Normally, games between the arch-rivals Zurich Challengers and Therwil Flyers offer material for drama. However on Saturday there were two one-sided games with one win for both teams each.
The early start of the season and the recent difficult training conditions due to the weather did not contribute to an increase in quality. Compared to the final series of 2023 a lot of things were still fragmented and the error rate – in the area of so-called mental errors as well – was relatively high. Game one was decided in the fourth inning. The Flyers opened the gap to 9-1 with seven runs and the Baselbieters almost immediately countered a rally by the Challengers. In the end the guests won 16-6. The man of the game was undoubtedly Sven Leemann, who was largely responsible for the difference with four hits, four RBI and a three-run home run in the sixth inning. On the Zurich side, Regis Reinhard stood out with three hits, while Leonel Sosa Marte and Rob Sedin each delivered two hits.
As on the opening weekend against city rivals Zurich Barracudas the Challengers also managed an impressive response against the Flyers. Pitcher Ryan Byrne delivered a two-hitter, allowing just two runs – one earned – with four walks and six strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Challengers showed more patience at the plate than in other games. With thirteen walks and well-timed hits they produced 17 runs and finished the game after five innings with a 17-2 victory. Leonel Sosa Marte and Säntis Zeller each contributed two hits, Rob Sedin collected three RBI, while Ryan Byrne, Regis Reinhard and Tobias Siegrist scored three runs each.

One day after the unsuccessful opening day, the Challengers struck back. And the answer was impressive. While the reigning champion lost to its local rivals Zurich Barracudas 1-13 on Friday, the Challengers turned the tables on Saturday and won 13-7.
While the offense failed the day before, this time the Challengers started strong. Coach Thomas Burger’s team seemed to have thoroughly analyzed the false start and made the right adjustments. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the championship team suddenly appeared on the pitch again. The Challengers opened the game with hits from James Sanders, Robert Sedin, Leonel Sosa Marte and Tobias Siegrist for a quick 3-0 lead. The Barracudas came back again, because the Challengers weren’t solid in defense today either, and took the lead of 5-3 in the fourth inning. Anyone who thought that the three runs at the start of the game was just a brief flare-up for the home team was quickly proven wrong.
With an RBI-double by Ryan Byrne in the fourth inning and an RBI-double by Säntis Zeller in the fifth inning, the Challengers tied the game again before the MVP of the championship season, James Sanders, put his colors at 7-5 with a 2-run double. And the C’s selt the deal in the seventh frame. The defending champions followed up with four more runs from Simon Steffen and James Sanders. Finally the offense produced 13 runs on 18 hits. The Challengers thus delivered an impressive reaction and also clocked in for the 2024 season a day late.

Summer has arrived in Zurich right at the start of the 2024 Swiss Baseball Championship season. However, the sun did not shine for the Challengers at the season opener against their cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas. The Challengers lost Game 1 with a score of 1-13.
The mission to defend their title is off to a tough start for the Zurich Challengers. The reigning champion was still visibly rusty and was inferior to its local rivals in all aspects of the game. The result of 13-1 speaks for itself, but due to the 13-1 hits and eight errors on the home team’s side there were no doubts about the outcome of the game. At the beginning it was tight game. The Barracudas scored their first run of the season in the third inning with a sacrifice fly from Nick Fischer by Simon Brändli. One inning later the season opener was already decided. The Barracudas produced six runs on five hits and three errors from the opponent to take an 8-0 lead and were no longer looking in the rearview mirror.
Not much was going well with the Challengers. The highlight from their perspective was the outfield assist by left fielder Jack Siemers at home in the fourth frame. At this point the deficit was already six runs. The Challengers have the opportunity to do better tomorrow evening. At 6 p.m. the two teams will meet again for the second local derby in Zurich’s Heerenschürli ballbark.

In the last game of the preliminary round, the Challengers met the first-placed Therwil Flyers again. The Zurich team was able to keep up for four innings. Then the reigning champion made rushed away and finally won with 16-2.
For the first time this season, the Zurich team presented with Nick and Jack Siemers and Florin Kämpfer three juniors in their starting lineup. They did their job well. A ball put into play by Kämpfer caused an error in the Flyers defense and brought the 1-1 tie through Marco Limacher, who had put himself in scoring position with a lead-off triple. The Flyers followed up with a triple from Chris Horne in the third inning and then a solo home run from Taka Oshima to make it 3-1. In the fourth frame the Challengers reduced the lead to 2-3 and kept hoping for a positive result. Luis Mateo Jimenez brought home again Limacher with an RBI single. But then the Flyers stepped up a gear and showed why they have been the undefeated champions since 2019. With surgical precision their balls found the gaps in the Challengers defense, so the game ended after seven innings with mercy rule.
Luis Mateo Jimenez and Oliver Bernet Garcia led the Challengers offense with two hits each. In two weeks the C’s will meet city rivals Zurich Barracudas in the playoff semi-finals.