Challengers lose in 11th inning

The NLA-Team lost Game 5 to the Therwil Flyers 7-6 in 11 innings. After trailing 5-0 after two innings, the Challengers came back and took a 6-5 lead off reliever Stefan Koller in the eighth inning, but a huge error and a sac fly tied it at 6 apiece in the bottom of the ninth. In the 11th, back-to-back singles by Matthias Jung and Seppi Zwyer off Tobias Siegrist clinched the Semifinals Series in favor of the Flyers.
 

Weiterlesen » Challengers lose in 11th inning

1.Liga-Team beendet Saison auf Rang 3

Das 1.Liga-Team gewann auch das zweite Spiel der best-of-three Serie um den dritten Platz gegen die Zürich Barracudas. Nach einem 20-5 Erfolg im ersten Spiel vor zwei Wochen, liessen die Challengers am Samstag, 19. September in Embrach einen 21-12 Sieg gegen den Stadtrivalen folgen. Damit beenden die Challengers eine starke Saison auf dem dritten Schlussrang und steigen damit in die NLB auf. Die Challengers gewannen die Vorrunde in der Ostgruppe mit elf Siegen aus zwoelf Partien, schieden dann aber im Halbfinale mit 1-2 gegen die Thun Hunters aus. Insgesamt gewann das Team von Headcoach Kurt Kovac 2009 14 seiner 17 Spiele.

Weiterlesen » 1.Liga-Team beendet Saison auf Rang 3

A look back at Game 5s

This year’s Playoff Semifinals both go down to deciding Game 5’s for the first time ever in Swiss baseball history, and only the second time that both Semifinal Series go the entire length (2001’s Semifinals Series were played in Best-of-3 formats as both of them were decided in Game 3). Time to look back at the Challengers’ memorable Game 5’s in the last couple seasons. Read more in the NLA’s clubhouse

Weiterlesen » A look back at Game 5s

1.Liga-Team spielt um Platz drei

Das 1.Liga-Team beendet seine Saison am Samstag, 19. September in Embrach mit dem zweiten und falls noetig dritten Spiel des kleinen Finals gegen die Zuerich Barracudas. Die Challengers fuehren in der Serie 1-0, nachdem sie vor zwei Wochen das erste Spiel sicher mit 20-5 gewonnen haben. Spiel 2 und falls noetig 3 in der best-of-three Serie findet um 11.00 und 14.00 Uhr in Embrach PZ Hard statt.

Weiterlesen » 1.Liga-Team spielt um Platz drei

Ladies eliminated by Flyers 1-2

The Softball-Team’s season came to an end on Sunday, September 13 at Therwil after losing Game 2 and also the decisive Game 3 of the best-of-three semifinal series against the defending champion Therwil Flyers. Jennifer Feret was one error shy of a perfect game and the Flyers used small ball to tie the series at 1-1 with a 6-0 victory in Game 2 against the Challengers. Both teams exchanged zeros on the scoreboard through the first four innings, before the Flyers opened the score in the fifth, as they executed a number of perfect bunts for a 2-0 lead. And they added four more runs in the sixth, as the C’s misplayed a grounder that should have been the third out of the frame. Feret struck out 14 for the win, while Karen Heimgartner allowed six runs – only one earned – and eight hits with two walks, while also striking out nine. The series have come down to a winner-takes-it-all Game 3. And the eight-time Swiss champion got on the board in the first inning, as Colleen Conway scored on a sacrifice bunt. The Challengers avoided further damage in the second inning, as Leandra Simitovic pitched in and out of trouble ending the inning with a strikeout with the bases loaded. But Jennifer Feret opened the third with a solo shot over the left field fence and the Flyers made it 3-0 on a sacrifice fly to center field by Marlene Wittwer. And that was all Sophie Zihlmann and the Flyers needed, as the Challengers’ bats remained silent for the entire day. The Flyers made it 4-0 in the fifth, as Feret scored on another sacrifice fly from Babsi Meierhans and they added two more runs on a costly error by the Challengers’ defense to eventually win 6-0 and taking the series by 2-1. Zihlmann tossed a one-hitter with two walks and six strikeouts for the win. Simitovic allowed six runs – four of them earned – and eight hits with three walks and one strikeout but had no support from her offense, as the Challengers weren’t able to repeat their outstanding performance from Game 1, as they edged the Flyers 6-5. The Flyers will face the Bern Cardinals in the finals, who swept the Wil Devils in the other semifinal, while the team of headcoach Armin Blickenstorfer finishs the season in fourth place.

Weiterlesen » Ladies eliminated by Flyers 1-2

Ladies edge Flyers, take Game 1

The Softball-Team stopped the Therwil Flyers’ 19-game winning streak on Saturday, September 12 at the Klopstockwiese. Leandra Simitovic allowed five runs – four of them earned – on seven hits and two walks in seven strong innings, while also striking out two and Flavia Von Meiss’ RBI-single in the bottom of fifth inning broke a 5-5 tie, as the Challengers topped the Flyers 6-5 in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal series. The C’s opened the score in the first inning, as Simone Zurschmitten drove in Simitovic with a RBI-double and they added three more runs in the second frame, as Ziegylou Wehrli plated Alexia Zingg with a sacrifice bunt and Flavia Von Meiss and Vanessa Zulliger scored on an error and a passed ball to make it 4-0. But the Flyers fought back scoring three runs in the third and they even took the lead, as Melanie Wanner ripped a 2-Run double to deep center field in the top of the fifth. But the Challengers answered right away, as Karen Heimgartner tied the game with a RBI-double before Von Meiss drove in Heimgartner for the winnig run. Game 2 and if necessary Game 3 will take place on Sunday, September 13 at 11am and 1.30pm at Therwil Känelmatt II.

Weiterlesen » Ladies edge Flyers, take Game 1

Softball-Team trifft auch auf Flyers

Am Samstag, 12. September beginnen die Schweizer Softball-Playoffs. Dabei treffen die viertplatzierten Challengers (10-10) auf den Titelhalter Therwil Flyers (19-1). Die beiden Teams standen sich schon in unzähligen dramatischen Playoff-Serien und Vorrundenspielen gegenüber und trafen seit 2005 in jedem Jahr in den Playoffs aufeinander, 2005, 2006 und 2007 jeweils gar im Final. Letzte Saison setzten sich die Flyers im Halbfinal mit 2-0 durch, als gleich beide Partien in den Extra-Innings entschieden wurden. In dieser Saison gewannen die Flyers die Direktbegegnungen am 10. Mai mit 11-4 und 2-0 und sind seit 19 Spielen ungeschlagen, während sich die Challengers am letzten Sonntag mit zwei Siegen gegen die Zürich Barracudas die Playoffqualifikation sicherten. Spiel 1 der best-of-three Halbfinalserie findet am Samstag um 13.30 Uhr auf der Klopstockwiese statt, Spiel 2 und falls nötig 3 stehen am Sonntag, 13. September um 11.00 und 13.30 Uhr in Therwil Känelmatt II auf dem Programm.

Weiterlesen » Softball-Team trifft auch auf Flyers

Ladies clinch playoff berth

The Softball-Team clinched the playoff berth with two wins against the cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas on Sunday, September 6 at the Klopstockwiese. Leandra Simitovic cleared the way to the semifinals for the Challengers tossing five magnificient innings en route to a 10-0 shutout victory in Game 1. Simitovic allowed three hits, with no walks while also striking out seven and Alexia Zingg led the offense going 3-for-3 with two RBI’s and two runs, while Sandrine Montandon and Simone Zurschmitten drove in two runs apiece. Game 2 saw several lead changes but the same winner again, as the Challengers posted a 12-6 victory over the Barracudas. The C’s were down 3-5, as they exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Nadja Critelli started the scoring, as Alexia Zingg drove her in with a RBI-double, followed by a RBI-single from Simona Cellar and a RBI-double from Simone Zurschmitten, before Andrea Wirth ended it by ripping a 2-run single to make it 9-5. Simone Zurschmitten lasted three innings in her first career start allowing four runs and one hit with two strikeouts, while Simona Cellar picked up the win pitching three innings of relief, as she allowed two runs – none of them earned – and one hit with one walk and one strikeout. The Challengers (10-10) will face the reigning champions Therwil Flyers (19-1) in the semifinals. Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be played on Saturday, September 12 at 1.30pm at the Klopstockwiese, Game 2 and if necessary 3 will take place on Sunday, September 13 at Therwil.

Weiterlesen » Ladies clinch playoff berth