by John Baum
The Cardinals, without their number one, or number two pitchers, shut down the high flying Flyer offense, limiting them to three hits on the game. The Cardinals starter, John Baum began the game with two perfect innings, striking out three before handing the game over to Tobias Imboden in the third. With no Severin Fries, and no Chris Beyeler, the game would be decided on the inexperienced arm of Imboden. Imboden combined with Baum to stay perfect through 4 1/3 innings pitched. The first hit wouldn’t come until the sixth, when an infield single then broke up the no-hitter. On the Flyers side, Stefan Koller was his usual reliable self…he ran into a bases loaded, no out situation in the second, but managed to escape with no runs allowed by striking out the next three batters.
The Cards did manage to get to Koller in the third inning, back to back one out doubles from Ronnie Zimmermann, and the pitcher Imboden, plating the first run. In the fifth, the home team tacked on two more, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and an infield single loaded the bases with no outs. The next hitter, Baum, could only get one run in, hitting into a rally killing 6-4-3 double play. Chris Blackbee would come in for Koller in the sixth allowing one run; a single for Imboden, along with a passed ball helped to push the lead to 4-0. In the top of the seventh, the Flyers found their way onto the scoreboard after a one out walk to Blackbee, Daniel Eichenberger launched a long homerun to right-center to cut the lead in half at 4-2.
The Cards responded directly scoring one run right back, a Samuel Paulino infield hit, a sac bunt and an error and the lead was up to three runs. Imboden took the hill once again, getting the leadoff hitter, Seppi Zwyer to fly out to right on a spectacular diving play from Zimmermann. This would close the book on Imboden, as Baum would come back to the mound to try to close the door. He did just that, allowing only an infield hit with two outs in the ninth, the only base runner in four innings he would allow. The score would end at 5-2, and the Cardinals advanced on to the semi-finals where they will meet the Zurich Barracudas NLA. Baum and Imboden combined to strike out eleven batters, while Imboden also led the offense going 3-4.
Complete Swiss Cup Results:
July 20th:
Lausanne Indians – Zurich Barracudas (1. Liga) 4-3
July 26th:
Zurich Barracudas (NLA) – Zurich Barracudas (NLB) 12-6
Bern Cardinals (NLA) – Therwil Flyers (NLA) 5-2
July 27th:
Reussbuehl Eagles (NLA) – Wil Devils (NLA) 1-12
Semi-Finals August 23rd:
Bern Cardinals – Zurich Barracudas
Wil Devils – Lausanne Indians
The Finale of the Swiss Cup is scheduled for August 24th.