The Challengers’ softball season is over. They have been swept by the strong Zurich Barracudas in their best-of-three semifinal series.
The Barracudas, who finished second in the qualifying round, were the favorites. However, the Challengers won two of their four preliminary round games against the reigning Swiss champions, giving the visitors legitimate hopes of an upset. But these hopes quickly vanished. The Barracudas unleashed an offensive firework right from the start, which the Challengers’ defense was no match for. Although the Challengers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by Carmen Lutz-Demetz, the Barracudas scored a total of twelve runs with no fewer than ten hits, three walks, and one error in the first two innings, thus already clinching the game. The Challengers never recovered from this furious start, and after four innings the game ended with a score of 16-2 due to the mercy rule.
The break between the two games clearly helped the Challengers. In any case, they were able to keep the second game even for a long time. Both Challengers starter Karen Heimgartner and Barracudas pitcher Faith Weber kept the opposing bats under control, so that the first threat didn’t arise until the fourth inning, when the Challengers had runners on second and third base. However, Weber managed to pull herself out of trouble. The Barracudas even made it better in the fifth inning, although the runs occurred more by chance. With the bases loaded and one out, Jessica Rölli didn’t hit the ball properly, but ultimately decided the game. The ball died after five meters, making it impossible for the C’s defense to get an out at home plate. The attempt to make the play failed, and another error was added, allowing the Barracudas to score three runs on what was supposed to be a botched hit. And Faith Weber added an RBI double later in the inning to make it 4-0. With the end of the season in sight, the Challengers fought back. In the sixth inning, they once again had runners on second and third base this time with no outs. And this time the visitors were able to collect. Isabelle Tan brought home Taylor McCants with an RBI single, before the Barracudas turned a crucial double play, meaning the Challengers could only make it 2-4 a little later due to a wild pitch. In the final inning, however, national team player Mariah Jameyson put the series under the belt with a spectacular solo home run to make it 5-2. The Barracudas’ offense was ultimately too strong. They will now face the Wittenbach Panthers in the finals next weekend, just like last year. (Photo: Hans Dübendorfer)
Softball Playoff Semi-Final, best-of-three: Zürich Challengers (3.) vs. Zürich Barracudas (2.), 0-2
Game 1, Saturday, September 20, Rümlang Rümelbach: Zürich Challengers vs. Zürich Barracudas 2-16
Game 2, Saturday, September 20, Rümlang Rümelbach: Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers 5-2

Continue Reading » Softball-Team eliminated in semi-finals

After the long break from the championships due to the European Cup tournaments and the European Softball Championship, which Switzerland finished in an excellent 12th place, the Swiss softball playoffs begin next Saturday. A curious twist is emerging: All games in the best-of-3 semifinal series between the Wittenbach Panthers and the Luzern Eagles on the one hand, and the Zurich Barracudas and the Zurich Challengers on the other, will be played as tripleheaders on Saturday, September 20th.
The Zurich derby promises to be quite exciting again. The preliminary round saw a split in both doubleheaders. However, the Barracudas had the edge in the standings with a 16-4 record compared to the Challengers’ 12-8 record. Another advantage for the Barracudas could be the playing experience they gained at the European Cup in Enschede, Netherlands, where they only lost in the final to the French representative. The Challengers will argue that they are more rested and have been able to prepare specifically for the playoffs, the highlight of their season. Next Saturday Rümlang Rümelbach will reveal where the truth lies.
Softball Playoff Semi-Final, best-of-three: Zürich Challengers (3.) vs. Zürich Barracudas (2.), 0-0
Game 1, Saturday, September 20, 10 a.m., Rümlang Rümelbach: Zürich Challengers vs. Zürich Barracudas
Game 2, Saturday, September 20, 12.30 p.m., Rümlang Rümelbach: Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers
Game 3, Saturday, September 20, 3 p.m., Rümlang Rümelbach: Zürich Challengers vs. Zürich Barracudas (if necessary)
Head-to-head:
Season Series: Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers 2-2 Wins
Overall (since 2011): Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers 42-18 Wins
Playoff Series: Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers 1-3 Series Wins
Last Playoff Series: Semi-Final 2024: Zürich Barracudas vs. Zürich Challengers 2-0 Wins

Continue Reading » Softball Semi-Finals on Saturday at Rümlang

55 hits, 44 walks, 22 errors, 84 runs, seven lead changes, one walk-off win, and ultimately a win each for the Bern Cardinals and the Zurich Challengers. This softball doubleheader at the end of the preliminary round had it all. The Challengers will face their local rivals and reigning champions, the Zurich Barracudas, in the playoff semifinals – once more.
On the final day of the preliminary round of the Swiss Softball Championship the Zurich Barracudas and the Wittenbach Panthers were still fighting for first place and thus home-field advantage for a potential final series. The duel between the Challengers and the Cardinals, however, lacked the edge. For the home team the season was already over, while the Challengers were already safely in third place and thus in the playoff semifinals. But the encounter quickly developed into one of the wilder ones. Both teams appeared anything but confident in their actions, but they knew how to respond to setbacks time and again. The Challengers surrendered the lead no fewer than three times in Game 1. Most recently in the seventh inning, when they couldn’t finish a 17-13 lead, and the Cardinals were rewarded for their fighting spirit with a 18-17 walk-off win.
Anouchka Michel went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI, and three runs. Isabelle Tan and Simone Zurschmitten each collected three RBI and Carmen Lutz-Demetz recorded two hits and two runs for the Challengers.
In the second game the Challengers seemed to take control. They quickly pulled ahead 12-1. But the script for this game, too, didn’t call for a straightforward storyline, but rather a lot of twists and turns. After four innings the Cardinals suddenly led 15-12. But the Challengers found their way back on track. With four runs in the fifth and nine runs in the sixth inning, they turned things around again and, after a total of five hours and 35 minutes of softball, finally secured their 28-21 victory.
Carmen Lutz-Demetz raised her batting average to exactly .500 with four hits, also driving in four RBI and scoring three runs. Simona Cellar went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, four runs scored, and two RBI. Isabelle Tan had three extra-base hits, three RBI, and four runs. Marianne Aellen also had three hits with two RBI and four runs scored, while Molly Mullens added four RBI for the visitors.
The European Cup tournaments in softball follow at the end of August and the European Championships will take place in Prague from September 7th to 13th, which is why the playoffs won’t start until September 20th. From Zurich’s perspective, it’s the Challengers vs. Barracudas derby.

Continue Reading » Crazy softball doubleheader