The NLB night game scheduled for Tuesday evening between the Zurich Barracudas Academy and the Challengers had to be canceled due to the rain and the unplayable field.
The game was originally scheduled for April 2nd as a season opener and has now had to be canceled and rescheduled for the second time.
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NLB-Nightgame canceled
Two W’s for the Cadets
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.
Challengers win twice with mercy-rule
The Challengers celebrate two victories against the Bern Cardinals on Saturday. From the fifth inning of game one the C’s are dominant and win twice with the Mercy Rule.
Leonel Sosa Marte opened the score with an RBI triple in the first inning. Patrick Maier found the right answer to the visitors’ equalizer with an RBI single, Ryan Byrne added a sac fly and James Sanders another RBI single to make it 4-1. Once again, the Cardinals came close with some help from the Challengers defense, but from Marco Limacher’s RBI single in the fifth inning the game went in one direction only. With eight runs in the seventh inning the Challengers selt the deal.
Pitcher Simon Steffen had a strong performance, delivering a complete game and giving up three hits and four runs only – two earned – without a walk, but with eight strikeouts. Ryan Byrne, Nick Siemers and Marco Limacher each had three hits of a total of 16 dekivered by the Challengers.
The Cardinals got two runs in the second game in the first inning, but the hope of taking home a W was over pretty quickly. The Challengers offense picked up where it left off in game one. With seven hits they produced six runs in the bottom of the first and from then on there was never any doubt about the outcome of the game. Again the Challengers won early with 13-3. Nick Siemers had two hits and three RBIs, and Leonel Sosa Marte and Patrik Maier also had two hits.
Challengers host Cardinals on Saturday
On Saturday, the Challengers will meet the Cardinals at the Heerenschürli ballpark. In one of the classics in Swiss baseball, the challengers are the favorites this time. In the past this was not always the case. Although the Challengers lead in the head-to-head since 1995 with 70-62 victories. But the Cardinals often proved to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially in the playoffs, most recently in 2020. The game starts at 11 am and 2 pm.
Sunday is all about the juniors. The U15 Cadets will play the SG Pirates in Rümlang. The encounters with the the team from Wil start at 11.00 am and 1.30 pm in Rümlang Rümelbach.
Meanwhile, the U12 Juveniles travel to Central Switzerland, where they meet the SG Eagles/Unicorns and the Therwil Flyers. The games start at 10 am and 12.30 pm in Lucerne-Reussbühl Hinterruopigen.
Home wins for the Juveniles
The U12 Juveniles win their home opener against the SG Eagles/Unicorns. Both teams played strong and made several spectacular plays.
The Challengers got off to an ideal start. They scored the maximum of five runs in the first inning, which visibly calmed the nerves of the young team, which was peppered with a few rookies. The home team was able to consistently score runs in the offense, while pitcher Maor Müller and his defense carried the lead over the distance. In the end the Challengers celebrated their first win of the season with a score of 12-6.
In the second game of the day the home team got off to a successful start too and again scored five runs in the first frame. Len Blickenstorfer provided the highlight with a 2-run in-the-park home run in the second inning. But both teams also showed nice plays on defense, which repeatedly caused applause from the crowd. The Eagles/Unicorns defended themselves as best as they could, but ultimately had to admit a 6-17 defeat.
Homegame for the Juveniles on Sunday
The youngest Challengers will play their home opener on Sunday, May 7. The U12-Juveniles will host the SG Eagles/Unicorns at the Klopstockwiese in Zurich-Enge. The games will start at 11 a.m. and 1.30 p.m.
Continue Reading » Homegame for the Juveniles on Sunday1st League-Team starts with Split
The 1st league team has a successful start into the 2023 season. In a great 1st League game they lose to the Zürich Barracudas 4-5, but game 2 against the SG Pirates/Lions goes to the Challengers with a 15-10 score.
The Challengers, who started with no fewer than six U20 players, fought a close neck-and-neck race with their cross-town rivals. But it was the oldie in the team, Juan Francisco Robles, who scored the first Challengers run in the first inning. But the young guard followed and so Noam Blickenstorfer, who made his debut at the catcher’s position, and Nick Siemers turned the game for 3-2 Challengers lead. Then it went the Barracudas way again, who took a 4-3 lead with one run in the fourth and fifth innings each. Ilai Blickenstorfer managed to equalize again in the sixth frame after an RBI-single from Nicola Ernst. However, the Challengers were unable to answer the Barracudas fifth run in the last inning. After a double and a stolen base, Nick Siemers got to third base, but the last two Challengers batters struck out. Nick Siemers confirmed his good shape with three hits after hitting his first NLA home run the day before while he was a guest player with the Bern Cardinals. Juan Francisco Robles pitched a complete game, allowing five runs, three earned, eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
In Game 2 against the SG Pirates/Lions, the Challengers quickly made things clear. Reinforced with a few prospects from the Barracudas, the Zurich team managed eleven runs in the first two innings. While Ben Dickow opened the score with an RBI-single, Niilo Benz provided the highlight from the Challenger’s perspective with a 2-run double, his first hit playing with the seniors. The Pirates/Lions came up a bit towards the end of the game, but the Challengers finally brought home the 15-10 victory.
NLB-Team outperformed by Eagles
The NLB team opens its season with two home defeats against offensively strong Lucerne Eagles. However, the results belie the much tighter gameplay.
It took the Challengers a bit to get stamped in the 2023 season. When Patrick Zöllig, Thomas Blank and Florin Kampfer scored the first runs for the Challengers in the third inning, the guests from Central Switzerland led already by five runs. The Eagles also knew how to respond to Zurich’s comeback. In the fifth inning Marcell Pena Reyes delivered a two-run double to make it 7-3 and they answered Thomas Blank’s sac fly with two more runs to make it 9-4. In the last inning the father-son combination was successful. Adrian Kampfer brought home his son Florin with an RBI single for a final score of 5-9. The most successful batter of the Challengers was Andreas Rüdisühli with two hits, while Patrick Zöllig and Florin Kampfer scored two runs each.
The second game began much like the opener. The Eagles were productive from the start, so their seven runs in the fourth inning were offset by an RBI-single from Adrian Kampfer only. However, the Challengers got back into the game again. A two-run single by Adderly Sarmiento brought home Noam Blickenstorfer and Ryan Koley, and in the fifth inning Denyo Benz, Ryan Koley and Adrian Kampfer, after a sac fly by Kurt Kovac, made it 6-8. But the guests had a final bouquet ready. With four hits and two errors by the Challengers, they managed five runs in the sixth inning before things fell apart in the Challengers defense in the last round and the Eagles eventually won 26-11 with an incredible 13 runs in the last frame.
Challengers in win column
The Challengers have been struggling against the Pirates for a long time, but in the end they clearly prevail. Game 2 had to be canceled due to rain.
The spectators saw a slugging festival at the Wiler Lindenhof. The teams combined for 28 hits, including 7 home runs, and a total of 31 runs. What initially looked like a tough ride eventually became a (too) obvious prey for the Challengers. Because the Challengers had a lot of trouble with the Pirates, who were also in a good mood offensively. In any case, the C’s trailed 6-7 after five innings. While the Pirates couldn’t keep up their level in the second half of the game, the Challengers improved significantly. So the narrow deficit turned into a 22-9 victory.
Statistically Ryan Byrne shone with four hits, including two home runs, eight RBI and four runs, Adam Greenberg and Leonel Sosa Marte scored three hits with a home run each and Säntis Zeller also sent the ball over the fence at the Wiler Lindenhof. Starter Simon Steffen got the win, while closer Stefan Haltmeier only needed 22 pitches for his four innings of work and gave up just one hit and one walk on four strikeouts, earning him the save.
Softball-Team with two wins in Bern
The Softball-Team has a strong performance in Bern. 27 hits and 38 runs as well as two wins are the result of a productive Sunday on the Allmend.
While the Challengers benefited from the Cardinals pitcher’s walks in the first inning, they took a 10-4 lead in the second frame with six hits. After two more runs on each side, the Challengers bats caught fire in the fifth inning. They scored 11 runs from seven hits, including no fewer than three triples from Tamara Ammeter, Taylor McCants and Isabelle Tan, to finally win 23-7.
Tamara Ammeter had three hits and five runs, Carmen Lutz-Demetz and Leandra Simitovic had two hits and four RBIs each and Molly Mullens had three RBI. Tamara Ammeter took the win, as she gave up only two hits and one run in three innings, while starter Solana Lutz also gave up only two earned runs in two innings of work.
The second game of the day was one-sided from the start. The Challengers took an early 14-0 lead and deservedly won 15-3. Simona Cellar shone with four hits and five RBI, Taylor McCants screwed her batting average to .714 with another three hits and Riona Lutz convinced with 2.1 innings pitched with three runs – only one of them earned – and five hits.