Cardinals win both games against Challengers

by John Baum

This weekend in Switzerland there was only one doubleheader scheduled due to Swiss Cup games. It was a repeat of last year’s finals series as the CHALLENGERS hosted the BERN CARDINALS in Zurich.

The CHALLENGERS have had a rough start this year and entered the game needing a change of luck. The CARDINALS had a nice opening weekend sweep of the ZURICH BARRACUDAS, and were looking to keep their slate clean of losses. The opening game saw national team pitchers take the hill for both teams. Thomas Burger for the CHALLENGERS, and Chris Beyeler for the CARDINALS. Both pitchers threw well for the game, Burger allowed only two hits and no earned runs, Beyeler four hits, and two earned runs. Fortunately for the CARDS, they were able to take advantage of several defensive miscues, scoring four unearned runs in an 8-4 victory. Johnny Perigos continued his hot start at the plate going 2-4, a double, and two runs scored. Saentis Zellers‘ first game of the season was a big one, 3-5, two doubles. Chris Beyeler recorded his second win in as many starts…Chris has not lost a game in the league since 2006. He was overall 9-0 last season!

In game two the player/coaches, Andy Fleischacker, (CHALLENGERS), and John Baum, (CARDINALS), locked horns in a great pitchers duel. The CHALLENGERS took an early lead thanks to a strikeout and passed ball, and a throwing error leading to one unearned run in the first. That lead would hold up until the third inning as Baum would help himself with a solo homerun to left-center, knotting the game at 1. There would be no more runs until the bottom of the sixth when ZURICHS’ Tobias Siegrist lifted a ball to center that was lost in the sun, another throwing error and the CHALLENGERS took a 2-1 lead into the seventh and last inning. The CARDS would find a way to finally get to Fleischacker, a one-out double from Angelo Rodriguez, followed by three consecutive singles giving the visitors from Bern a 3-2 lead. This would end up being enough for Baum as he retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, ending the game. Baum gave up only three hits, two unearned runs, while striking out eight CHALLENGERS hitters. Fleischacker was on the losing end but pitched a great game himself, striking out eight CARDINALS. John Baum, 3-4, homerun; and Johnny Perigos, 4-4, three doubles, leading the charge for the CARDS offense. Baum improves his record to 2-0 on the young season.