On Saturday 19 May, the Challenger cadets lost a close game to the Wittenbach Vikings by a score of 9-7 but came back strong against the Black Hawks with a 16-3 win.
In the opening game Jake Namovich started the scoring with a walk and then working his way around the bases to score on a passed ball. In the top of the third the Vikings had a big 4 run inning including a 3 run homer by Lengwiler. However, the Challengers came right back in the bottom of the third with a two run homer off the bat of Ryan Ciemny. In the fourth inning the Vikings added two more runs off some costly fielding errors. Once again in the bottom of the fourth the big bat of Ryan Ciemny ripped a 2 RBI double scoring Sebastian Bonger and Marcel Zuberbühler. In the final inning the Vikings put up three more runs making the score 9-5. Unfortunately the Challengers could only muster two runs in the final stanza with both Namovich and Seb Bonger scoring before the Viking defense shut down our bats.
Ryan Ciemny pitched 3 strong innings and the game was closed out by Jake Namovich.
In the second game of the day the Challengers jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back against the Black Hawks. Jake Tuckner scored 3 runs, Will Ciemny scored 2 runs, and Ryan Ciemny had another monster game going 2 for 3 with a double, 2 RBI’s and scoring 3 runs. Tobias Haynor got on base 4 times and scored all 4 with some efficient base running. Marc Tsukroff was 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Alex Homburg also got a single and scored and Marcel Zuberbühler scored after walking to get on base.
Namovich and Tsukroff each pitched two very strong innings and Seb Bonger finished the game on the mound, closing out the final inning by facing only 4 batters.
Overall a good weekend for the Challengers. Next doubleheader is 10 June.
Cadets split a double header in Wittenbach
Softball-Team mit vier Spielen auf der Klopstockwiese
Das Softball-Team hat ein arbeitsreiches Wochenende mit vier Spielen auf der Klopstockwiese vor sich. Am Samstag, 19. Mai kommt es zum zweiten Versuch gegen die SG Eagles/Challengers, nachdem am letzten Wochenende das erste Duell dem Regen zum Opfer fiel. Tags darauf empfangen die Challengers dann den Stadtrivalen Zürich Barracudas. Die Spiele beginnen an beiden Tagen jeweils um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr.
Das NLB-Team läuft erstmals in dieser Saison im heimischen Baseballstadion Heerenschürli auf, wo es am Samstag, 19. Mai zum Aufeinandertreffen mit der U18-Nationalmannschaft kommt, welche als Vorbereitung auf das Qualifier European Championship Juniors Turnier im französischen Toulouse vom 10. bis 14. Juli an der NLB-Meisterschaft teilnimmt. Die Spiele beginnen um 12.00 und 15.00 Uhr.
Die U15-Cadets reisen nach Wittenbach, wo sie am Samstag, 19. Mai auf die Wittenbach Vikings und die Black Hawks treffen. Die Spiele beginnen um 10.00 und 12.30 Uhr auf der OZ Wiese.
Die U12-Juveniles versuchen nach einem Rainout verspätet ihre Saison zu eröffnen. Die Spielgemeinschaft TruckStar/Challengers trifft dabei am Sonntag, 20. Mai auswärts auf die Therwil Flyers. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr in Therwil Känelmatt II.
Baseball and Softball games washed out
The home opener between the Challengers and the Bern Cardinals at the Heerenschürli ballpark, the softball game between the SG Eagles/Challengers and the Challengers and the season opener for the U12-Juveniles team all scheduled for Saturday, May 12 have been canceled by the groundkeepers due to heavy rain. No make-up dates have been announced so far.
Continue Reading » Baseball and Softball games washed outU18 Spieltag an Auffahrt
Die Swiss Baseball & Softball Federation organisiert an Auffahrt, 17. Mai einen nationalen U18 Spieltag in Dulliken. Am Tagesturnier werden die drei Teams aus Genf, das SBSF Team 1 mit Spielern der Truck Star, der Frogs und der Unicorns sowie das SBSF Team 2 mit Spielern der Bandits, Rainbows und Challengers aufeinandertreffen. Von den Challengers werden Laurens Bohlen, Ryan Ciemny, Tim Disler, Michael Iacono, Gabe Staub und Matt Tsukroff für das SBSF Team 2 im Einsatz stehen. Gecoacht wird das Team von den Challengers NLB-Coaches Andrea Girasole und Robert Sedin. Das erste Spiel beginnt um 10.00 Uhr auf dem Sportplatz Untere Ey in Dulliken.
Continue Reading » U18 Spieltag an AuffahrtHeimspielpremiere gegen den Meister
Nach drei Spieltagen auf fremdem Terrain laufen die Challengers am Samstag, 12. Mai nun erstmals im heimischen Baseballstadion Heerenschürli auf. Zu Gast in Schwamendingen ist der amtierende Meister Bern Cardinals. Während die Challengers von ihren bisherigen sechs Spielen zwei gewinnen konnten, ist der Titelhalter noch ungeschlagen. Die Spiele beginnen um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr.
Zu einem Aufeinandertreffen in familiärer Atmosphäre kommt es am Samstag, 12. Mai auf der Klopstockwiese. Die SG Eagles/Challengers empfängt das erste Team der Challengers zu einem Doubleheader. Spielbeginn ist um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr.
Die U12-Juveniles eröffnen als letztes Team der Organisation am Samstag, 12. Mai ihre Saison. Wie bereits im Vorjahr besteht wiederum eine Kooperation mit den Truck Star Dulliken, was 2011 zum dritten Schlussrang geführt hatte. Die SG TruckStar/Challengers trifft auf die Hünenberg Unicorns. Gespielt wird um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr auf dem Sportplatz Untere Ey in Dulliken.
Rob Sedin joined the Challengers
The Challengers Baseball and Softball Club is proud to introduce the newly acquired outfielder, shortstop and pitcher Robert Sedin. The 24-year old San Jose native arrived in Zurich end of April to join the Challengers organization for the 2012 season. In college Sedin played two years for the UCSD Tritons at University of California in San Diego, where he was batting .309 with 127 hits, 7 homeruns, 73 RBI’s and 79 runs scored in 118 games. He also played one season for the Derby Twins in the Jayhawk league and at DeAzna JC where he was all-conference twice in a row.
Sedin, who majored in communications at UCSD, will look to be a major contributor to the Challengers club this season. He enforces the Challengers NLA-Team and will run the NLB-Team together with Andrea Girasole. Sedin made his debut for the Challengers on April 28 against the Therwil Flyers. In his first four games as a Challenger he is batting .533 with 8 hits, 2 doubles, 7 RBI’s and 3 runs scored and tossed five innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits with two walks and six strikeouts and picked up his first save against the Wil Devils. (photo: Johnny Müller)
Ladies swept by Devils
The Softball-Team lost for the first time this season, as the C’s were swept by the Wil Devils on Sunday, May 6. Game 1 was a nailbiter, as both teams exchanged zeros on the scoreboard till the Devils drove in the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The C’s loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but the Devils ended the game with a double play by throwing out the tying run at home to eventually win 1-0. Jrene Bühler won the pitcher’s duel, as she allowed four hits and three walks with three strikeouts, while Leandra Simitovic gave up one run, four hits and five walks while also striking out five. Simitovic had no support from her offense, as the C’s went a dismal 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Things got even worse for the Challengers, as they didn’t escape the first inning of Game 2. The Devils scored eight runs on eight hits, two walks and one error and held on for a 14-7 victory. The C’s regularly hit the balls right into the Devils’ gloves, while the Devils found the holes in the C’s defense, as they outhit the C’s 16-8. The C’s cut the deficit to four runs in the fourth inning, as Alexia Zingg, Ziegylou Wehrli and Celine Welti had back-to-back-to-back singles and scored later to make it 6-10, but the Devils answered right away with two insurance runs of their own. Taylor Mc Cants went a perfect 3-for-3 and Celine Welti had a pair of singles to lead the Challengers offense, while Nadja Lehmann, Ann-Katrin Fricke and Marielle Roth had three hits apiece for the Devils.
Challengers arrive in win column
The Challengers stopped their four-game losing streak on Saturday, May 5, as the C’s won twice against the Wil Devils to post their first two wins of the 2012 season. After a 20-7 win in Game 1, the C’s added a 6-3 victory over the Devils in Game 2.
Continue Reading » Challengers arrive in win columnChallengers go east
The Challengers will head to Wil this upcoming weekend. The NLA-Team will start with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 5 against the Wil Devils (2-0). The C’s (0-4) will try to record the first win of the season, after losing their first four games to the Embrach Mustangs and the Therwil Flyers. The games will start at 11am and 2pm at Wil Lindenhof.
The Softball-Team will follow on Sunday, May 6, when the Challengers (2-0) will also face the Wil Devils (0-2). The Challengers will try to continue where they started on opening day, as they beat the reigning champion Luzern Eagles twice. The games will start at 11am and 1.30pm at Wil Lindenhof.
NLB-Team opens season with split
The NLB-Team also traveled to Therwil on Sunday, April 29 to play the Therwil Flyers. And it returned home with one win. However the Flyers were dominant in Game 1, as they cruised to an easy 19-4 win over the C’s. But the Challengers fought back in Game 2, as they managed to salvage a split, posting a 12-8 victory.
Continue Reading » NLB-Team opens season with split