The Softball-Team faced the Bern Cardinals on Sunday, August 20. The Challengers posted an 11-8 win in Game 1 over the Cardinals, while the Cards answered with a 3-1 victory in Game 2.
Andrea Wirth broke a 5-5 tie by stealing home in the top of the fifth frame and the Challengers added another four runs in the same inning, as Sandrine Montandon and Taylor Mc Cants had a RBI-single each and the Cardinals defense committed two costly errors. The Cards cut the deficit to two runs again, but Sandra Mack drove in Andrea Wirth in the top of the sixth to make it 11-8, while the C’s shut the door to take Game 1.
Taylor Mc Cants and Andrea Wirth delivered three hits apiece, while Sandrine Montandon had two hits and drove in two. Leandra Simitovic allowed eight runs and eleven hits with seven walks and seven strikeouts.
The C’s gave away Game 2 with two base-running errors, a passed ball and an overthrow to spoil Elise Beguelin’s last start for the blue and red. Beguelin tossed a three hitter and allowed three runs – only one earned – while striking out eight, but ended up with the loss. The C’s took the lead in the fourth frame, as Simona Cellar had a RBI-double, but threw it away, as the Cards scored twice in the bottom of the inning, before adding an insurance run in the sixth.
The Challengers will miss the playoffs for the first time in team history after reaching the top four eight consecutive times. The C’s will finish their season on September 1 with a double header against the SG Eagles/Challengers at Luzern.
Ladies split with Cardinals
NLB-Team run over by Cardinals
The NLB-Team lost twice to the first-placed Bern Cardinals on Saturday, August 19 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The C’s had not the ghost of a chance in Game 1 against the unbeaten Cardinals, as the Cards cruised to a 24-2 win. Game 2 was much closer before the Cardinals put things out of reach again, as they posted a 31-13 win. The Challengers are in fifth place with a 6-8 record.
Continue Reading » NLB-Team run over by CardinalsNLB-Team mit Heimspiel gegen Cardinals
Das NLB-Team empfängt den Tabellenführer Bern Cardinals am Samstag, 18. August im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli. Während die Bundesstädter in dieser Saison noch ungeschlagen sind, steht für die Challengers nach diversen Rainouts der erste Ernstkampf seit dem 23. Juni an. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Das NLA-Team reist am Sonntag, 19. August nach Luzern, wo die Challengers auf die Luzern Eagles treffen. Die Challengers benötigen zwei Erfolge, um den Kontakt zu den viertplatzierten Zürich Barracudas zu halten. Die Spiele beginnen um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr in Reussbühl Hinterruopigen.
Das Softball-Team spielt am Sonntag, 19. August in Bern gegen die Cardinals. Mit zwei Siegen könnten die Challengers die Saison am Ende noch mit 12 Siegen aus 24 Partien abschliessen. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr auf der Berner Allmend.
Ladies split with Devils
The Softball-Team needed two wins against the Wil Devils to keep their playoff hopes alive, but fell short. The Challengers lost 0-7 in Game 1, before posting an 8-3 victory in Game 2.
After exchanging zeros on the scoreboard for the first three frames, the Devils opened the score in the fourth inning, as two errors by the C’s defense enabled them to score twice. In the fifth the Devils exploded for five runs on five hits to make it 7-0 and to seal the deal, while the Challengers’ bats remained silent. Simona Cellar had two hits in her first game of the season, while Leandra Simitovic and Sandrine Montandon had one hit each.
The blue and red proved that they can do better, as Taylor Mc Cants scored the first run of the day for the C’s in the bottom of the first frame in Game 2. The C’s added another run in the second, as Andrea Wirth drove in Alexia Zingg to make it 2-0 and they put things out of reach in the third by scoring five runs. After Elise Beguelin drove in Simona Cellar, Alexia Zingg delivered a two-run double and Brigit Zuber followed with a two-run single to make it 7-0. Alexia Zingg had a game-high three hits and three RBI’s, while Elise Beguelin gave up three runs – one earned – and three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts for her second win of the season.
Challengers win twice against Lions
The Challengers swept the Zurich Lions on Saturday, August 11 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The C’s built an early 6-0 lead after scoring four runs in the first frame and adding two in the third inning, holding on for a 10-3 victory over the Lions in Game 1. Jesus Martinez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, Säntis Zeller delivered three hits and Oliver Bernet drove in four runs for the Challengers.
The C’s added another success in Game 2, as they posted a 9-2 victory over the Lions. Tobias Siegrist broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a sac fly, Thomas Blank and Harry Bregy followed with RBI-singles and Patrick Maier and Rober Sedin scored after errors by the Lions defense to make it 6-1.
The Challengers remain in fifth place with a 12-9 record and are 1.5 games behind a playoff spot.
Baseball am Samstag, Softball am Sonntag
Das NLA-Team empfängt am Samstag, 11. August die Zürich Lions im Baseballstadion Heerenschürli. Für die fünftplatzierten Challengers wird erstmals der neuverpflichtete Australier Craig Pycock auflaufen. Mit zwei Siegen könnten die Challengers den Rückstand auf Rang vier auf 1.5 Spiele reduzieren. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Die Softballerinnen treten am Sonntag, 12. August auf der Klopstockwiese gegen die Wil Devils an. Die Challengers haben die Möglichkeit mit zwei Erfolgen in der Direktbegegnung mit den viertplatzierten Devils in der Tabelle gleichzuziehen. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr.
Pycock joins Challengers
Newly acquired pitcher and infielder Craig Pycock arrived in Zurich on Thursday to join the Challengers NLA-Team. Pycock is an Australian, who has played extensively in Germany and for the British national team. The 33-year old, who was born in Central Coast, New South Wales Australia, last played with the HSV Stealers in the German Bundesliga. The Stealers lost their best-of-five quarter-final series against the Regensburg Legionäre 0-3. Pycock appeared in 11 games and batted .333 with three RBI’s and scored 6 runs.
Pycock will make his debut for the Challengers on Saturday, August 11 against the Zurich Lions at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
Spitzenbaseball in Zrich
Zum ersten Mal wird vom 3. bis zum 5. August in Zürich der Swiss international Alpine Cup ausgetragen. Bereits bei der ersten Austragung ist es den Organisatoren gelungen internationale Teams nach Zürich ins Heerenschürli zu locken. Neben der Schweizer Nationalmannschaft wird ein All Star Team aus England und der Schweiz sowie ein Elite Team aus College Spielern aus den USA um den ersten Swiss international Alpine Cup spielen.
Weitere Informationen unter 1st Swiss International Alpine Cup
NLB-Games rained out again
The NLB-games between the Zurich Challengers and the Jona Bandits have been canceled due to rain. For the C’s it’s the second consecutive rainout, after the games against the Therwil Flyers have been washed out one week ago. No make-up dates have been announced so far.
The NLB-Team will face next the first-placed Bern Cardinals on Saturday, August 18 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.
Challengers roll over Devils
The Challengers posted two mercy rule shutout wins over the Wil Devils on Saturday, July 28 at the Heerenschürli ballpark to improve their record to 10-9. With the two wins the C’s also moved within three games of the fourth-placed Zurich Barracudas. Andrea Girasole tossed a two-hitter with one walk and seven strikeouts and the Challengers scored in every inning in a 19-hit attack, as they cruised to a 20-0 victory in Game 1. Säntis Zeller, Tobias Siegrist and Luigi Cinardi had three hits each, while every Challenger had at least one hit.
Harry Bregy was solid too in his first start since August 31 2008 and the C’s added a 12-0 win over the Devils in Game 2. Bregy and reliever Thomas Burger combined for a no-hitter and nine strikeouts, while Robert Sedin went a perfect 4-for-4 and Säntis Zeller, Tobias Siegrist and Jesus Martinez – in his first game back with the Challengers – had three hits apiece.
The C’s will face the Zurich Lions on Saturday, August 11 at the Heerenschürli ballpark.