Mister Baseball

by John Baum

Cards set club record with 13-0 start, sweeping the ‘Bows 6-3, 9-5.
Chris Beyeler and Roger Salvodelli were the starting pitchers in game one, and both would work deep into the contest. Salvodelli started the game with three perfect innings against the Cards, allowing no base runners. Beyeler did his part, keeping the ‘Bows off the board until the third inning, when a one out walk would come around to score. Leadoff man James Nash would steal second after the walk, and would be brought around by a Josh Crouse two-out single. The visiting Cardinals didn’t take long to respond when a lead off hit from Vitus Huber, and a one out single from John Baum knotted the game at one. The Bows’ again took the lead in the fifth inning, a leadoff double from Carl Hutchinson, another walk to Nash, and a single form Bruno Albrecht loaded the bases. Beyeler would induce a pop up from Crouse, to get the first out of the inning; then a failed squeeze attempt looked to get the Cards off the hook. An errant throw in the rundown from the catcher allowed two runs to score, giving the home team a 3-1 advantage. But as happened before, the Cardinals made short work of the lead as a Johnny Perigos‘ two-run homer in the top of the next inning once again tied the game, this time at 3-3. The score would remain this way until the top of the ninth inning. John Baum would take the first pitch he saw, leading off the last frame, and deposit it over the left field fence to give his team the lead. This sparked the Cardinal offense, and they would add two more insurance runs courtesy of back to back hits from Perigos, and Raphael Hanzi, and a big error on the first baseman. Tobias Imboden picked up his first career save, working a perfect 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win at 6-3.

Josh Crouse and Tobias Imboden were the starters for game two, and both would run into trouble in the first inning. Leadoff man Samuel Paulino reached on an infield single, Raphael Hanzi laced a double to left, and back to back singles from Perigos and Rudy Vargas sent the Cards out to an early 4-0 lead. Imboden’s first inning of the game wasn’t like his last in game one. He would have trouble pitching to the strike zone, walking two, and allowing two hits and two runs. Imboden worked his way into the game after this rough start, allowing no more runs, and no more base runners for the next three innings. Crouse on the other hand, ran into more problems in the third inning, as three consecutive singles from Alex Cruz Tifa, Hanzi, and Perigos scored two more for the Cardinals. With the score at 6-2, Baum made the move to Hanzi on the mound; he too would have trouble with the strike zone, and would also allow three hits and three runs in the inning. With the score at 6-5, Baum relieved Hanzi in the sixth inning, and would retire the side in order. The Cards then jumped on relief pitcher Chris Byrnes for three runs in the seventh, hits from Cruz Tifa, Hanzis‘ third hit, and second double; Huber, and a Ronnie Zimmermann double doing the damage. Baum came back out to convert the save in the ninth, allowing three hits, and no runs thanks to a pickoff at second base, ending the game at 9-5.

Therwil Flyers crush Reussbuehl Eagles
The Therwil Flyers (8-4) swept the Eagles on Sunday, by a combined score of 36-2. Every Flyer with an at bat had at least one hit. Neither game was ever in doubt, as the Flyers scored a total of 18 runs in the first innings of games two and two.

In game one, Therwil was paced by a solid start from ace Stefan Koller. Koller (4-1) scattered one hit over five innings, striking out eight. The Eagles could manage only one ball out of the infield all game, as Koller was in cruise control the whole way. The offensive barrage started in the first inning for Therwil, when Chris Blackbee hit a three-run shot, his second home run of the season. Mario Cuevas (who pinch hit for Blackbee in the 4th) hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, his first home run of the season. But it was Emanuel Raouzeus who led the Flyers in game one, going 4-4 with a double in his first NLA start of the season.

In game two, Flyer pitcher Lukas Croton continued to establish himself as a top pitcher in the NLA. Croton (4-0, 2 saves) allowed two runs over five innings, striking out six.

On the day, Daniel Eichenberger led the Flyers with five hits to continue his hot start to the season. Blackbee, Koller, Raouzeus, and Sam Faeder had four hits.

Barracudas lose much needed game to Frogs, but salvage game two
Game one was a close affair until the fourth inning when the Frogs`(2-10) bats came to life. The Frogs chased Barracudas (6-6) starter Nderim Coma from the mound, but that didn’t stop the Frogs offense. The onslaught continued at the expense of Frank Berchtold in the following innings. Daniele Traina gave his team a much need strong performance on the mound, finishing what he started for the win, 14-3.

Game two featured Beni Montag (Cudas) and Christian Klarer (Frogs). Both starting pitchers threw very well, but were bothered by very small strike zone. Combined, the two allowed twelve walks in five innings. Those walks, hurting the Frogs more, along with some late errors, sent the Barracudas home with a split, winning the second game 5-1, despite a strong outing from Klarer.

Indians deal Challengers two more losses, hold onto second place after 9-3, 13-5 wins
In game one, Jaquemet (5-2) threw another complete game while allowing only two earned runs and striking out four. His defense finally played will behind him, keeping the mistakes from piling up. Jaquemet was the recipient of a big offensive day from his team, homering five times in the game.

In the third, down 2-1, De Freites lifted the first homer of the day to tie the score. The Indians were on top in the fifth after Jimenez‘ three run shot. The big inning came in the seventh, as Jimenez and Ramirez homered back to back, adding three runs to the scoreboard, giving the Indians an 8-3 advantage. Diaz added the fifth and final homer, ending the scoring with a 9-3 victory.

In game two, Portaz started the game in style, retiring the first three hitters by three consecutive 1-3 out. It didn’t start so well for the Challengers, as Portaz hit a three-run, bases loaded double to help himself, and his team to an early advantage. In the third, Martinez homered for the second time on the day, this one being a two-run shot.  Ramirez, after having already hit two homeruns in game one, crushed a ball to center for his third of the doubleheader, this one being the longest in the field’s history!

In the fifth, the Challengers scored twice, trying to mount the comeback, but it just wouldn’t be enough. The Indians answered back by scoring four more runs on two Challenger errors and a Jimenez doubled. The Indians continued to score, eventually completing the sweep 13-5.

Standings