The Challengers U15-Cadets were victorious in both games this weekend taking the first game against the Blackhawks by a score of 8-0 and battling a very tough Unicorns team in the second game for a 9-7 victory. They now stand at 7-1 and combined with a Viking loss against Ruemlang this weekend they are tied for first place in the East Division.

In the opening game, Michael Iacono and Sebastian Bonger combined to pitch a no-hitter against the Blackhawks, facing just 18 batters in 5 innings. Iacono got the win and struck out 5 in the first three innings and Bonger closed out the last two making some great defensive plays himself.

Offensive firepower was provided by Cedric Thommen who hit two triples, scored two runs and had 2 RBI’s. Iacono also had a big day at the plate going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.  The game broke open in the second inning with 5 runs scored including Iacono, Seb Bonger, Tobias Bonger, Julius Blom and Thommen.

In the second game the Challengers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first. Thommen walked and worked quickly around the bases and scored on a passed ball. Jake Tuckner then walked and scored on an RBI single by Tobias Haynor. Haynor scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Seb Bonger. Iacono and Alex Homburg also got in on the scoring act in the inning. The Challengers added a couple more runs in the second and third innings and seemed to have the game well in hand when the Unicorns exploded for 5 runs in the third making it a very exciting two run game.

Thommen scored again in the fourth to make it an 8-5 game and then Jake Tuckner came in to pitch and shut down the Unicorns 1-2-3 in the fourth.  Seb Bonger scored in the sixth to give Tuckner a 4 run cushion.  In the bottom of the final inning the heart of the Unicorns order scored two more runs but with the backing of a strong defense Tuckner shut them down.

On the mound Iacono got the win and struck out 6 batters in 3 innings.  Tuckner struck out 3 in two innings pitched and got the save.

After the game coach Todd Tuckner was asked about the keys to the game, “The team pitched very well, made some great defensive plays, and really closed out in a gutsy fashion in a tough game with the momentum turning against us.”

Congratulations to the Challengers Cadets and good luck in the final weekend of the season on 24 June at Wil.