Die Challengers trennt noch ein Sieg von den Playoffs, nachdem sie sich am Sonntag, 27. Juli in Hünenberg zweimal gegen die Sissach Frogs durchsetzen konnten und somit seit nun mehr acht Partien ungeschlagen sind. Die Pitcher Chris Palatinus und Ueli Von Burg führten die Challengers zu einem klaren 12-2 Sieg im ersten Spiel des Tages. Danach liessen die Blauroten einen 15-9 Erfolg in der zweiten Partie gegen die siebtplatzierten Frogs folgen, wobei sie die Begegnung mit neun Runs im sechsten Inning entscheiden konnten. Die Challengers bleiben mit 14 Siegen und 8 Niederlagen im vierten Rang und benötigen für die Playoffqualifikation noch einen Sieg aus den verbleibenden sechs Partien. Am Sonntag, 2. August treffen sie wiederum in Hünenberg auf die drittplatzierten Lausanne Indians.

The Challengers swept their cross-town rivals Barracudas on Saturday, June 27 in a Zurich derby played in Sissach. The C’s edged the Cudas 8-7 in Game 1, before they held on for a 2-1 victory in Game 2, as all the runs were scored in the first two frames, while playing coach James Sanders tossed a complete game for his second win of the season. With the two wins the C’s extended their winning streak to six games and moved into fourth position with a 12-8 record two games ahead of the Barracudas.

The Challengers’ NLA-team got away with two lucky wins on Sunday against the Sissach Frogs. Trailing 9-0 after seven innings, the Challengers exploded for nine runs in the eighth to tie the game. But the Frogs regained the lead on a two-run homer, but the Challengers got right back and scored 11 more runs in the top of the ninth for an improbable 20-12 win. In Game 2, the Challengers blew an early 6-0 lead that was erased by the Frogs by the end of the sixth inning. But once again, the Challengers scored two runs in the final inning to stay on top 8-6.

The Challengers swept the Embrach Rainbows on Sunday, June 14 at PZ Hard to even their record at .500. The Challengers erased a six run deficit en route to a 14-10 win over the Rainbows in Game 1. Chris Palatinus highlighted the offense with his first homer of the season, while Tobias Siegrist recorded his team-leading fouth win. Game 2 was a close battle before the Challengers’ offense exploded for twelve runs in the sixth inning, as the C’s defeated the Rainbows 14-0. The Challengers are now tied for fourth place and will face next the Sissach Frogs on Sunday, June 21 at Sissach Tannbrunn.

Das NLA-Team erspielte sich einen Split im Doubleheader vom Samstag gegen die bis anhin ungeschlagenen Bern Cardinals. Reliever Tobias Siegrist war der siegreiche Pitcher im unverhofften 12-7 Sieg indem er vier Innings warf, und die Challengers’ Offensive konnte von der schlampigen Defensive der Cardinals profitieren. Im zweiten Spiel genügte den Cards sieben Runs, die sie gleich im ersten Innings erzielten. John Baum hatte die Challengers gut im Griff um seiner Mannschaft den 8-6 Sieg zu sichern. Die Challengers verpassten ein paar gute Möglichkeiten zu scoren, und die sieben Runs im ersten Inning waren schlichtweg ein zu grosses Kapital.

The Challengers faced the second placed Lausanne Indians on Saturday, May 23 at Lausanne. And again the C’s didn’t find the key to win at Lausanne. The Indians (9-4) posted a 9-3 victory in Game 1 and they added a 13-5 win in Game 2. The Challengers have a 0-6 all-time record at the Terrain de Chavannes. The losses drop the C’s record to 5-7 overall and to the fifth position in the standings. The Challengers will have to travel to Bern to face the reigning Swiss champions Bern Cardinals on June 6.

The Challengers have announced the signing of Angel Maduro. The 26-year-old righthander, who was born in Aruba, will join the Challengers’ rotation for the next couple of months. Maduro will have his debut on Saturday, May 23 at Lausanne against the Indians.

Das NLA-Team schlug die Reussbühl Eagles in beiden Partien vom Sonntag. Nachdem das erste Spiel mit 23-2 in fünf Innings gewonnen wurde, ging das zweite Spiel noch deutlicher mit 20-0 an die Zürcher. Somit haben nun drei Teams in der NLA eine Bilanz von 5 Siegen und Niederlagen (Challengers, Barracudas und Rainbows).

The Challengers were swept by the Zurich Barracudas on Sunday, May 10 at Hünenberg. After losing Game 1 by 11-14, the C’s lost again, as the Barracudas held on for a 6-3 victory in Game 2. The two cross-town rivals are now tied for fifth place with a 3-5 record. The C’s will face next the Reussbühl Eagles on Sunday, May 17 at Reussbühl.

The Challengers lost twice to the Therwil Flyers on Saturday, May 2 at Therwil. A flawed defense and untimely hitting were too much to overcome, as the C’s fell to .500 for the first time this season with a 3-3 record. After building an early 6-0 lead, the Flyers held on for a 11-7 win over the Challengers in Game 1. Yonimiler Martinez slugged a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-10, while Chris Palatinus and James Sanders drove in two runs apiece for the C’s. Game 2 was a close battle till the fifth inning, as the Flyers scored seven runs to put things out of reach for the Challengers. The C’s scored three times in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-2 lead on a bases loaded walk to Palatinus and a 2-run double by Sanders, before stranding a total of eleven baserunners, as the Flyers posted a 12-3 victory over the C’s. The Challengers will face the Zurich Barracudas (1-5) on Sunday, May 10 at Hünenberg.