The idea was great to start the Swiss Baseball and Softball season with a special opening weekend. However the weather last Sunday was against it and the National League A (NLA) opens the year a week later.
The BERN CARDINALS won their third title in a row last season, beating the ZURICH CHALLENGERS 3-0 in the Swiss Series. The CARDS had lost just two games during the regular season and only stumbled in the Swiss Cup finals last summer, losing to the CHALLENGERS. Both club are also considered as favorites for the upcoming season.
The WIL DEVILS got promoted after winning the National League B (NLB) and replace the relegated EMBRACH RAINBOWS at the highest Swiss level.
There is not much known transaction wise. The CHALLENGERS welcome back Andy Fleischacker as head coach. Ramon Figueroa returns to the SISSACH FROGS as skipper after ten years in other organizations all over the globe. The Australian Chris Blackbee joins the THERWIL FLYERS after successful years with the BRUSSELS KANGAROOS. And Charles Brown signed with the ZURICH BARRACUDAS.
The REUSSBUEHL EAGLES, the second semi-finals loser besides the BARRACUDAS, didn’t only have problems with their ballpark, they also lost their American slugger Whitney Robinson-Pierce (.404, 8 HR) and pitcher Pete Soskin (130 SO in 89 IP). It is going to be difficult to replace them.
There should be five candidates for the four playoff spots. The CARDINALS and CHALLENGERS are supposed to clinch the first two. The EAGLES, BARRACUDAS and the FLYERS will fight for the others.
The three remaining teams, LAUSANNE INDIANS, FROGS and DEVILS are playing against relegation.
Schedule First Week:
{mrb-schedule:2008-04-12|2008-04-13|CH}
The champions of this century:
2007 Bern Cardinals
2006 Bern Cardinals
2005 Bern Cardinals
2004 Zurich Challengers
2003 Therwil Flyers
2002 Zurich Challengers
2001 Bern Cardinals
2000 Zurich Challengers
A last look at 2007:
Regular season
Group 1:
- Bern Cardinals 18-2
- Reussbuehl Eagles 12-8
- Therwil Flyers 11-9
- Sissach Frogs 5-15
Group2:
- Zurich Challengers 13-7
- Zurich Barracudas 12-8
- Lausanne Indians 7-13
- Embrach Rainbows 2-18
Playoffs:
Semi-finals:Bern Cardinals – Zurich Barracudas 3-0 (12-3, 10-4, 14-6)
Semi-finals:Zurich Challengers – Reussbuehl Eagles 3-2 (8-5, 2-6, 6-7, 4-2, 8-2)
Finals:Bern Cardinals – Zurich Challengers 3-0 (11-5, 21-4, 4-0)