The NLA-Team also began its championship campaign on Saturday. The Challengers’ home game had to be played at their opponents’ field in Sissach due to construction work at Zurich’s Heerenschürli ballpark. One returning player shone with two grand slams, and a rookie earned his first win.
One player apparently couldn’t wait for the season to start. Carlos Nepomuceno, who missed last season for professional and personal reasons, made his mark on the Challengers’ season opener. In his first at bat as a father, the number four in the lineup hammered the ball over the left-field fence with the bases loaded, giving his team a 4-2 lead that the Zurich team never relinquished. The Frogs, who are now back in the NLA due to the change in format with now seven teams in the NLA, kept the game open for a long time. In the fifth inning they were able to narrow the gap to 3-6 before Nepomuceno stepped up again with the bases loaded in the sixth. And he did it again. Once again, it was a grand slam and four runs for the Challengers. Ultimately the Zurich team won the game 15-3 after seven innings.
In addition to Nepomuceno with his two grand slams and eight RBI, 17-year-old rookie Florin Kämpfer also shone with three hits and three RBI, while Opening Day starter Simon Steffen achieved a complete game win. In seven innings he allowed only four hits, three runs – two earned – and four walks with eight strikeouts.
In the second game of the day the Sissach Frogs also opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. However, the lead once again only lasted until Carlos Nepomuceno got to work. This time, he tied the game with a two-run double in his first at-bat, before Adderly Sarmiento delivered a two-run single to make it 4-2. In the second inning Ryan Byrne tripled and made it 5-2. One inning later Jack Siemers made it 6-2 before the man of the day added an RBI single to make it 7-3.
Florin Kämpfer earned the first win of his career, giving up just one hit and one run in four innings as a reliever, with three walks and five strikeouts. Nepomuceno again led the Challengers offense with two hits and three RBI, while Ryan Byrne and Samuel Rodriguez Bautista each had two hits.
Nepomuceno with two Grand Slams, Challengers with two Wins
Two wins for Softball-Team on Opening Day
The softball women’s team won twice on Opening Day against the SG Frogs/Flyers. The rejuvenated team delivered a refreshing performance, impressing both offensively and defensively.
After a four-year absence from the championship, the twelve-time Swiss champion Therwil Flyers will field a team again in 2025. This year the young to very young players will compete in a joint team with neighboring Sissach. The first trip took the SG Frogs/Flyers to Zurich’s Klopstockwiese. The Challengers’ equally rejuvenated team was able to count on several returning players, who were sorely missed, compared to last year’s playoffs. The Zurich team got off to a good start. After two innings they were already leading 10-5. And after just over an hour and a half the Challengers put the game away 17-7 in the fourth inning.
Marianne Allen had two hits, Mia Matas collected three RBI, Tylor McCants and Tamara Ammeter each had two RBI, and Anouchka Michel scored four runs. Michel had even more reason to celebrate. The 17-year-old pitched four innings for the first time and earned her first career win.
The visitors got off to a better start in the second game. The Baselbieter team took a 3-0 and then a 7-3 lead. But the Challengers didn’t let that bother them. They had no reason to. Their offense kept things moving, and their defense made several nice plays. And in the third inning they turned things around. The Zurich team scored seven hits and eleven runs for a seven run lead. They sealed the victory in the fourth inning scoring three more runs and finally winning Game 2 17-7.
Simona Cellar led the strong offense with three hits, two RBI and three runs. Anouchka Michel, Taylor McCants and Karen Hendren, who had a strong debut for the Challengers, each had two hits and three RBI, while Mia Matas and Lara Müller each contributed one hit and two RBI. Tamara Ammeter was credited with the win with a scoreless fourth inning after starter Simone Zurschmitten gave her the ball with a seven run lead.
Opening Day for Softball and NLA
The Softball and NLA teams will also begin their 2025 season on Saturday. While the women’s softball team hosts the SG Frogs/Flyers at home on the Klopstockwiese, the men’s championship begins in Sissach.
The Softball-Team will face the Sissach Frogs and Therwil Flyers in their home opener on the Klopstockwiese. The multiple champions Flyers are returning to the championship after several years of absence, at least as part of the Basel-based team. The Challengers are expecting a return of several players who were unable to participate last season. The games on the Klopstockwiese begin at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the NLA team will play its first home game against their opponents in Sissach. Due to construction work being carried out at the home field in Heerenschürli for the impressive new backstop, the field is not yet ready for play. The Frogs, who are back in the top division due to the format change and the expansion of the NLA to seven teams, will approach the NLA adventure with great motivation. The games in Sissach Tannbrunn start at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Serge Künzler an der Zündwürfel Pokalnacht 2025 geehrt
Serge würfelt
Am Freitagabend fand in der AXA Arena in Winterthur die Zündwürfel Pokalnacht 2025 statt – ein grosses Fest zu Ehren des Zürcher Vereins- und Breitensports. Hunderte Gäste feierten die nominierten Ehrenamtlichen und Vereine in einer stimmungsvollen Atmosphäre.
Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Serge Künzler für seine langjährige und unermüdliche Arbeit im Challengers Baseball und Softball Club Zürich in der Kategorie „Ehrenamt“ nominiert wurde. Serge engagiert sich seit über 25 Jahren für den Verein – als Spieler, Coach, Vorstandsmitglied und treibende Kraft hinter zahlreichen Nachwuchsprojekten. Mit seiner Leidenschaft und seinem Einsatz hat er massgeblich dazu beigetragen, den Baseball- und Softballsport in Zürich aufzubauen und weiterzuentwickeln.
Der Sieger der Kategorie wurde durch ein Würfelspiel bestimmt – dabei hatte Serge leider kein Würfelglück. Dennoch wurde er für seine herausragenden Verdienste mit einem Pokal und CHF 500 Preisgeld ausgezeichnet.
Wir danken Zündwürfel und Zürcher Kantonalverband für Sport herzlich für die Organisation dieses besonderen Abends und gratulieren Serge von ganzem Herzen. Wir sind stolz, ihn in unserem Verein zu haben!
Offensive fireworks from the NLB-Team
On Sunday the first seniors team from the Challengers organization kicked off the new season. The NLB-Team unleashed an offensive fireworks display against the Therwil Flyers, starting the season with a sweep.
The Challengers won the opener 16-6 and followed up with a 19-6 victory in the second game of the day.
Two wins on Opening Day for the juveniles
The U12 Juveniles secured the first wins for the Challengers organization of the 2025 season. The youngest Challengers team won both of its games on Opening Day in Bulle.
The Zurich team’s first opponent was the Geneva Dragons, who have celebrated several junior titles in recent years. It was therefore exciting to see how the blue and reds would fare. The French-Swiss team won the first inning 3-2. But then the Challengers turned things around. In the second inning they scored five runs to make it 7-3 and ultimately won decisively 13-5. Starting pitcher Len Blickenstorfer earned the first win of the season.
In the second game of the day, the Challengers faced their cantonal rivals, the Rümlang Kobras. The blue and reds carried the momentum from their opening game and were already ahead 5-1 after the first inning. They extended their lead to 10-3 by the third inning, ultimately winning 14-3. This time, starter Roy Gonzalez was credited with the win.
NLB-Team to open in Therwil
The NLB-Team will be the Challengers’ first senior team that will begin to play in 2025. The Challengers’ second team will play their Opening Day game on Sunday, April 13, in Therwil. They will face the Therwil Flyers’ second team at the Känelmatt. Games begin at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Continue Reading » NLB-Team to open in TherwilJuveniles’ Opening Day in Bulle
The U12 Juveniles Championship has been reorganized by the Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation. In 2025, there will be two divisions within the U12 age group: the Competitive League and the Development League. Both divisions are divided into an Eastern and a Western group, with teams competing across regional borders as well.
The Challengers begin their season on Saturday, April 12, in Bulle, Fribourg. There they will face the Geneva Dragons at 10:00 a.m. before playing the Rümlang Kobras at 12:30 p.m.
Cadets lose local derby
The Cadets suffered two losses on opening day. In their duel against their cantonal rivals, the Rümlang Kobras, the Challengers were largely without a chance.
After various indoor tournaments, the outdoor season finally kicked off this weekend. The Challengers hosted the Rümlang Kobras in Hünenberg in the Canton of Zug. In glorious sunshine but with a nasty breeze, the Challengers never really got going. While their pitchers visibly struggled with the strike zone, their offense didn’t come through against the Kobras’ strong defense. Ultimately, the Zurich Unterland team prevailed twice, winning 15-6 and 12-2.
Opening Day for the Cadets
The Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation will resume play next weekend. For once, the juniors will be the first to start. Among the teams kicking off the new season on Sunday, April 6, are the Zurich Challengers U15-Cadets. They will host the Rümlang Kobras in the first game day of the 2025 season. The doubleheader begins at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Hünenberg Rony.
Continue Reading » Opening Day for the Cadets