The Challengers 2017 season will start with a Home Opener against the Luzern Eagles on Saturday, April 22 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The team of head coach Robert Sedin added several players to their 2017 roster. The debut of pitcher Sandy Patrone in a Challengers uniform is particularly exciting. The Dominican played 13 years for Rimini Baseball in the Italian Baseball League and won the Italian Championship in 2006. The 33-year-old also pitched 25 times for the Italian Nationalteam and played 2003, 2007 and 2009 at the World Chmapionships. The games against the Eagles will also be very special for Andrea Girasole and Patrick Maier. Both played the last three seasons for the Eagles before returning to the Challengers in 2017. Patrick Zöllig will also give his comeback almost eight years after his last game for the C’s. The games start at 11 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. at the Heerenschürli.
The NLB-Team will open its 2017 campaign against the Thun Hunters. The two teams will meet on Sunday, April 23 at the Heerenschürli ballpark. The games will begin at 11 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.

Today’s home games from the NLA-Team against the Sissach Frogs and from the NLB-Team against the Zürich Lions had to be canceled due to rain. No make-up dates have been announced so far.

Rob Sedin, the new Challengers head coach, arrived in Zurich and will begin to work with the teams today. It is already the fifth season for Sedin with the Challengers, but his first as their skipper. James Sanders, who is also the Swiss Nationalteam head coach, will be the Assistant Coach.
As a player Sedin was very successful with the C’s over the last four years. He recorded a .391 batting average with 37 doubles, 6 triples, 3 homeruns, 77 RBI’s and 127 runs scored in 101 games. He also started 31 games from the mound with a 18-14 record and a 2.65 ERA with 296 strikeouts in 257.2 innings.