The small local derby between the Zurich Barracudas Academy and the Zurich Challengers’ second team brought the spectators an exciting baseball night and a dramatic ending. The Barracudas took their first, but decisive, lead in the final inning and celebrated a 4-3 walk-off win.
Monday evenings aren’t the kind of evenings one associates with baseball in Zurich. However, today an unscheduled, small city derby took place at the Heerenschürli ballpark. After the Hünenberg Unicorns withdrew, the Challengers inherited their spot in the intermediate round – and had to make up their games accordingly. The Challengers were able to count on reinforcements from the Unicorns for this mission. Ari Lonstein deserves special mention. The American pitcher delivered a strong performance. He gave up just three hits and collected fourteen strikeouts, but still ended up as the loser. This was partly due to the Challengers offense only managing five hits and three runs against Barracudas pitchers Xavier Scheffler and Naël Frey, but also due to the Challengers defense making mistakes in game-deciding situations, which the Barracudas were able to exploit with utmost coolness.
After taking a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, the visitors opened the door again by allowing two runs, an RBI single by Nils Brüderli and a wild pitch, to bring their opponents back into the game, making it 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Challengers had the opportunity to end the game with a double play. But the throw to first base was way too high – and the game continued. Shortly after, Nils Brüderli sent the ball to right field, initially tying the score at 3-3 and then, because the throw to home plate was again too high, Seiya Eigenheer crossed the home plate for a much celebrated 4-3 walk-off win by the home team.
Thus, Lonstein’s good pitching performance, Bastian Kämpfer’s first run in the third inning, and Pete Nelson’s 2-run single in the fifth inning were worthless. The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Heerenschürli.
