by Chris Byrnes
The Zurich Barracudas and the Therwil Flyers once again split over the weekend to force a game five show down between the two teams. The Barracudas took game 3 in Zurich 4-2 with strong pitching from Andi Rüesch and Roger Savoldelli and the Flyers countered on Sunday with another pitching gem by Gavin Guarrera winning decidedly 5-1.
Game 3
The Barracudas struck early in this game scoring three runs in the second inning of Flyer starter Lukas Croton. Nderim Coma and Bert Marsnik got the rally going with one out singles and Marcel Loco Ochsner laid down a nice bunt toward the 1st base line that was beaten out for a hit and one run scored. The Barracudas continued to hit the ball with three straight hits by Strahil Georgiev, Hasson Rogers and Harry Wischnewski to secure a 3-0 lead.
The Flyers fought back in the top of the 3rd scoring two runs when Ianis Bouteloup lead off with a single and then a key error by Barracudas pitcher Andi Rüesch allowed Taka Oshima to reach 1st base. Rüesch then walked Hide Oshima to load the bases. The Flyers took advantage of the situation as veteran Stefan Koller grounded out to score Bouteloup from 3rd base and Jose Javier Rodriguez then singled to score Oshima to make it a 3-2 ball game.
In the top of the 7th inning, Rüesch walked the leadoff batter to start the inning. With one out the Barracudas made a pitching change and brought in veteran pitcher Roger Savoldelli who rewarded his manager when he shut down the Flyers the rest of the way to earn the save. The Barracudas added another run in the 8th inning when Nelson Santana led off with a double and Josh Crouse moved him to third base with a ground out and Nderim Coma drove him home with a single over 2nd base to make the score 4-2.
Andi Rüesch earned his first playoff win pitching six strong innings and Savoldelli earned the save. Lukas Croton took the loss for the Flyers.
Game 4
The Barracudas were looking to clinch the championship on Sunday but the Flyers had other plans. Chris Michals hit a double and scored on a single by Josh Crouse to make it a 1-0 ball game and take the early lead. However, that is all the offense they would offer as the Flyers pitcher Gavin Guarrera was again spectacular keeping the Barracudas bats off balance to earn his second playoff win and keep the Flyers alive for game 5.
The Flyers took advantage of a walk and hit bats man in the bottom of the 3rd inning by Barracudas pitcher Chris Michals to score two runs as Stefan Koller once again hit a ground ball to score a run and Javier Rodriguez hit a single to make it a 2-1 ball game.
The Flyers would add two more runs in the 6th inning to put this game out of reach when Emanuel Raouzeos led off with a single and Sven Leemann and Ianis Bouteloup hit back to back doubles.