by John Baum
FLYERS SEND REST OF THE LEAGUE A MESSAGE BY CONVINCINGLY SWEEPING THE CARDINALS IN SEASON OPENER…
Game 1:
The Therwil Flyers had a back and forth battle with the Cardinals in the first game of the season that started from the very first inning. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. The Flyers threatened to score in the first and second innings, but came up short. In the third inning with two outs, a full count, and two runners in scoring position Stefan Koller hit a two-run double to tie the game.
Bern answered by scoring two runs in the fourth with a combination of good hitting by Tobias Imboden and an untimely error by pitcher Stefan Koller. The Flyers countered with a six-run fifth inning. After two runners reached base, Daniel Eichenberger and Stefan Koller each drove in a run to tie the game. Following a Koller single, Ianis Bouteloup hit a game changing two run homerun. With the Flyers up by two, Oshima Takanobu and Chris Blackbee had consecutive hits and eventually scored.
The Flyers never looked back. Lukas Croton entered the game and pitched four stellar innings, striking out five and only giving up one run. This sealed the victory for the Flyers who added two more insurance runs to make the final score 10-5.
Game 2:
Game two of the two game series was a one sided affair in favor of the Flyers. It started off with a six run first and an eight run second. The Flyers’ first three batters reached base on an error and two walks then the scoring started. Eichenberger drove in the first run with a fielder’s choice then Oshima Takanobu drove in another with a sharp single. Adrian Kaufmann and Michel La Torre followed with two consecutive singles and two and one RBI respectively. In the second inning, the first eight hitters reached base and scored on a combination of four hits, three walks, and one error. JB Tucker had a double, a single, and three RBI to anchor the inning.
On the mound Chris Blackbee had a very solid outing giving up only one run on five hits in five innings of work. He also added three strikeouts and three walks. Hideari Oshima pitched the final frame of the ballgame striking out two and giving up zero hits. Overall it was a story of patient hitting by the Therwil Flyers and erratic pitching by the Bern Cardinals. The Flyers walked thirteen times and only struck out three times. The Flyers were paced by Michel La Torre who went three for three with three RBI and an hbp, and Adrian Kaufmann who went two for four with two RBI.