by Embrach Mustangs
Once again the Bern Cardinals showed their dominance in the Swiss NLA by beating the Embrach Mustangs to win their eight title in the last nine years. The title did not come easy for the Cardinals as the determined Mustangs battled in both games losing 7-6 in 11 innings on Saturday and losing in the rain 4-3 on Sunday.
On Saturday it was a rematch of Tobias Imboden versus Roger Savoldelli. The Mustangs started the scoring in the second inning by scoring three runs off Imboden to take an early 3-0 lead. Bruno Albrecht led off the second with a single and Tim Jones followed with a single to place runners on 1st and second. Tommy Fasching then hit a double into right field to score two runs. Chris Byrnes stepped to the plate and delivered a hard hit single to left center to put the Mustangs up 3-0.
Both teams scored one run in the third inning to make the score 4-1 Mustangs. Josh Crouse walked and Bruno Albrecht doubled to score Crouse. The Cardinals got on the board when Raphael Haenzi singled and Albert Marsknik doubled.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Cardinals came rallying back to tie the game on a three run home run by Patrick Lawson. With one out in the inning Savoldelli gave up a singles to Marsknik and Johnny Perigos. The next batter Rudi Vargas hit a hard ground ball back to Savoldelli who decided to go for the out at first base instead of the double play. That came back to haunt the Mustangs as Patrick Lawson launched a three run homer on the next pitch tying the game 4-4.
The Mustangs went ahead in the top of the 8th inning when Bruno Albrecht singled and Tim Jones walked. The Mustangs Tommy Fasching bunted the runners into scoring position with one out. Chris Byrnes came to the plate and once again the old veteran delivered a single to score two runs and put the Mustangs on top 6-4.
Savoldelli cruised through the eighth inning. In the ninth inning Savoldelli retired the first batter and Tobias Imboden came to the plate and hit a hard line drive to left field which the Mustangs did not handle and allowed Imboden to reach second base. Sammy Paulino the next batter hit a slow roller for a base hit. Savoldelli then walked Haenzi to load the bases. Albert Marsknik came to the plate and hit a fly ball to left field that dropped for a hit and the Cardinals tied the game at 6-6.
In the 11th inning the Cards Rafael Haenzi hit a single and then stole second base. The Mustangs then walked Marsknik to set up a double play. Christian Klarer came on in relief for Savoldelli and got the next batter Johnny Perigos to hit a ground ball to shortstop but the ball went under the glove and into the outfield and the Cardinals had a well fought walk off win to go up in the series 2 games to 1.
On Sunday it was a rematch between the two best pitchers in the league Tim Jones and Patrick Lawson. Last week Jones came out on top with a brilliant 3-0 win. The games were played in a constant rain and both pitchers once again did not disappoint the crowd. The Bern Cardinals started the scoring off in the top of the 4th inning when Marksnik walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on an infield single by Rudi Vargas.
The Cardinals managed to put another run on the board in the top of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead when Vitus Huber singled and moved to second and a sac bunt by Sammy Paulino. Tim Jones wild pitch allowed Huber to move to third base and then Albert Marksnik hit a long fly ball to right to score the second run of the game.
The Mustangs reached Lawson for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead 3-2. Christian Klarer walked and Bruno Albrecht hit a single. Tim Jones then reached on a fielding error and the Mustangs scored their first run. The Mustangs scored two more runs on a throwing error to take the lead 3-2.
The Cardinals answered right back in the top of the 7th inning when Tim Jones hit Marc Oboussier to lead off the inning. Huber bunted the runner over and Sammy Paulino hit a single down the right field line to tie the score at 3. The Cards would push across the winning run with two outs when Marsknik hit a hard grounder back to Jones and Jones decided to get Paulino in a rundown. Unfortunately for the Mustangs Jones interfered with Paulino and the Umpires awarded Paulino home and that was the winning run as Lawson shut down the Mustangs the rest of the way and gave the Cardinals the Championship.