Challengers verpflichten Ryan Byrne

 
Die Challengers freuen sich, die Verpflichtung von Nationalmannschaftspitcher Ryan Byrne bekannt geben zu dürfen. Der 24-jährige aus Houston spielte die letzten zwei Spielzeiten bei den Bern Cardinals und gewann mit ihnen zweimal die Meisterschaft. Der Linkshänder kommt per 1.April und wird sein Debut am Opening Day gegen die Zurich Barracudas am 6. April geben.
 
Byrnes Bilanz 2013 als Pitcher war 8-1 mit einer ERA von 2.35 in 14 Spielen. Als Batter schlug er .366 mit 34 Hits, 8 Doubles, 3 Triples, 20 RBIs und 32 erzielten Runs. Er ersetzt Andrea Girasole, der auf die neue Saison hin zu den Lucerne Eagles transferiert worden ist. In der Rotation der Zürich Challengers wird er Nationalmannschaftskollege Tobias Siegrist und Rob Sedin ergänzen.

Continue Reading » Challengers verpflichten Ryan Byrne

Challengers reisen an den Europacup

Zum 14. Mal in der Vereinsgeschichte und zum ersten Mal seit 2008 nehmen die Challengers in diesem Jahr am Baseball Europacup teil. Möglich machten dies die Rückgabe des zweiten Schweizer Startplatzes durch die Embrach Mustangs und der Verzicht der Therwil Flyers nachzurücken.
 
Die Challengers werden vom 16. bis 21. Juni am European Cup Qualifier im belgischen Antwerpen teilnehmen. Gegner sind NADA Split aus Kroatien, die Vienna Wanderers aus Österreich, Leksand Baseball aus Schweden und der Gastgeber Brasschaat Braves.

Continue Reading » Challengers reisen an den Europacup

Summer Practice 2014

Grössere Kartenansicht
 
The summer practice for the Zurich Challengers Baseball-Teams starts at April 2 and takes place every WEDNESDAY from 6pm to 10pm and every FRIDAY from 6pm to 8pm at the Heerenschürli ballpark in Zurich Schwamendingen (S-Bahn S3/S9/S12 and tram no. 7 to Bahnhof Stettbach or tram no. 9 to Hirzenbach).
In addition to that batting practice will take place every MONDAY and every THURSDAY at 7pm at the Heerenschürli batting cage.
 
Das Sommertraining für die Baseball-Teams der Zürich Challengers beginnt am 2. April und findet jeden MITTWOCH von 18:00 bis 22:00 Uhr und jeden FREITAG von 18:00 bis 20:00 Uhr im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli in Zürich Schwamendingen statt (S-Bahn S3/S9/S12 und Tram 7 bis Bahnhof Stettbach oder Tram 9 bis Hirzenbach). 
Zusätzlich findet jeden MONTAG und jeden DONNERSTAG  ab 19:00 Uhr das Batting Practice im Batting Cage auf dem Heerenschürli statt.

Continue Reading » Summer Practice 2014

Winter Practice 2014

Grössere Kartenansicht
 
The winter practice for the Zurich Challengers Baseball Team will take place every Wednesday from 6.15pm till 7.45pm and every Friday from 6.15pm till 9.30pm at the Turnhalle Rämibühl at the Rämistrasse 80 in Zurich (tram 5 & 9 to Kantonsschule). The first session after the Christmas break will take place on Wednesday, January 8.
In addition to that the pitcher/catcher practice takes place every Tuesday from 8.15pm till 9.30pm.
 
Das Wintertraining für das Zürich Challengers Baseball Team findet jeden Mittwoch von 18.15 bis 19.45 Uhr und jeden Freitag von 18.15-21.30 Uhr in der Turnhalle Rämibühl an der Rämistr. 80 in Zürich statt (Tram 5 & 9 bis Kantonsschule). Das erste Training nach den Weihnachtsferien findet am Mittwoch, 8. Januar statt.
Zusätzlich findet das Pitcher/Catcher Training jeden Dienstag von 20.15 bis 21.30 Uhr statt.

Continue Reading » Winter Practice 2014

Siegrist wins sixth MVP trophy

Tobias Siegrist was credited with his sixth career MVP trophy at the Challengers General Assembly on December 1. Siegrist batted .336 with 38 hits, 19 runs scored and finished the season with a 4-3 record and a 3.50 ERA while striking out 51 batters in 54 innings on the mound.
Rookie Eidrys Reyes was honored with the Best Batter award and the Rookie of the year award. Reyes set team leading marks with a .473 batting average, a .510 on-base percentage, 61 hits, 10 doubles and 31 RBI's. He also finished the season with the best batting average of the Swiss Baseball NLA in 2013.
Robert Sedin won his second consecutive Best Pitcher award, as he finished the season with a 7-6 record and a 3.12 ERA and he set a franchise record striking out 135 batters in 101 innings of work, breaking Thomas Landis' mark of 118 K's set in 1997.
Harry Bregy walked away with the Best Fielder award for the fourth time in his career, as he committed only one error in 176 chances, while Bryan Shemley was named Most Improved Player.

Continue Reading » Siegrist wins sixth MVP trophy

Winter Practice 2013/2014

Grössere Kartenansicht
 
The winter practice for the Zurich Challengers Baseball teams will start on October 22 and will take place every TUESDAY from 8pm till 10pm at the Turnhalle Probstei at the Stettbachstrasse 88 in Zurich-Schwamendingen (tram 7 to Roswiesen).
 
Das Wintertraining für die Zürich Challengers Baseball Teams beginnt am 22. Oktober und findet jeden DIENSTAG von 20.00-22.00 Uhr in der Turnhalle Probstei an der Stettbachstr. 88 in Zuerich-Schwamendingen statt (Tram 7 bis Roswiesen).

Continue Reading » Winter Practice 2013/2014

Cardinals eliminate Challengers

The Challengers didn't find a solution against Patrick Lawson and the Bern Cardinals again. Looking to even things up, the C's lost Game 4 on Saturday, October 5 by a score of 1-10 what resulted in their elimination. The Cardinals advanced to the finals winning the best-of-five series 3-1. They will face either the Therwil Flyers or the Embrach Mustangs, as their series is heading into Game 5.
 
Lawson carried a perfect game into the fifth inning. He retired the first 13 batters before Tobias Siegrist grounded a single into right field. Still it was a one run game after six innings with the Cards leading 1-0. They opened the score in the first frame, as Johnny Perigo drove in Sammy Paulino with a two-out single. Both teams exchanged zeros on the scoreboard until the seventh inning when Challengers starter Robert Sedin lost control. He loaded the bases with a walk, a hit batter, a sac bunt and an intentional walk, but didn't manage to get out of the jam. Two bases-loaded walks gave the Cards a 3-0 lead, who extended the gap with a two-run single and a two run triple. They scored nine runs to make it 10-0 before the C's made it out of the inning. As in 2012, the Challengers' season ends in the semi-finals against the Cardinals.

Continue Reading » Cardinals eliminate Challengers

Spiel 4 am Samstag

 
Die Challengers werden am Samstag, 5. Oktober im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli versuchen die Belle in der Best-of-five Serie mit den Bern Cardinals zu erzwingen. Die Bundesstädter bringen einen 2-1 Vorsprung mit nach Zürich, nachdem die Challengers die beiden letzten Partien abgegeben haben. Das Saisonende für die Challengers verhindern soll der Right-hander Robert Sedin, der auf Cardinals Pitcher Patrick Lawson treffen wird. Spielbeginn ist um 14.00 Uhr im Heerenschürli.
 
Falls die Challengers am Samstag gewinnen, wird das entscheidende fünfte Spiel am Sonntag, 6. Oktober um 14.00 Uhr auf der Berner Allmend stattfinden.

Continue Reading » Spiel 4 am Samstag

Challengers with their backs against the wall

The Challengers are one loss away from the end of their season after losing Game 3 of their best-of-five semi-final series against the Bern Cardinals on Sunday, September 29. One day after tying the series at 1-1, the defending Swiss Champion took also Game 3, as the Cardinals posted an 11-4 win over the C's. Game 4 will take place on Saturday, October 5 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
 
In the other semi-final series the Therwil Flyers are leading 2-1 against the Embrach Mustangs after the Flyers cruised to a 9-1 win in Game 3.

Continue Reading » Challengers with their backs against the wall

C’s lose Game 2, Series at 1-1

The Challengers lost Game 2 of their best-of-five semi-final series with the defending champion Bern Cardinals on Saturday, September 28 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The Cardinals jumped on starter Robert Sedin in the first inning as they scored four runs on four hits and one error before the C's ended the inning with a double play. After that, Sedin kept the Cardinals bats under control and allowed just two more runs, but the Challengers didn't come through against Patrick Lawson who limited the C's to one run and six hits in a 6-1 win. The Series is now tied at 1-1, with Game 3 being played on Sunday, September 29 at 2pm at Bern Allmend.

Continue Reading » C’s lose Game 2, Series at 1-1