The Challengers have announced the signing of Ueli Von Burg and Tom Huston for the 2009 season. Von Burg, who started his career with the Challengers for whom he played his last game in 1995, returns to the blue and red after playing more than ten years for the cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas. The 32-year-old infielder will play a key role in the Challengers‘ defense and offense. Huston joined the C’s in off-season after playing from 2003 till 2008 six seasons for the Reussbühl Eagles. The 41-year-old San Diego native will add a lot of experience to the lineup and is considered as one of the best left-handed hitters in Switzerland.

The Challengers lost twice to the Therwil Flyers, ending their season with a negative record of 9-11. In Game 1, The Flyers scored seven times in the second inning off Thomas Landis en route to an easy 13-1 win. In the second game, the Challengers offered a better contest, but nevertheless came up on the losing end in a 7-4 defeat.

The NLA-Team remains in a tie for fourth place with the Lausanne Indians after sweeping the Reussbühl Eagles on Sunday, August 10 at Reussbühl. After a 15-4 win and a fine performance from starter Thomas Burger in Game 1, the C’s posted a 12-4 victory in Game 2. The Challengers moved two games over .500 for the first time this season. They will travel to Sierre on Sunday, August 17, where they will face the Lausanne Indians in a battle for fourth place.

The Challengers reached .500 and gave head coach Andy Fleischacker two farewell victories on Sunday, July 20 at Sissach. Thomas Burger allowed two runs in seven effective innings and Harry Bregy worked two scoreless innings for his first save of the season, as the Challengers held on for a 4-2 victory over the Sissach Frogs in Game 1. And it was all Challengers in Game 2, as James Sanders, Willy Schaub and Andy Fleischacker in his last outing for the C’s combined for a shutout, as the C’s cruised to an 8-0 win. Fleischacker signed with the Lake Erie College and will return to the U.S. next week. The C’s improved their record to 7-7 and are now in a tie for fourth place with the Lausanne Indians.

One week after a historic last clash on the old Heerenschürli field the Zürich Barracudas and the Zürich Challengers made history again. The two cross-town rivals met on Saturday, June 7 at Embrach in what was the first ever Swiss baseball game that will be broadcasted by the Swiss Sports Television, aired on Star TV on Monday, June 9 from 8pm till 9.30pm. And the viewers will see a thrilling game. Thomas Burger tossed a complete game with a season-high 14 strikeouts and allowed four runs and eight hits, but ended up with a loss, as the Barracudas built up an early 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-3 victory in Game 1. But things got even worse for the Challengers in Game 2. The C’s led 3-2 with two outs and two strikes in the last frame, but Andy Rüesch plated the tying run for the Barracudas with an RBI-single on the last strike before scoring the game-winning run a few seconds later to send the Cudas to a dramatic 5-3 win. The C’s dropped their record to 5-7 and need to win at least six of their next eight games to clinch a playoff spot.