Challengers lose 12-11 in extra innings against Frogs

A game featuring six lead changes saw the Sissach Frogs come out on top as winners in the first game of the Qualification Round.

	Starter Räber pitched 3+ innings and ended up with his fourth no-decision in seven starts this season.

An RBI-single by player-coach John Updike in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out drove in the winning run for the Frogs.

The game also featured a lot of hits - 31 total - and only five errors.

The Frogs scored first as starter Benny Räber struggled with his control early on.

Ivano Piaia and Stefan Wick hit RBI-singles, Updike added a sac fly and a mishandle by center fielder Manny Marchant brought home another run for an early 4-0 lead.

The Challengers opened the score in the top of the third as backup catcher Nick Lehmann hit a two-run double in his first regular-season game after his stint on the DL.

NLA-rookie Manuel Schretzmann added a run-scoring ground out.

Shortstop Chris Palatinus tied the game with a ground-rule RBI-double over the short right field fences.

	Nick Lehmann went 3-for-4 with four RBI's in his first game off the DL.

But the Challengers quickly surrendered the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Räber gave up a solo homer to Updike.

But in the next inning, his offense scored two more runs on Anubis Benitez' RBI-single and yet another double by Lehmann for a 6-5 lead.

Räber then lost it in the bottom half of the inning.

He already complained about some stiffness in his arm as he warmed up, and coach Stanley Scott had no other alternative than to replace Räber with reliever Manny Marchant.

Steve Klee and Piaia managed to get two run-scoring singles off Marchant to score three runs and retake an 8-6 lead.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Challengers erupted for five runs in the sixth inning against reliever Updike.

Benitez had an RBI-double, Lehmann added an RBI-single, an error by second baseman Alessandro Traina brought in another run, and Marchant capped the inning with a two-run homer, his third of the season.

The Frogs managed to get within one run in the bottom half of the sixth inning on a run-scoring ground out by Marcel Schaffner and a bad throw by shortstop Palatinus that enabled Stefan Wick to score all the way from second base.

The Challengers were retired 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning.

Rookie Klarer led off the bottom half of the inning, pinch-hitting for Mike Klee.

And he made the most out of his chance, connecting for a game-tying solo homer off Marchant.

There were no more scores in the next two half innings before Wick hit a double off Marchant in the eighth inning with one out.

Updike then followed with his game-winning RBI single to give the Frogs the first win against the Challengers in five years.

Game notes
The Frogs' last win against the Challengers came on September 6, 1998 in Game 1 of that year's Playoff Semis. The Challengers nevertheless went on to win the Series and the ensuing Finals against the Zürich Barracudas to capture their first national title in 12 years.