by Chris Byrne
The Zurich Barracudas behind the strong pitching of Andi Rüesch prevailed late in the game to win their 12th in a row.
The Barracudas allowed three unearned runs in the bottom of the 1st inning when Rob Sedin led off and laid down a perfect bunt and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter Toby Siegrist flied out to right field and Sedin advanced to third base. Hot hitting Eidrys Reyes then hit a hard ground ball to third baseman Nelson Santana who had Sedin in a run down. The Barracudas were called for interference and the run scored making it 1-0 Challengers. Ryan Byrne then grounded to shortstop but the throw was wide and everyone was safe. Saentis Zeller then hit a double to score two runs and make the score 3-0.
The Barracudas started to reach Challengers starter Ryan Byrne in the 3rd inning when Byrne hit leadoff batter and the league’s leading base stealer Harry Wischnewski. Wischnewski proceeded to steal second base and moved to 3rd base on the throw. Chris Michals hit a sac fly to score Wischnewski to make it a 3-1 Challengers lead.
The game stayed that way until the Barracudas scored again in the 5th inning to make it a 3-2 game. Harry Wischnewski got it started again for the Barracudas with a leadoff walk and Bert Marsnik executed a beautiful hit and run to place runners on the corners. The Barracudas then tried to execute a double steal but the Challengers nail Wischnewski at the plate. Nderim Coma then hit a long drive that went off the centerfielders glove and Marsnik scored.
In the 7th inning the Barracudas loaded the bases with no outs but Ryne Byrne initiated a pop up and two strikeouts to get out of the inning. The Challengers also loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th and Andi Rüesch returned the favor by getting two fly outs and a strike out.
As the game headed to the top of the 9TH inning the Challengers were clinging to a 3-2 lead. Ryan Byrne got Bert Marsnik to pop out on the first pitch. Chris Michals dropped a blooper into right center field just past a diving Toby Siegrist. Michals made a head first slide to just barely make it to second base. Nderim Coma then smashed a line drive to left field to score Michals to tie the game at three apiece. Coma moved up to second on the throw home. Nelson Santana stepped to the plate with one out and hit a slow roller to 1st base for the second out and Coma moved to 3rd base. Coma then scores the go ahead run on a passed ball. Andi Rüesch shut the door in the 9th retiring the side in order to earn his fifth win on the season. Rüesch pitched another complete game striking out six and walking only one batter in lowering his league leading ERA to a paltry 1.51.
The Barracudas will now head to Luzern to take on the Eagles next Sunday at the new stadium in Luzern. The Challengers are off to the European cup qualifier in Belgium.