The Challengers (17-10) won twice against the first-placed Bern Cardinals (22-4) on Sunday, September 9 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The C’s clinched the playoff berth for the 14th time since 1997 by posting an 11-8 victory over the Cardinals in Game 1. Tobias Siegrist tossed a complete game for the win, while the offense put together 14 hits. Robert Sedin went 3-for-4 and Jesus Martinez drove in three runs. With this victory the Challengers extended their lead over the fifth-placed Zürich Barracudas to two games.
But the Challengers weren’t done yet. They added another win, as they edged the Cardinals 5-3 in Game 2. Harry Bregy scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh, while Andrea Girasole (8-4) got the win with two innings of work and Robert Sedin notched his second save with two scoreless innings to shut the door.
The Challengers will play the Zürich Lions in their last game of the qualification round on Thursday, September 13 at 7pm.
C’s sweep Cardinals, clinch playoff berth
NLB-Team swept by Cardinals
The NLB-Team lost twice to the still perfect Bern Cardinals on Saturday, September 8 at Bern. After losing 2-17 in Game 1 the Challengers came up short in Game 2 as well, as the first-placed Cardinals posted a 14-5 victory. The Challengers remain in fifth place with a 6-10 record. The C’s will host the Therwil Flyers on Sunday, September 23 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
Continue Reading » NLB-Team swept by CardinalsCadets win double header against Eagles
The Challengers U15-Cadets visited Luzern this weekend and came away with victories in both games. The first game was won by a score of 13-3 and the nightcap was 11-6.
The story of the day was pitching as Jake Namovich pitched a complete game gem in the first game giving up only 3 runs and striking out 10. In the second game Sebastian Bonger pitched an almost complete game giving up 5 runs and striking out 9. Seb would have had a complete game but he reached the pitch count limit and we had to substitute for the last out in the final inning. Both guys were awesome on the mound and deserve recognition for throwing great games.
It was not a big hitting day as there were only 9 hits but the team showed a keen eye and had 18 walks and 4 HBP as the Luzern hurlers struggled to find the strike zone.
The big bats on the day were Tobias Haynor who was 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s. Seb Bonger was 2 for 4 with 4 runs and 1 RBI. Cedric Thommen went 2 for 4 with 5 runs scored and 1 RBI and Andreas Rüdisühli was 2 for 4 with 3 Runs and 1 RBI. Adding to the offense was Marcel Zuberbuehler who scored 4 runs and added an RBI. Congratulations to the Cadets on winning big in the Platzierungsrunde. We have closed out the official season with a 12-2 record.
Next weekend is a big game with the Cadets closing out their season by travelling to Geneva to play the undefeated Geneva Baseball team in an exhibition game. It should be an exciting weekend and we are looking forward to some great baseball.
Challengers erneut gegen die Cardinals
Eine Woche nach dem Duell in Bern treffen die NLA-Teams der Challengers und der Bern Cardinals erneut aufeinander, diesmal am Sonntag, 9. September im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli. Die Challengers benötigen noch einen Sieg aus den drei verbleibenden Partien, um sich für die Playoffs zu qualifizieren. Die Spiele beginnen um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Das NLB-Team trifft ebenfalls auf die Bern Cardinals, muss aber am Samstag, 8. September auswärts in Bern antreten. Tabellenführer Bern ist noch immer ungeschlagen, während die Challengers mit sechs Siegen und acht Niederlagen auf Rang fünf liegen. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Die U12-Juveniles bestreiten ihre ersten Spiele der Masterrunde am Samstag, 8. September. Die Spielgemeinschaft der Challengers/TruckStar trifft dabei auf die Rümlang Kobras. Die Spiele beginnen um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr in Rümlang Rümelbach.
Die U15-Cadets spielen ebenfalls am Samstag, 8. September in Luzern gegen die Luzern Eagles. Die Spiele beginnen um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr in Reussbühl Hinteruopigen.
Rainout games canceled
The softball games that have been rained out on September 1 at Luzern won’t be made up, as their outcome won’t change the situation in the standings. The Challengers finish the season in fifth place with a 9-13 record, while the SG Eagles/Challengers finish in last place.
Continue Reading » Rainout games canceledChallengers holen Sieg in Bern
Die Challengers erzielten am Sonntag, 2. September einen äusserst wichtigen Sieg gegen den amtierenden Schweizer Meister Bern Cardinals. Nachdem der Titelhalter aus der Hauptstadt im ersten Spiel einen knappen 5-4 Sieg einfuhr, sicherten sich die Challengers den Sieg in der zweiten Partie mit einem 8-0 Shutout. Die Challengers benötigen aus den drei verbleibenden Spielen noch einen Sieg, um die Qualifikation für die Playoffs definitiv zu machen. Am Sonntag, 9. September kommt es im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli erneut zum Aufeinandertreffen mit den Cardinals.
Continue Reading » Challengers holen Sieg in BernAlle Samstagspiele abgesagt
Alle für Samstag, 1. September angesetzten Spiele der Baseball- und der Softballmeisterschaft mit Beteiligung der Challengers mussten wegen Regens und unbespiellbaren Terrains abgesagt werden. Wann die Spiele neu angesetzt werden, wurde noch nicht bekannt gegeben.
Das NLA-TEam spielt am Sonntag, 2. September auf der Berner Allmend gegen die Bern Cardinals.
NLB-Heimspiel, NLA reist nach Bern
Das NLB-Team empfängt am Samstag, 1. September die drittplatzierten Sissach Frogs im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli. Mit 2 Siegen können die Challengers in der Tabelle zum Gegner aufschliessen. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Das NLA-Team reist am Sonntag, 2. September nach Bern, wo es auf den Tabellenführer Cardinals trifft. Die Challengers benötigen noch 2 Siege aus den letzten 5 Spielen, um sich für die Playoffs zu qualifizieren, müssen aber noch viermal gegen den frischgebackenen Sieger des Europacup-Playoffs antreten. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr auf der Berner Allmend.
Die Softballerinnen treten am Samstag, 1. September in Luzern zum letzten Spieltag der Saison 2012 an. Zunächst spielt die zweite Mannschaft, die SG Eagles/Challengers, um 10.00 und 11.30 Uhr gegen die Luzern Eagles, anschliessend gibt es um 14.00 und 15.30 Uhr zum Saisonabschluss noch das Duell zwischen den Challengers und der SG Eagles/Challengers. Alle Spiele finden in Reussbühl Hinterruopigen statt.
Die U12-Juveniles der Challengers/TruckStar treffen in der U12-Masterrunde am Samstag, 1. September auf die Wittenbach Vikings. Gespielt wird um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr auf dem Sportplatz Untere Ey in Dulliken.
Cadets win Double Header at Dulliken
Entering post season play the Challengers are playing for table position and this weekend we played a double header against the Dulliken Truck Stars. A strong Challengers line up played well and delivered a 13-1 victory in the opening game and followed that up with an 11-4 win in the nightcap.
The Challengers welcome two new team mates who helped us win on the day. A hearty welcome to Andreas Rüdisühli and Louis Russo.
There was lots of hitting and scoring done but the biggest bats on the day were Michael Iacono who was 7-for-7 with 3 runs scored and 3 doubles and Sebastian Bonger who was 3-for-4 with 6 runs scored and 2 RBI’s. Several others contributed with great games as well including Tobias Haynor who was 3-for-7 with 2 Runs and 3 RBI’s, Marc Tsukroff was 2-for-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s, Jake Namovich was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 1 RBI, and Tobias Bonger who was 3-for-4 with 1 run and 2 RBI’s. For the new comers – Andreas Rüdisühli was 3-for-5 with 1 run and 3 RBI’s, and Louis Russo was 1-for-2 with 3 runs and 1 RBI. All in all, lots of people had great days at the plate.
On the mound, Jake Namovich pitched a complete game gem in the opening game giving up only 1 run on 4 hits and striking out five. In the second game Seb Bonger pitched 3 scoreless innings giving up only 1 hit and striking out 3. Marc Tsukroff closed out the second game.
Congratulations to the Challengers on a very nice weekend outcome.
Challengers move into fourth place
The Challengers won twice on Sunday, August 19 against the Luzern Eagles and improved their record to 14-9. But it wasn’t easy at all, as the Challengers posted a nerve-wracking 13-9 extra-inning win in Game 1 against the Eagles. The game lasted more than three and a half hours in the heat of 33 degrees celsius. And the C’s added an 8-2 victory in Game 2, to move into fourth place for the first time in 2012 thanks to the Therwil Flyers edging the Zurich Barracudas twice. The C’s will face the first-placed Bern Cardinals for two double headers and the sixth-placed Zurich Lions for a make-up game in September.
Continue Reading » Challengers move into fourth place