The Eagles Lucerne have captured the Swiss Softball championship in 2011. The Eagles swept a three-game series against the Therwil Flyers, winning 10-9, 1-0 and 14-12. Lucerne and Therwil had eliminated the Wil Devils and Zurich Challengers in the semi-finals.

Results:
Swiss Finals:
Therwil Flyers –Eagles Lucerne 9-10, 0-1, 12-14
Semi-Finals:
Eagles Lucerne – Wil Devils 15-8, 8-1
Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 7-0, 1-0

Regular Season Standings:
Group 1:

1. Eagles Lucerne I 12-4
2. Wil Devils 9-7
3. Zurich Barracudas 6-10
4. Geneva Jets 0-0

Group 2:

1. Therwil Flyers 15-3
2. Zurich Challengers 10-8
3. Bern Cardinals 8-10
4. Eagles Lucerne II 0-18

The Swiss TV Station CityChannel1.com is producing a weekly magazine about Baseball and Softball in Switzerland and is also going to broadcast games of the Nationalliga A finals this fall live. This is the second issue from April 11.

The Swiss TV Station CityChannel1.com is producing a weekly magazine about Baseball and Softball in Switzerland and is also going to broadcast games of the Nationalliga A finals this fall live. This is the first issue from April 5th.

Brittany Jo Franklin is a pitcher from the Mississippi Valley State University. During her college career she received a pitcher of the year award and was a National Federation Collegiate Athletes All-American Scholar Athlete in all four years. She recently worked as an assistant coach at American River Community College in Sacramento, California.

Swiss Nationalliga A

• Bern Cardinals (2010 champion)
• Therwil Flyers
• Zurich Challengers
• Zurich Barracudas
• Sissach Frogs
• Luzern Eagles
• Embrach Mustangs
• Zurich Lions

Complete 2011 Schedule Swiss NLA

Swiss Softball
Group 1

• Zurich Barracudas
• Wil Devils
• Geneva Jets
• Eagles Luzern I

Group 2

• Zurich Challengers
• Therwil Flyers
• Eagles Luzern II
• Bern Cardinals

Complete 2011 Schedule Swiss Softball

Results:
Finals:
Lucerne Eagles – Zurich Challengers 3-1 (5-10, 8-7, 12-11, 7-0)

Semi-Finals:
Lucerne Eagles – Wil Devils 2-0 (12-2, 1-0)
Zurich Challengers – Therwil Flyers 2-1 (13-2, 1-11, 16-9)

Regular Season Standings:

1. Lucerne Eagles 19-5
2. Zurich Challengers 15-9
3. Therwil Flyers 15-9
4. Wil Devils 14-10
5. Zurich Barracudas 9-13
6. Bern Cardinals 9-15
7. Geneva Jets 1-21

by www.baseballeurope.com

This weekend in Zurich the sport park Heerenschuerli in Zurich-Schwamendingen was official opened by the Swiss Authorities of the city of Zurich. This sport park includes a new baseball field with international dimensions and fully equipped with all needed facilities including an artificial light installation.

In presence of the President Marco Iten, the board members of the Swiss Federation and the C.E.B. representative Jan Esselman the first pitch was thrown for the opening game on Saturday 21st August between the Swiss Senior National team and a team of Swiss All Star players. The game ended with a 6 to 5 win for the All Stars.

The field is used in good co-operation by three Zurich Baseball Clubs namely Zurich Challengers, Barracudas and the Lions. Due to this co-operation the field will have every day practice activities or games for the various Swiss league competitions. It will also be a training center for the Swiss National teams.

The field will bring International baseball events to Switzerland. The Swiss Executive Board will investigate and discuss the possibility to organize European Junior or Cadet Championships. Clubs might apply for European Cup tournaments. CEB T.C. Chairman Jan Esselman confirmed that the field is ready for European competitions.

The field contains a special 4 cm wide and 10 cm deep separation between the grass and the dirt of the warning track. This separation of synthetic tartan reduces the maintenance and keeps the warning tracks grass free. The level of this separation is at the same height as the warning track and is fully safe for running actions of the outfielders.

The Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation has revamped its official website www.swiss-baseball.ch. Take a look.

For the third year in a row the Therwil Flyers won the Softball championship in Switzerland. Similar to the Baseball finals, the Flyers defeated the Bern Cardinals in the best-of-three championship series, capturing the title. Therwil had won 19 of the 20 games during the regular season.

Playoffs:

Semi-Finals:
Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 5-6, 6-0, 6-0
Bern Cardinals – Wil Devils 9-7, 4-3
Finals:
Therwil Flyers – Bern Cardinals 11-2, 5-1

Regular Season Standings:

Western Conference:

1. Therwil Flyers 19-1
2. Bern Cardinals 16-4
3. Reussbuehl Eagles 8-12
4. Geneva Jets 5-15

Eastern Conference:

1. Wil Devils 15-5
2. Zurich Challengers 10-10
3. Zurich Barracudas 4-16
4. Hunenberg Unicorns 3-17

Complete Results

The THERWIL FLYERS defended their title in Swiss Softball and won the championship for the sixth time since 2000. They defeated the REUSSBUEHL EAGLES in two games in the finals, outscoring them 36 to 5. The EAGLES, who were 2-10 in the final round, had upset the 9-2 WIL DEVILS in the semi-finals. THERWIL eliminated the ZURICH CHALLENGERS to advance into the best-of-three finals. The FLYERS and the DEVILS were tied in first place after the regular season with 11-3 records.

Playoffs:

Semi-Finals:
Flyers – Challengers 2-0 (8-7, 6-5)
Eagles – Devils 2-1 (9-10, 12-8, 9-2)
Finals:
Flyers – Eagles 2-0 (25-1, 11-4)

Final Round Standings

Team                   W-L  WPCT  GB
Wil Devils             9-2  .818   -
Therwil Flyers         6-5  .545  3.0
Zürich Challengers     6-6  .500  3.5
Reussbühl Eagles       2-10 .167  7.5

Classification Round Standings

Team                   W-L  WPCT  GB
Bern Cardinals         9-1  .900   -
Rümlang Kobras         7-3  .700   2
Genf Dragons           2-8  .200   7
Hünenberg Unicorns     0-6  .000   7

Regular Season Standings

Team                  W-L  WPCT  GB
Wil Devils           11-3  .786   -
Therwil Flyers       11-3  .786   -
Zürich Challengers    9-5  .643   2
Reussbühl Eagles      8-6  .571   3
Bern Cardinals        8-6  .571   3
Rümlang Kobras        6-8  .429   5
Genf Dragons          3-11 .214   8
Hünenberg Unicorns    0-14 .000  11

Complete Results at Spielplan.ch

It was all part of a special opening weekend, but the weather was not friendly with the participants. It was the first time that the Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation began the new year with such an event. Due to the postponement, the National League A starts off next weekend.

Check back later this week for a short preview for the upcoming season.

They also decided to play doubleheader of nine and seven innings in the 2008 season. The National Baseball League (NLA) will start on April sixth with a rematch of the Swiss finals between the Zurich Challengers and the Bern Cardinals, who had won the title in 2007. The National Softball League begins a day earlier with a game between the Therwil Flyers (Champion 2007) and the Zurich Challengers.

The complete schedule is available on spielplan.ch

1. Therwil Flyers 12-2
2. Zurich Challengers 9-5
3. Bern Cardinals 8-5
4. Wil Devils 8-6
5. Genf Dragons 6-8
6. Rümlang Kobras 5-8
7. Hünenburg Unicorns 5-9
8. Reussbühl Eagles 2-12

Final round:

1. Therwil Flyers 10-2
2. Bern Cardinals 7-5
3. Zurich Challengers 5-7
4. Wil Devils 2-12

Placement round:

1. Rümlang Kobras 9-3
2. Genf Dragons 6-6
3. Reussbühl Eagles 5-7
4. Hünenburg Unicorns 4-8

Playoffs:
Semi-finals:
Therwil Flyers – Wild Devils 2-0 (13-3, 18-3)
Bern Cardinals – Zurich Challengers 1-2 (5-12, 2-0, 14-17)

Finals:
Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 2-1 (14-12, 1-6, 8-6)

Karen HEIMGARTNER led Zurich with a strong effort on the mound to a 6-1 win in game two. She allowed only five hits, one run and one walk, while striking out 14.

The Flyers won a slugfest on Saturday. They built an early lead and needed insurance runs at the end, after some rallies from the C´s. Babsi MEIERHANS (Fly) and Leandra SIMITOVIC (Cha) belted homeruns.
Results:
Saturday September 29
Game 1: Zurich Challengers – Therwil Flyers 12-14
Sunday September 30
Game 2: Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 1-6
Game 3: Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 8-6

The Flyers reached the finals with two easy wins (13-3, 18-3) against the Wil Devils. The Challengers needed a game three thriller against the Bern Cardinals to clinch a spot. Zurich trailed by as much as seven runs and rallied several times.

Therwil dominated the season series between these two clubs. They won 9-8, 11-7 and 2-0. They lost one as well, but only because of a forfeit due to player deficit.

Schedule:
Saturday September 29
13:30 Zurich Challengers – Therwil Flyers

Sunday September 30
13:00 Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers 15:30 Therwil Flyers – Zurich Challengers*

*If necessary

Therwil Flyers – Wil Devils 13-3 and 18-3 (2-0) The Flyers Offense dominated in both games and reached the finals for an eight straight year. The Devils finish the season in fourth place.

Zurich Challengers – Bern Cardinals 12-5, 0-2 and 17-14 (2-1). Leandra SIMITOVIC and Karen HEIMGARTNER led Zurich with three runs apiece to an easy 12-5 win on Saturday. SIMITOVIC allowed six hits, five runs (4 ER) and two walks in five innings. Cassidy MAINE won the pitching duel against HEIMGARTNER in game two, so the Cardinals could tie the series. Bern got the better start into the decisive third game. They scored seven runs in the first four frames and led 7-0. But the Challengers came right back and plated eight in the fifth. But the Cards answered one more time. They took a 14-10 lead in the sixth. However, Zurich was not finished. With two outs in the seventh and final period the Challengers started a rally. They scored seven runs on a hit, seven walks, two hit by pitches and an error. SIMITOVIC got three straight outs in the bottom of the frame to end the battle.

The Challengers won the title last year, the Flyers 2005. Both teams also finished first and second in the preliminary round. Therwil won 22 of their 26 games and are the heavy favourite going into the final stages of the season. The Cardinals jumped one place in the second round, which was played to determine the playoff seeds. They have now home field advantage in the half-finales against Zurich. The Devils lost the last six games in a row and won only two of the last twelve to finish fourth.

Schedule (best-of-three)

Saturday September 22
11:00 Wil Devils – Therwil Flyers
13:30 Zurich Challengers – Bern Cardinals Sunday September 23
11:00 Therwil Flyers – Wil Devils
13:30 Therwil Flyers – Wil Devils*
13:00 Bern Cardinals – Zurich Challengers 15:30 Bern Cardinals – Zurich Challengers*

*If necessary

Photo : Pitcher Cassidy Maine – Bern Cardinals / (c) Bern Cardinals

The Flyers are the two-time defending champs and are led by Babsi MEIERHANS (OF), Susan STAUB (C), and Melanie WANNER (IF). Next weekend’s matchup against Bern will be part of the Swiss Baseball Cup finals also being held in Therwil.

The Bern Cardinals (10-5; 4-4) swept the Zurich Challengers, 20-5 and 4-1, last weekend to take sole possession of the runner-up position. Pitcher Sibylle ZURCHER, catcher Franziska CORRADI, and Martine GILLIERON (C-IF) lead the upstart Cardinals.

The Challengers (9-7; 3-5) will battle league-leading Therwil on September 1 and close-out the regular season on September 9 against the Wil Devils. National team pitcher Leandra SIMITOVIC and Alexia ZINGG.