In the duel between the first placed Flyers and the second placed Challengers, the reigning champion from Therwil quickly ensures clear conditions. The Challengers defend themselves as best they can and can claim some positive points for themselves.
The dfending champion from Therwil already made the decisive difference in innings three and four by submitting no fewer than nine runs. After all, the Challengers also came to a good inning. After Adam Greenberg scored the first run for Zurich on a wild pitch, Marco Limacher followed with an RBI double and Carlos Nepomuceno with another RBI to make it 3-9. In the next few innings Hayden Jung-Goldberg kept the Basel offensive in check, but the C’s couldn’t get more than their fourth run through a sac fly by Adam Greenberg. Ultimately, they left the field with a 4-11 loss.
Leonel Sosa Marte had four hits, while Nick Siemers contributed two hits. The Challengers will have the opportunity to take revenge tomorrow, Saturday. At the end of the preliminary round, they meet the Flyers again at 5.30 p.m. in the Heerenschürli ballpark.
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Flyers walk away with win
Win against cross-town rival
The Challengers defeated the Zurich Barracudas 11-9 in an exciting Zurich derby on Wednesday night and secured home advantage for the playoff semifinals. There the C’s will meet the Barracudas again.
However, the home team dressed in green got off to a better start. The Barracudas took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and held a 5-2 lead after four frames. But in the fifth inning the Challengers made a big turnaround. After a lead-off single by Leonel Sosa Marte, Carlos Nepomuceno made it 3-5 with what was already his third hit of the game. He set off a veritable avalanche. Patrick Maier brought his team up to 4-5 with an RBI single before Nick Siemers and Hayden Jung-Goldberg’s RBI’s turned the game around. But that wasn’t all. Regis Reinhard made it 7-5 with a double and Leonel Sosa Marte capped the inning with a 2-run double to make it 9-5.
But anyone who had thought that the game was over was way off the mark. Maybe one or the other thought so. But not Livio Bundi. The Barracudas DH brought new life into his squad with a two-run homer in the second half of the fifth frame, and he even repeated the feat in the seventh inning to restart the game again at 9-9.
But the last exclamation point was set by the guests. Marco Limacher started the ninth inning with a walk and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI triple from Nick Siemers. And Siemers scored an insurance run after an RBI single from Regis Reinhard to make it 11-9. However, Luis Mateo Jimenez did not need one at all. The pitcher ended the game with three quick outs.
With the win the Challengers now have ten wins and four losses and can no longer be pushed out of second place. On Friday and Saturday night, the Challengers will meet the undisputed leaders Therwil Flyers twice at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The outcome of these two games does not change the fact that the next Zurich derby with the Barracudas will take place in the semi-finals.
Three Nightgames for the Challengers
The poor weather after the start of the season continues to affect the baseball calendar to this day. There are three make-up games in the form of night games scheduled for the Challengers this week. On Wednesday evening there will be a Zurich derby with the Zurich Barracudas at the Heerenschürli ballpark, before the first placed Therwil Flyers make two guest appearances at the Heerenschürli on Friday and Saturday evening. The games on Wednesday and Friday start at 6.30 p.m., the Saturday game is scheduled for 5.30 p.m.
Continue Reading » Three Nightgames for the ChallengersChallengers start busy seven days with two Wins
While summer vacation has already begun for many, the Challengers are working extra shifts. Three games that fell victim to the weather in spring will be rescheduled between Wednesday and Saturday evening. Before that, there was a regularly scheduled doubleheader in Bern taking place on Sunday.
The Challengers got two wins, but at least the one in Game 1 was hard work. The game lasted no less than 3 hours and 39 minutes, went into the 11th inning, the Cardinals hit an incredible 20 hits and the Challengers first had to recover from a 1-7 deficit to even make it into the extra innings. That was only possible because the Cardinals made a costly error with two outs in the ninth inning, thanks to which Marco Limacher brought Säntis Zeller home with an RBI single to make it 9-9. In the tenth inning Adam Greenberg set up a good cushion with a 3-run single, while Jayden Jung-Goldberg made it 13-9 with a sac fly. But this time, the Cardinals proved their escape skills. With a full count walk and bases loaded with two outs, they tied the game to a much-celebrated 13-13. However the Challengers were also able to submit in the eleventh inning. Carlos Nepomuceno’s and Säntis Zeller’s Sac Flies gave Zurich a 15-13 lead for good. The home team had no answer for that anymore.
Adam Greenberg had two hits and five RBIs, Leonel Sosa Marte had two hits and three RBIs, and Nick Siemers and Luis Mateo Jimenez scored three runs each.
The second game then lasted only half as long. The Challengers clearly prevailed 14-0. Adam Greenberg and Säntis Zeller each had two hits and three RBI. But the history of the game was written by Challenger’s pitcher Stefan Haltmeier. He gave up just one hit in the fifth inning, earning a one-hit shutout win with five walks and five strikeouts. On Wednesday evening at 6.30 p.m. in the Heerenschürli ballpark the Challengers will meet the Zurich Barracudas for a city derby.
Win against Rättvik, Challengers defend spot in Federations Cup
In the last game the Challengers were challenged again. In order to defend the Swiss spot in the Federations Cup, a win against the Swedish representative Rättvik was needed. Things didn’t look good for the C’s for a long time. But in the sixth inning they turned the game around with six runs, won 8-6 and stayed in the Federations Cup.
The Swedes took the lead in the third thanks to a two-run homer by Joel Johnson and opened the gap to 3-0 in the fifth inning. The Challengers needed till the fifth frame to arrive on the scoreboard. After hits from Simon Steffen and James Sanders, Steffen benefited from a throwing error by the Swedes and scored the 1-3. Suddenly things were going well for Zurich, while the Swedish defense began to wobble. Leonel Sosa Marte started the sixth inning with a double followed by Ryan Byrne’s single and an RBI fielder’s choice from Regis Reinhard. After a single by Säntis Zeller, the Challengers tied the game and after another error by the Scandinavians, Zeller scored the leading run for his colors. The Zurich team followed up with a single by James Sanders, before Adam Greenberg made it 6-3 with a 2-run double and Rättvik also allowed the 3-7 with another error. Zeller scored an insurance run in the seventh inning to make it 8-3, a lead the Challengers didn’t give up anymore.
James Sanders and Ryan Byrne led the Zurich offensive with three hits each, while Hayden Jung-Goldberg and Säntis Zeller each contributed two hits to the win. James Sanders got the win with another seven strong innings.
Sanders had the tournament’s highest batting average with eleven hits and a fantastic .647, while Simon Steffen was the top pitcher with ten strikeouts in this category. Since the Ukrainians from Gorn were able to celebrate a walk-off win after an extra-innings against the previously unbeaten leader Dornbirn in the afternoon game, the Challengers finished the tournament in fourth place.
All the games from Bratislava have been streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava 3-7
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers 7-2
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers 2-5
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians 1-16 (5 Inn.)
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers 6-8
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m. Final: Deurne Spartans vs. Dornbirn Indians
Challengers against Dornbirn without a chance
After the Challengers’ first victory in the tournament against the representative from Ukraine, there was nothing to do for them against the Dornbirn Indians. The Challengers have been defeated by 16-1.
The highlight from the Challenger’s point of view came in the first inning. Leonel Sosa Marte opened the score with a solo home run. However, this remained the only positive note of the game for the Swiss runner-up. Dornbirn immediately countered with five runs. After two innings it was 1-11, after five innings the game was over due to the mercy rule. The Challengers still have one game left. The last opponent is Rättvik BSK from Sweden on Friday morning at 10.00 a.m.
All the games from Bratislava will be streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava 3-7
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers 7-2
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers 2-5
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians 1-16 (5 Inn.)
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.: Final
Challengers arrive in win column
After two losses on Monday and Tuesday, the Challengers brought home their first win in the third game of the tournament. They beat the Ukrainian team CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn 5-2.
However it did not start promisingly. The first three batters of the Ukrainians reached with three hits and scored two runs, but the Zurich team threw the anchor in time, came out of the inning and, for their part, didn’t waste any time to get on the scoreboard as well. A 2-run triple from Adam Greenberg quickly evened the game and Regis Reinhard even put his colors ahead with an RBI double. In the third inning, the Challengers extended their lead to three runs. Again Adam Greenberg was involved with an RBI double. This was already enough, because pitcher James Sanders, already batting leader of the tournament, also showed an outstanding performance on the mound. He only allowed seven hits and two runs with no walks and six strikeouts in a complete game. The next opponents on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. are the Dornbirn Indians, who are still undefeated.
All the games from Bratislava will be streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava 3-7
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers 7-2
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers 2-5
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.: Final
Challengers lead after five, still lose
The Challengers lead the Deurne Spartans for five innings, but the Belgians eventually prevail 7-2. Leonel Sosa Marte started the game with an RBI groundout in the first inning. After that the two teams exchanged zeros on the scoreboard inning after the otherfor the next four innings. But then the C’s committed a costly error with two outs, what the Belgians used to score three runs out of nowhere. In the seventh frame the Spartans added four more runs, while the Zurich team only scored one more run thanks to an RBI single from Säntis Zeller, making their second defeat in the tournament a fact. The next opponents are CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn from Ukraine on Wednesday at 1.30 p.m.
All the games from Bratislava will be streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava 3-7
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers 7-2
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.: Final
Challengers lose Opener
After a turbulent journey including a car breakdown, the Challengers faced the home team of Apollo Bratislava at the Federations Cup in Bratislava on Monday. The Zurich team fell behind in the first inning 0-3 and couldn’t catch up until the end. Hayden Jung-Goldberg brought the hope back for his colors in the sixth inning with a 2-run double, but they couldn’t get closer than two runs. Although the C’s had an advantage over the home team with 9-7 hits, in the end they lost 3-7. Strong performance by leadoff batter James Sanders, who delivered four hits. Leonel Sosa Marte had two hits and scored two runs. The next opponents on Tuesday at 1.30 p.m. are the Deurne Spartans from Belgium.
All the games from Bratislava will be streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava 3-7
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.: Final
Challengers at the Federation Cup in Bratislava
The Challengers are taking part in the Federations Cup in Bratislava this week. The tournament starts on Monday June 19th and ends on Saturday June 24th. Opponents of the Challengers are CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn from Ukraine, Deurne Spartans from Belgium, Dornbirn Indians from Austria, Rättvik BSK from Sweden and host Apollo Bratislava from Slovakia.
The Challengers will play the evening game against the home team from Bratislava on Monday after the official opening ceremony. All the games will be streamed live on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Schedule:
Monday, June 19, 5 p.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Apollo Bratislava
Tuesday, June 20, 1.30 p.m.: Deurne Spartans vs. Zurich Challengers
Wednesday, June 21, 1.30 p.m.: CNTU-OSDYSSOR-Gorn vs. Zurich Challengers
Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m.: Zurich Challengers va. Dornbirn Indians
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.: Rättvik BSK vs. Zurich Challengers
Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.: Final