by John Bullock Tucker (Therwil Flyers)
Game 1, Swiss Finals, October 2:
(0-1) Therwil Flyers – Bern Cardinals 3-8
CAR 002 042 000 8 FLY 000 102 000 3
Game number one between the Bern Cardinals and the Therwil Flyers featured two of the league’s top pitchers, Lukas Croton and Tobi Imboden. It started out as a classic pitcher’s duel until the third inning, when the Bern Cardinals took advantage of a Flyers’ error, and Johnny Perigos capitalized with a two run home run. This gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. In the following inning, the Flyers inched closer with a solo home run by catcher JB Tucker, cutting the Cards lead to one.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, the Cardinals came back in the 5th inning and put up four runs. The Cardinals again took advantage of a Flyers miscue, then catcher Seth Suplin pounded a three-run home run. This was all the Cardinals would need as pitcher Tobi Imboden shut down the Flyers hitters, yielding 3 runs over a complete game. Throwing 3 innings of scoreless relief for the Flyers was Stefan Koller. Game one final score was, 8-3 in favor of the Cardinals.
Game 2, Swiss Finals, October 3:
(1-1) Therwil Flyers – Bern Cardinals 9-8
CAR 310 040 000 8 FLY 112 310 10X 9
With the Cardinals leading 1-0 in the series, the Flyers desperately needed to win game two before heading to Bern for the next game(s) of the series. With the pressure on, the Flyers did not start out as strong as they had hoped, giving up 3 runs in the first inning on a 3 run home run by Johnny Perigos. This was the second home run in two games for Perigos.
However, the Flyers did not give up, and pushed across one run in the bottom half of the first inning. The Cardinals kept the pressure on by scoring one more run in the second inning off of Flyers’ starter, Chris Blackbee. The Flyers were able to scratch a few more runs in the early innings, scoring at least one run in each of the first 5 innings. Most of the runs coming on a 2 run home run by Daniel Eichenberger.
The Flyers were winning this back and forth battle until the fifth inning when Seth Suplin, hit his second home run of the series, putting the Cards up 8-7. The Flyers answered by tying the game in the bottom half of the 5th inning. With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh inning, Taka Oshima, hit a go ahead, solo home run off Cards starting pitcher, John Baum. This is all the Flyers needed to seal their first victory of the championship series.
Although, the Flyers were leading in the top of the ninth inning, the Cards made it very interesting with a leadoff double followed by a possible game tying single to center field. Unfortunately for the Cards, center fielder Reto Seigel, came up firing and threw out the potential tying run. Emanuel “Rausi” Raouzeos, came up big for the Flyers hanging on the ball through a tough collision at home plate. Once again, the Cardinals had a runner in scoring position in the top of the ninth inning, with a possible game tying single, but the Flyers’ outfielder, Ianis Boutaloup, also came up firing and threw out the would be tying run at the plate. Once again, Flyers’ catcher, Rausi, stood his ground, blocked the plate, and cut down the runner at home, hanging on to the ball through another tough collision.
To finish the game, Flyers’ reliever JB Tucker, struck out the last batter of the game to finish his 4 innings of scoreless relief. Game two final score was 9-8 in favor of the Flyers. Hitting standouts for the Flyers include Taka Oshima, who finished the game 3-6 with a go ahead home run, and Sebastian Zwyer, who was 3-4 with a walk. The series is tied 1-1 heading into next weekend’s games in Bern.
Schedule Swiss Finals:
Saturday, October 9:
12:00 Bern Cardinals – Therwil Flyers
Sunday, October 10:
14:00 Bern Cardinals – Therwil Flyers
Saturday, October 16:
14:00 Therwil Flyers – Bern Cardinals*
*if necessary
Photo: © Sacha Grossenbacher