by Christopher Byrnes
On Saturday the Swiss NLA finals kicked off and it was the Therwil Flyers who came out with lots of energy and scored two quick runs in the 1st inning when Michael Stowers hit a deep bomb to put the Flyers in the lead. That was all the Flyers would need on the day as Hide Oshima silenced the Barracudas bats allowing only one run and three hits for the complete game win.
On Sunday the Flyers travelled to Zurich and gave the ball to Devon Barker to get the job done. The Barracudas had Chris Michals take the mound to try to even the series. It was again the Flyers who scored first with three runs in the 1st inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. The Barracudas answered back when Josh Crouse singled with two outs and moved to 3rd base on a Tyler Wagner single. The Barracudas then executed a perfect double steal to get a run on the board and cut the deficit 3-1.
The Flyers added another run in the 3rd inning to make it 4-1when Michael Stowers tripled to score Stefan Koller but the Barracudas answered back scoring two in the frame when Josh Crouse singled, Tyler Wagner doubled and Chris Michals singled to make the game close 4-3.
The game went into the 7th inning with the score 4-3. The Flyers leadoff batter Hide Oshima was hit by a pitch and a sac bunt by Adi Kaufmann advanced Oshima to 2nd base and a long fly to center by Stefan Koller moved Oshima to 3rd base with two outs. The Barracudas then intentionally walked Michael Stowers to face Sven Leemann. Barracudas pitcher Chris Michals walked Leemann on four pitches loading the bases. Taka Oshima then laced the first pitch into centerfield to score two runs and Daniel Eichenberger proceeded with a long double to score two more runs to make it an 8-4 ball game. David Castillo hit a rocket down the 3rd base line to make it a 9-3 ball game.
The Barracudas answered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning when Harry Wischnewski walked and then Josh Crouse, Tyler Wagner, Chris Michals and Nderim Coma all singled to make it a 9-6 ball game and that is how the game ended.
The Zurich Barracudas will travel to Therwil on Saturday and try to keep this series alive and bring it back to Zurich on Sunday.