Mister Baseball

Zurich Challengers - Reussbuehl Eagles 6-9, 8-4

EAG 300 050 010  9 11 2
CHA 020 100 300  6 13 3

EAG 001 000 3  4 5 3
CHA 020 600 X  8 4 0

After the rainout last week, the CHALLENGERS opened the new season with a split on their home turf. The EAGLES won the first game of the doubleheader 9-6. With the score 3-3, they scored five runs in the fifth to decide the outcome. Left fielder Julio Sierra Bernald had a brilliant debut, hitting a two-run-double and a three-run homerun. Shortstop Ryan Rothford also homered and scored three runs. ZURICH’s Thomas Landis and Tobias Siegrist combined for six hits and three RBI. Jerome Mueller gave up 13 hits, six runs and four walks in a complete game victory. Thomas Burger was charged with eleven hits, nine runs (4 ER) and four base on balls in 7 2/3 innings, while striking out seven.

The CHALLENGERS defeated REUSSBUEHL in the second part of the doubleheader, winning 8-4. They scored six runs in the fourth top put it out of reach. New ZURICH shortstop Carlos De Los Santos and Chris Palatinus each had two RBIs. De Los Santos and Manuel Schretzmann scored twice. Ryan Rothford reached three times and drove in two for the EAGLES. Thomas Landis started for ZURICH. He allowed one hits, one run and five walks in four innings, striking out six. Harry Bregy received the win for two scoreless innings of relief. Stefan Haltmeier gave up one hit, two runs and five bb in three innings for the loss.

Zurich Barracudas - Wil Devils 12-5, 6-0
The BARRACUDAS confirmed their preseason form and swept the opening series against the promoted DEVILS. Jeffrey Mottl struck out eight in five four-hit innings to receive the win in game one. Behind the strong pitching of their starter, ZURICH took a fast 7-0 lead. WIL cut the deficit to 5-7 in the top of the eighth. However the offense of the home team added five insurance runs to widen the gap again. Charles Brown had three hits and scored three times. Ueli von Burg was three for six. JT Schroeder (3-5) and Andreas Ruesch each scored twice. Roger Savoldelli took the loss.

The second game was dominated by the pitching. Frank Berthold and JT Schroeder combined for a shutout against the DEVILS. Schroeder (2-4) himself provided the first run with a RBI-double in the first. Beni Montag (3-3) and Charles Brown added two more a frame later due to a RBI-single and a RBI-double. Three runs in the fourth and fifth sealed the victory definitely. Marcel Ochsner was two for two with two runs scored. Rusty Tiedemann and Josh Crouse pitched for WIL, but could not stop the offense of the BARRACUDAS. The underdog had several men on third, but failed to connect in this situations.

Lausanne Indians - Sissach Frogs 4-6, 16-4
The FROGS and INDIANS settled for a split on the first game day in Switzerland. SISSACH started strong and scored three fast runs in the top of the first in game one. However LAUSANNE tied the game in the bottom half of the same period. The FROGS weren’t shocked and scored three more runs to decide the contest. The INDIANS put a fourth run on the board with a solo homerun, but could not rally further. Daniel Traina received the win with a complete game.

Starting pitcher Matthew White (W 1-0) made his debut for LAUSANNE in game two. But the offense was the main cause for the 16-4 victory. The FROGS had scored the first two runs of the match through wild pitches. However the INDIANS answered right away and scored with ease against Christian Klarer (L 0-1) and Thomas Fink.