The U15-Cadets wanted to find their way back on the winning track after the two defeats on the last gameday. They managed to do so on Saturday in Embrach, even if the games went very differently than expected.
The Challengers had extreme difficulties against the SG Blackhawks, who have not yet won a game this season. But the Blackhawks played their best game of the season offensively, bringing the Challengers to the brink of a defeat. The C’s just got their heads out of the noose with a walk-off win in the bottom of the fifth inning and celebrated a nerve-wracking 14-13 victory.
In the second game of the day there was revenge against the Hünenberg Unicorns, against whom the Challengers pitched a no-hitter but still lost the game 1-2. However anyone who had expected another tough struggle was completely wrong. The Challengers dominated in all aspects of the game and won easily with 17-1.

The winning streak of the U15-Cadets has come to an abrupt halt. The so far undefeated Challengers leave the field twice as losers. Although they manage a rare no-hitter against the Hünenberg Unicorns, they still lose the game 1-2. After that, they get off track and lose again against the Rümlang Kobras.
Fabrizio Bucher and Philip Louis managed the rare feat of a combined no-hitter in the game against hosts Hünenberg Unicorns. The fact that even this wasn’t enough to win was on the one hand due to too many walks given up, nine in total, and on the other hand due to a weak offense, in which Maor Müller had the only two hits of the game. Ben Dickow tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning after a walk and three stolen bases including a steal at home. This was the Challengers’ only run, so a bases-loaded walk in the third inning brought the decision in favor of the Unicorns. The Zurich team brought the tying run to third base in the fifth inning, but did not manage to tie the game again.
The game against the Rümlang Kobras initially continued in a similar style. After two innings it was only 1-1. But then the Kobras were the first to untie the knot. With four runs in the third and three runs in the fourth inning, they pulled away 8-1. Although Fabrizio Bucher made it 2-8 and Noam Müller made it 3-8 with an RBI single, the Kobras responded with three more runs on their part. The Challengers’ four runs in the last inning were useless. Jimmy Siemers after a wild pitch, Ben Dickow and Fabrizio Bucher each with an RBI single and Bucher with a steal on home were only able to reduce to 7-11, which did not prevent the second loss of the day.

The U15 Cadets win twice against the SG Pirates on Sunday, but they also have to deal with the nasty conditions that prevent a nice game.
The Challengers started promising. After a so-called three-up, three-down inning, they got four runs in the first inning after hits by Jordi Bucher, Noam Müller, Fabrizio Bucher and Ben Dickow. The guests from Eastern Switzerland needed a while to find their way into the game, but they also punched in in the third round and reduced the lead to 2-5. They immediately got two quick outs on defense, but after walks by Yannik Hobi and Niilo Benz, Fabrice Cadalbert with an RBI single and Niilo Benz, who scored on an error made sure that the difference was five runs again. With five more runs in the fourth inning the C’s made it 12-2 in the end.
Noam Müller and Fabrice Cadalbert each had two hits, while Jasper Freigang was credited with the win by giving up just two runs and three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. However, the success was marred by the injury of Yannik Hobi, who unfortunately injured his wrist. The guests also suffered an injury. We wish both players a fast recovery.
In game two the Challengers had the better start into the game again. Already in the first inning they checked out with five runs and after two runs by the Pirates the Challengers added five more runs with three doubles in the second frame. Jordi Bucher and Jimmy Siemers scored on a 2-run double from Jasper Freigang, Fabrizio Bucher hit an RBI-double and Philipp Louis brought home Ben Dickow for a 10-2 lead. While the Challengers then eased off a bit, Wil speeded up. With five runs in the third and two more runs in the fourth, they reduced the deficit to 10-14. But the Challengers weren’t done yet. Aaron Schütz and Ilai Blickenstorfer scored the first two of a total of six runs in the last inning, meaning that game two was also a 20-11 win for Zurich.

After the seniors lost on opening day, the U15 cadets provide the first two wins of the 2023 season for the Challengers organization on Saturday. They win against the reigning U15 champion Rümlang Kobras with 15-3 and 14-5.
Compared to last year’s final, the Kobras were missing some of their top performers due to the age limit, including the entire pitching rotation. However, as usual in the junior age groups, the Challengers also were missing some of their corner stones from 2022. In contrast to the Kobras, however, the C’s seemed surprisingly stable.
The guests really got going right from the start. Jordi Bucher opened the season with a single and was at the start of the maximum of five runs allowed in the first innings. A walk, a hit-by-pitch, an RBI double from Fabrizio Bucher, an RBI groundout from Ben Dickow and a single from Yannik Hobi led to a 5-0. It continued in the same style. Niilo Benz scored on a sac fly from Jordi Bucher, Noam Müller brought home Ilai Blickenstorfer with an RBI single and a single from Ben Dickow made it 10-0. The Challengers carried this lead safely over the distance.
Jasper Freigang conceded two runs and two hits in four innings with seven strikeouts and five walks, Ben Dickow had two hits and three RBI in his debut in a Challengers uniform, and Noam Müller, Jasper Freigang and Fabrizio Bucher scored three runs apiece.
In the second game of the day title holder Rümlang was able to take the lead for the first time with 2-0. However, the Challengers responded promptly with three hits and five runs. And they even went up 9-2 in the second inning. Aaron Schuetz was responsible for the 6-2, followed by a bunt single from Jordi Bucher to enable Philip Louis to score. The Kobras then reduced the deficit to 4-9, but Fabrice Cadalbert answered with the 10-4 and started another five run inning for the Challengers, who eventually won safely 14-5.
Ben Dickow again had three RBI, while Jordi Bucher and Jasper Freigang each produced two hits and three runs. Fabrizio Bucher got the win, while Ilai Blickenstorfer pitched the last three innings for his first save of the season, giving up one run, no hits and five walks with four strikeouts.

The Challengers U15-Cadets played their second indoor tournament of the winter on Sunday, January 22 at Therwil, after taking part at the indoor tournament at Wil in December. The team of head coach Adrian Kämpfer couldn’t confirm their good performance from the first tournament. Lacking in concentration the C’s lost their first two games against the Flyers and the Kobras. Only in their last game against the winner of the tournament, the Neuenburg Atomics, the C’s played on their regular level. The C’s kept pace with the Germans and still had the chance to win the game in the last inning. At the end the blue and red finished with three losses. The next indoor tournament for the Challengers will take place on Saturday, February 4 at Embrach.
Results U15 Indoor Tournament Therwil

Challengers vs. Rümlang Kobras 6-12
Therwil Flyers vs. Challengers 11-3
Neuenburg Atomics vs. Challengers 4-2