The new Heerenschürli will be ready in the next couple of days, so it’s a good time to reflect on the history of the ballpark.
It took eight years before the Zurich baseball clubs got a more or less suitable field to play baseball on. The city of Zurich found some space on the Heerenschürli sports complex to build a provisional baseball field. At the end of the 1980’s, four clubs with more than 10 teams where playing on that field: The Challengers, Barracudas, Lions and Coconuts. Soon, the limit was reached, and the trend continued to grow or least remain steady. By 2004, there were 6 Swiss Championship celebrations on the Heerenschürli, and 13 of all the 28 Swiss Champions titles went to Zurich (8x Challengers, 3x Lions, 2x Barracudas).
Combined with the age of the entire sports complex, the city of Zurich decided in 2002 to renovate the entire complex that would include a baseball field that comforts to international standards. Work on the new complex started in Summer 2008, and now finally, the field will be ready to be christened on April 17, with a classical derby between the Challengers and the Barracudas.
To read a more detailed story on the history of baseball in Zurich, check out Serge Künzler’s entry at the Zurich Federation’s website.
New Heerenschuerli
Challengers go south
The Challengers travel to Rimini, Italy, where they will hold their spring camp over the Easter weekend. Both the Baseball and the Softball Team will play a couple of friendly games to get ready for the 2010 season. The C’s will open their season on April 17 and 18.
Continue Reading » Challengers go southChallengers start into Preseason
The Challengers Baseball-Team had a successful start into the preseason at the Embrach spring tournament on Saturday, March 27. The C’s posted a 4-2 victory over their cross-town rivals Zurich Barracudas before they drew a 4-4 tie with the Sissach Frogs in Game 2.
On Sunday, March 28 the Challengers played a split-squad game at Therwil against the Flyers. The reigning Swiss Champion posted a 8-6 win over the C’s on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of both organizations. Finally the Flyers and Challengers Softball-Teams played a friendly game, as the Flyers beat the C’s, taking a 22-4 victory.
Hipps arrived in Zurich
Newly-acquired Challengers head coach Brian Hipps arrived in Zurich on Thursday. In addition to his job as playing coach of the NLA-Team, Hipps will also serve as assistant coach for the NLB-Team, the Juniors and the Softball-Team. He will run his first practice on Friday and will make his debut in the Challengers uniform on Saturday, March 27 at Embrach and on Sunday, March 28 at Therwil.
Continue Reading » Hipps arrived in ZurichChallengers starten in Vorbereitung
Die Challengers starten ihre Serie von Vorbereitungsspielen am kommenden Wochenende. Das Baseball-Team wird am 27. und 28. März am traditionellen Frühlingsturnier in Embrach PZ Hard teilnehmen. Der Beginn macht am Samstag um 9.30 Uhr das Duell mit dem Stadtrivalen Zürich Barracudas, bevor die Challengers um 14.45 Uhr auf die Sissach Frogs treffen werden. Am Sonntag findet um 13.30 Uhr eine weitere Partie statt. weitere Infos.
Am Sonntag, 28. März werden die Challengers Split-Squad Games spielen. Die andere Hälfte des Team reist nach Therwil zu den Flyers. Beide Vereine gehören zu den Gründerorganisationen der Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation und begehen 2010 je ihr 30-jähriges Jubiläum. Aus diesem Anlass organisieren die Flyers einen Jubiläumsevent mit einem Baseballspiel um 12.00 Uhr und einem Softballspiel um 15.00 Uhr in Therwil Känelmatt.
Swiss All Stars played in Germany
A Swiss All Star Team traveled to Solingen, Germany where they played a doubleheader against the Solingen Alligators, who reached the semi-finals in the German Bundesliga in 2009, on Saturday, March 20. After winning Game 1 13-7 the team of former Challengers head coach Andy Fleischacker added a 14-0 in the second Game against the Swiss. Challengers players Thomas Blank, Thomas Burger and Thomas Landis were named into the Swiss Roster. Game 3 scheduled for Sunday, March 21 was canceled due to rain.
Continue Reading » Swiss All Stars played in GermanyCadets spielen in der Halle
Die Challengers U15 Cadets reisen am Sonntag nach Therwil, wo sie am 5. Baseball Hallenturnier teilnehmen werden. Die Challengers treffen dabei auf die Thun Hunters, die Rümlang Kobras und die Spielgemeinschaft der Therwil Flyers und der Sissach Frogs. Das erste Spiel beginnt um 15.20 Uhr in der 99-er Sporthalle.
Continue Reading » Cadets spielen in der HalleJuniors practice 2010
Das Training für die U15 Cadets der Zürich Challengers findet jeden DONNERSTAG von 18.00-20.00 Uhr in der Turnhalle Aubrücke an der Luegislandstr. 173 in Zürich-Schwamendingen statt (Bus 63 & 94 bis Aubrücke).
The practice for the U15 Cadets-Team of the Zurich Challengers takes place every THURSDAY from 6pm till 8pm at the Turnhalle Aubrücke at the Luegislandstr. 173 in Zurich-Schwamendingen (bus 63 & 94 to Aubrücke).
Zurich Challengers U15 Cadets: Donnerstags 18.00 – 20.00 Uhr Turnhalle Aubrücke Luegislandstr. 173 8051 Zürich-Schwamendingen Bus 63 & 94 bis Aubrücke
Coach: Todd Tuckner & Thomas Burger
Bekkali kehrt zu den Challengers zurck
Die Zürich Challengers freuen sich, die Rückkehr von Farid Bekkali bekannt geben zu dürfen. Bekkali begann seine Karriere 1985 bei den Challengers, wo er von den Junioren bis ins Fanionteam alle Stufen durchlief und mit den Junioren und dem NLB-Team den Schweizer Meistertitel gewinnen konnte. 1995 wechselte er zu den Zürich Barracudas, wo er bis 2008 spielte und 1996 und 1997 Schweizer Meister wurde sowie 2003 den Swiss Cup gewann. "Zu den Challengers zurückzukehren schliesst den Kreis", sagte Bekkali. "Ich moechte meine Karriere dort beenden, wo sie einst begann." Bekkali bringt die Erfahrung aus 16 NLA-Saisons ins Team. Während seiner Zeit bei den Barracudas erzielte er 250 Hits und 32 Homeruns. Der 36-jährige Pitcher und First Baseman sammelte in seiner Karriere zudem 40 Wins und 486 Strikeouts in 447.1 Innings pitched. "Mein Ziel ist es, meine Mitspieler mit meiner Erfahrung zu unterstützen", meinte Bekkali. "Und den Schweizer Meistertitel wieder nach Zürich zurückzuholen. Das wäre die Kroenung."
Continue Reading » Bekkali kehrt zu den Challengers zurck