Finally the 2023 season has started with the rematch of last year’s finals. And it was a nail biter – with the Challengers finding themselves at the wrong end. The reigning champion Therwil Flyers took the opener 8-7 in extra innings and rallied for a 7-3 win in Game 2.
Säntis Zeller had the honor of scoring the first run of the season, while Regis Reinhard had it’s first RBI in a Challengers uniform. After the Flyers scored three runs in the bottom half of the first, Simon Steffen and Adam Greenberg tied the game again thanks to a sac fly by Zeller and a RBI-triple by Leonel Sosa Marte. While the Challengers stranded two runners at least in the next few innings, the Flyers sneaked off to a 6-3 lead and still had a three run lead after eight innings. Last chance for the Challengers and indeed James Sanders with a RBI-double and Leonel Sosa Marte with a 2-run-double sent the game to extra innings. And with no outs the C’s had the bases loaded, but weren’t able to cash in. Completely different the Flyers. David Castillo launched the second pitch of the tenth frame to a walk off RBI-single.
It was a story of missed chances. The Challengers outhit their opponent 12-7 and drew 11-4 walks but stranded a total of 20 batters, but once more the Flyers walked away with the win. Leonel Sosa Marte started the season with a four-hit game and was a homer shy of the cycle, James Sanders had three hits, while Simon Steffen allowed three earned runs in seven innings pitched.
Zeller again scored the first run in Game 2. And it even got better for the Challengers. Marco Limacher belted a 2-run homer over the center field fence for a 3-1 lead in the fourth frame. But the Flyers answered immediately with a walk, two hit batters, two singles, an error and two walks with the bases loaded to score five runs. They added another run in the fifth to eventually win 7-3.
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Bitter sweep for the Challengers
Opening Day postponed
The opening day in Swiss baseball on Saturday, April 1st in the Heerenschürli ballpark has to be canceled because of an unplayable field. The reprise of last year’s final between the Zurich Challengers and the Therwil Flyers cannot take place. The field, which was soaked after the wet last week of March and the occasional heavy rain on Friday afternoon, is in no condition to play. No make-up date has been announced so far. The earliest possible date according to the league’s schedules would be July 22nd.
The season opening of the NLB-Team on Sunday, April 2 has also been canceled. The second team of the Challengers would have met the Barracudas Academy on their opening day. A rescheduling of the games is still pending. And also the first game day of the 2023 season for the U15-Cadets has been canceled. (photo Stadt Zürich)
Nightgames on Friday and Saturday at the Heerenschürli
The upcoming weekend offers everything for the fans of the Challengers. It starts on Friday, June 30 at 6.30 pm with a NLA nightgame at the Heerenschürli ballpark between the Challengers and their cross-town rivals Zürich Barracudas. The C’s won the first two games against the Barracudas, but both games were on the edge till the last play. Friday’s game will be under a special motto, as the C’s are collecting for the expansion of the vacation center Wannental of the Altried Foundation. More informations about the project can be found at Stiftung Altried and Ferienzentrum Wannental
On Saturday, July 1 the NLB-Team will host the Hünenberg Unicorns at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm at the Heerenschürli ballpark in a fight for 1st place between the best two NLB teams in 2017. Both teams lost only one game in 2017, as they split in their first double header in May.
And at 6.00 pm there will take place the second NLA nightgame between the Challengers and the Barracudas.
Opening Day on Saturday
The Challengers 2017 season will start with a Home Opener against the Luzern Eagles on Saturday, April 22 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The team of head coach Robert Sedin added several players to their 2017 roster. The debut of pitcher Sandy Patrone in a Challengers uniform is particularly exciting. The Dominican played 13 years for Rimini Baseball in the Italian Baseball League and won the Italian Championship in 2006. The 33-year-old also pitched 25 times for the Italian Nationalteam and played 2003, 2007 and 2009 at the World Chmapionships. The games against the Eagles will also be very special for Andrea Girasole and Patrick Maier. Both played the last three seasons for the Eagles before returning to the Challengers in 2017. Patrick Zöllig will also give his comeback almost eight years after his last game for the C’s. The games start at 11 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. at the Heerenschürli.
The NLB-Team will open its 2017 campaign against the Thun Hunters. The two teams will meet on Sunday, April 23 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The games will begin at 11 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
Homegames canceled
Today’s home games from the NLA-Team against the Sissach Frogs and from the NLB-Team against the Zürich Lions had to be canceled due to rain. No make-up dates have been announced so far.
Continue Reading » Homegames canceledChallengers sweep Bandits
The Challengers won twice on Saturday, May 27 against the newest member of the NLA, the Jona Bandits. Game 1 was a one-sided affair, as the C’s posted a 18-2 victory. Six players delivered two hits, while Jesus Martinez and Kurt Kovac drove in three runs apiece and Tobias Siegrist scored four times. Kovac pitched three innings out of the bullpen for the win. And the Challengers stayed focused in Game 2 as well, cruising to a 20-5 win. Their next opponent will be more difficult to beat. The C’s will host the Sissach Frogs on June 11 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
Continue Reading » Challengers sweep BanditsSedin joins the Challengers
Rob Sedin, the new Challengers head coach, arrived in Zurich and will begin to work with the teams today. It is already the fifth season for Sedin with the Challengers, but his first as their skipper. James Sanders, who is also the Swiss Nationalteam head coach, will be the Assistant Coach.
As a player Sedin was very successful with the C’s over the last four years. He recorded a .391 batting average with 37 doubles, 6 triples, 3 homeruns, 77 RBI’s and 127 runs scored in 101 games. He also started 31 games from the mound with a 18-14 record and a 2.65 ERA with 296 strikeouts in 257.2 innings.
Away game postponed
The NLA double header between the Bern Cardinals and the Zurich Challengers scheduled for Saturday, April 16 has been canceled due to bad weather. No make-up date has been announced so far. The next game for the C’s will be their 2016 home opener against the Therwil Flyers on Sunday, April 24 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
Continue Reading » Away game postponedRob Sedin named new Challengers Head Coach
The Challengers Baseball and Softball Club is proud to announce that Robert Sedin has been named new head coach for the 2016 season.
The 28-year old San Jose native is wearing the Challengers uniform since 2012 as a player and coach of the organization’s NLB-Team. Sedin appeared in 101 games for the C’s, batting .391 Avg. with 37 doubles, 6 triples, 3 homeruns, 77 RBI’s and 127 runs scored. He also started 31 games as a pitcher, having a 18-14 record with 2.65 ERA and 296 strikeouts in 257.2 innings.
Winter Practice
The winter practice for the Challengers Baseball & Softball Club starts on Monday, October 19 with a pitcher and catcher practice for the U20 and U15 players at the Schulhaus Schauenberg. The practice for the Softball-Team will take place every Tuesday at the Turnhalle Lavater, while the Baseball hitting and fielding practice will newly take place on Wednesdays at the Turnhalle Hirzenbach. For further details concerning the NLA, NLB and 1st League practices, the Softball practice and the practice for the Juniors please check the team’s pages on the Challengers website.
Continue Reading » Winter Practice