Challengers lose nailbiter against Ahletics, remain winless in Playoffs

After losing 14-1 in game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Richterwil Athletics, the Challengers again managed to score just a single run off Athletic pitchers, losing 2-1 for their fourth defeat in a row.

	Harry Bregy Pitcher, 1st baseman Harry Bregy
	1999 SEASON STATISTICS AB R H RBI HR AVG 52 20 26 7 0 .500 IP W L SV SO ERA 36.1 2 2 0 35 5.70

Harry Bregy led off for the Challengers and he reached on a fielding error by first baseman Honegger. He eventually went on to score the first and only Challenger run in that game.

Bregy also started the game for the Challengers on the mound, and he proved to be unhittable until the fourth inning, when Chad Smith led off the inning with a solo shot to dead center field to tie the game at 1-1.

Bregy allowed just four baserunners in the first four innings, but his offense unfortunately wasn't much better, either. The Challengers also had just five men on base after Bregy scored in the first inning.

The Challengers lost their best chance to take the lead when Patrick Zöllig tried to score on a passed ball in the fourth inning, but came up short as catcher Smith tagged him at home plate.

The game remained deadlocked at 1 run apiece after five innings.

But the Eagles found a way to manufacture a run against Bregy as they scored the go-ahead run on a run-scoring fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Challengers were now forced to score just a single run to send the game at least into extra innings.

Christian Bülte led off with a single and Schretzmann's ground out back to the mound advanced Bülte into scoring position. He even stole third base to put himself just 90 feet away from tying the game.

But rookie Thomas Hüppi struck out looking and Bregy grounded out to pitcher Smith for the final out of the game.

After that weekend, the Challengers still remain winless in this year's Playoff round.