn v. Brno (18:00)
Sat, Mar 25 — Regensburg v. Brno (11:00) / Regensburg v. Paderborn (14:00) / Brno v. Paderborn (17:00)
Sun, Mar 26 — Regensburg v. Brno (11:00) / Regensburg v. Paderborn (14:00)
