The U12-Juveniles hosted their closest rivals, the Luzern Eagles, and the Bern Cardinals at the Klopstockwiese to conclude their 2025 preliminary round. The three teams enjoyed a fantastic day of baseball in perfect conditions.
On a purely sporting level, the results were not quite as positive. Against the second-placed Luzern Eagles, the Challengers had no chance in a game for the first time this season. Consequently they suffered their second defeat of the season with a score of 6-13. However the hosts improved again against the Bern Cardinals, winning the second game of the day 12-9. The Challengers finished the preliminary round at the top of the Competitive group East with an impressive record of twelve wins and only two losses.
Posts in the Juveniles category:
Win and Loss for the Juveniles
Big Weekend Action
All Challengers teams, with the exception of the Slowpitch Softball-Team, will be in action this coming weekend. While the NLA-Team will play two night games against the Barracudas at the Heerenschürli ballpark on Friday and Saturday evenings, the following games are also scheduled:
On Saturday, the Softball-Team will face the SG Sissach Frogs/Therwil Flyers for the second time this season. The Challengers won twice against the young team from Basel-Landschaft at the Klopstockwiese earlier in the season. Now the return games in Therwil are scheduled. The games will be played at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Känelmatt II.
The U15-Cadets have an even longer journey ahead. The Challengers will face the Geneva Dragons 2 in Bulle, canton of Fribourg, and will attempt to secure their first win of the season. The games start at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Stade de Bouleyres in Bulle.
On Sunday, the NLB-Team will also be able to play for the first time in the renovated Heerenschürli ballpark. The Challengers will host the Zurich Lions in a small city derby. The Lions, second in the league, await coach Tate Stone-Frisina’s team. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The youngest Challengers will also play two more games on Sunday. They welcome the Lucerne Eagles and the Bern Cardinals to their home field, Klopstockwiese. Game times are 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Juveniles top fight goes to the Challengers
On Saturday the U12-Juveniles hosted the Lucerne Eagles at the Klopstockwiese in Zurich-Enge for a top-of-the-table clash in the Eastern Group. The two rivals were in first and second place with only one loss each.
The Challengers now have a 3.5 games lead. They defeated the Central Swiss team 5-0 and 5-3 in two hard-fought games. In Game 1, starting pitcher Len Blickenstorfer, who was awarded with the win, and Henry Ruffieux pitched a shutout win. In the second game of the day Florian Gränz and Roy Gonzalez kept the Eagles batters in check.
Home Opener on Sunday
For the first time this season the NLA-Team will be playing at their home field Heerenschürli on Sunday. After the completion of the impressive new back stop, play resumed at the end of May. For their home debut, the Challengers will host the Zurich Barracudas’ second team. Games will be held at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The NLB-Team will also be in action on Sunday. The Challengers will face the Unicorns in Hünenberg, Canton Zug. The two neighboring teams in the standings will play at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Unicorns have won six of their eight games so far, while the Challengers have a 4-2 record.
The U12-Juveniles will be playing on Saturday. The Challengers will host the Lucerne Eagles in the top match of the Eastern Group. Both teams have only one loss to their name. Games start at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Challengers in Action
Next Saturday three teams from the Challengers organization will be in action. A Cadets doubleheader follows on Sunday.
The first Zurich derby of the season will take place on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Klopstockwiese, when the Challengers Softball-Team will face the defending champions, the Zurich Barracudas. After the losses in Wittenbach, it will be interesting to see how the Challengers fare against the reigning champions.
The NLB-Team will play its home game on Saturday in Embrach. It’s one last time this season that they’ll be “off the grid”; the home field Heerenschürli should be ready to play again in June after the new back stop is completed. The C’s will face the Embrach Mustangs, who are looking for their first win of the season. Games begin at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Embrach PZ Hard.
The U12-Juveniles will also be in action on Saturday. The youngest Challengers travel to Wil, where they will meet the Wil Devils and the Therwil Flyers. Games will be played at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Lindenhof.
The U15-Cadets round out the busy schedule on Sunday in Embrach with a doubleheader against the Wil Pirates. Games will be start at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Juveniles remain unbeaten
The U12-Juveniles continued their perfect start to the season and remain undefeated after their fourth gameday. They secured two unchallenged victories against the Rümlang Kobras on Sunday. In Game 1, pitchers Florian Gränz and Knox Nelson led the Zurich-based team to a 17-7 victory. The result of the second game was even more decisive. This time, the Challengers prevailed 17-1. The pitching, including starter Henry Ruffieux and relievers Len Blickenstorfer and Roy Gonzalez, played particularly well.
Continue Reading » Juveniles remain unbeatenChallengers in Eastern Switzerland
The Challengers are heading east next weekend. The NLA-Team will play in Wil on Saturday, and the women’s softball team will play in Wittenbach on Sunday.
The NLA-Team will be making only its second appearance of the season on Saturday. The Challengers will also have to move their second home game due to construction works at their home ballpark, Heerenschürli. The home games against the Wil Pirates will therefore be played at the Lindenhof in Wil. The games start at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The Softball-Team will also travel to the canton of St. Gallen on Sunday. The Challengers will face the Panthers in Wittenbach, which has also been the championship final three times in the last four years. First pitch will be at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Wittenbach Sonnenrain.
The U15-Cadets will host the Therwil Flyers and the Geneva Dragons in Hünenberg on Saturday. This means that the Challengers, who are placed in the East Group, will face the two strongest teams from the West Group. The games will take place at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Hünenberg Rony.
The U12-Juveniles team will also be in action on Sunday. The Challengers will face the Rümlang Kobras in a derby in Rümlang. The games will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Rümlang Rümelbach.
Juveniles remain unbeaten
The U12-Juveniles remain undefeated after their third gameday. The Challengers defeated the Wil Devils 16-10 in the first game and 7-6 in the second, a very close game.
For the Challengers, pitchers Florian Gränz and Joaquin Nicod shone in the first game, as did Roy Gonzalez, who was credited with the win, and Henry Ruffieux, who recorded the last out for the save in Game 2.
Softball Homegame on Mother’s Day
As always, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May in Switzerland. And the Challengers Softball women’s team hosts a home game against the Bern Cardinals. After a successful start to the season against the SG Frogs/Flyers, the C’s will look to carry the momentum into their duel with the team from the Swiss capital. Games will kick off at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Klopstockwiese in Zurich-Enge.
The U15 Cadets will be in action on Saturday, aiming for their first win of the season in Wil, St. Gallen. Their opponents will once again be the Rümlang Kobras and the SG Pirates. The games begin at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Wil Lindenhof.
The U12 Juveniles will also travel to Wil on Sunday. The Challengers, undefeated this season, will face the Wil Devils. The games will be played at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Lindenhof in Wil.
Juveniles narrowly defeat Kobras
Due to the poor weather forecast for Sunday, the Kobras and Challengers officials agreed to move the doubleheader to Saturday. This seemed to be the right strategy. Although it wasn’t completely dry on Saturday, both games could still be played.
While the Challengers clearly defeated the Kobras on Opening Day, the two games on Saturday were close affairs. But once again the Challengers prevailed. They beat the Kobras 8-6 and 7-5 in two close games and remain undefeated at the top of the standings.