If the sky doesn’t open its floodgates again, two NLA night games between the Zurich Barracudas and the Zurich Challengers will take place on Friday and Saturday evening in the Heerenschürli ballpark. The first two Zurich local derbies of the season take place as a two-game series. In the head-to-head since 1994 the two cross-town rivals are tied with 65-65 wins each. Last season, however, the Challengers won all seven games in the preliminary round and in the playoff semifinals. A series that the Barracudas would surely love to end. On Friday the game will be played at 6.30 p.m., on Saturday the first pitch is at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, May 21st, the Challengers Softball-Team will face the Lucerne Eagles at the Klopstockwiese in Zurich. After two victories in Bern against the Cardinals, the Challengers will try to set the course for the top 4 in a duel with a competitor for the playoff spots. Games begin at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The 1st League-Team is also in action on Sunday. For the third team of the Challengers it will be a game day in Eastern Switzerland. In Wittenbach, St. Gallen, they first meet the SG Pirates/Lions before they face the SG Romanshorn-Wittenbach/Wil Devils. The Games start at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Posts in the Softball category:
Nighgames on Friday and Saturday Night
Softball-Team with two wins in Bern
The Softball-Team has a strong performance in Bern. 27 hits and 38 runs as well as two wins are the result of a productive Sunday on the Allmend.
While the Challengers benefited from the Cardinals pitcher’s walks in the first inning, they took a 10-4 lead in the second frame with six hits. After two more runs on each side, the Challengers bats caught fire in the fifth inning. They scored 11 runs from seven hits, including no fewer than three triples from Tamara Ammeter, Taylor McCants and Isabelle Tan, to finally win 23-7.
Tamara Ammeter had three hits and five runs, Carmen Lutz-Demetz and Leandra Simitovic had two hits and four RBIs each and Molly Mullens had three RBI. Tamara Ammeter took the win, as she gave up only two hits and one run in three innings, while starter Solana Lutz also gave up only two earned runs in two innings of work.
The second game of the day was one-sided from the start. The Challengers took an early 14-0 lead and deservedly won 15-3. Simona Cellar shone with four hits and five RBI, Taylor McCants screwed her batting average to .714 with another three hits and Riona Lutz convinced with 2.1 innings pitched with three runs – only one of them earned – and five hits.
Softball-Team loses against reigning champions
At the start of the softball season was a re-match of the finals of the last two years between the Challengers and the reigning champions Wittenbach Panthers. Due to various departures, the Challengers’ burdens are spread over fewer shoulders this year. Nevertheless, they will be in the race for a spot in the finals again.
The Opening Day at the Klopstockwiese showed that there is quite a gap to the best team of the league. The home team was able to stay within striking distance for a long time in Game 1. After the Panthers led by five runs after the third, Amanda Marxer and Molly Mullens brought their colors back up to 6-9 in the fourth inning. In the end, however, the offensively very strong guests prevailed 15-6. Even if the result was a bit too clear, the offensive output with 13-5 hits and an impressive seven extra base hits by the Panthers was the difference. The Challengers couldn’t keep up here, but they also showed what they are capable of with several nice plays. Tamara Ammeter and Molly Mullens each had two hits for the Challengers, while Amanda Marxer and Mullens each scored two runs.
The second game instead was decided relatively quickly. After a costly error, the visitors pulled away to 10-3 after just two innings and brought the victory home with ease with a final result of 17-6. Isabelle Tan with two hits and Simona Cellar and Taylor McCants delivered the hits for the Challengers while Marina Vaccaro Brüderli scored two of the six runs. After the two defeats on opening day, the Challengers will be happy that the next opponents will not be of the caliber of the reigning champions Wittenbach.
Softball WC in Canada
The Swiss Softball Nationalteam will participate forthe first time at the Softball World Championships that will take place from July 15 till 24 at Surrey, Canada. The 31 teams will try to qualify for the Championship Round of the best 16 teams. Switzerland will play in Group C and will face Australia, Mexico and Serbia. Headcoach Kathy Coyle named two Challengers players into the Swiss WC-roster. Simona Cellar and Leandra Simitovic will play in Canada, while Sabina Sokolowski will be part of the Swiss staff.
Schedule:
Friday, Juli 15: Switzerland vs. Serbia
Saturday, Juli 16: Australia vs. Switzerland
Sunday, Juli 17: Mexico vs. Switzerland
Monday, Juli 18: Championship round / Placement round
For further informations please check the tournament’s homepage. (photo SBSF)
Continue Reading » Softball WC in CanadaSoftball and Cadets games postponed
The Softball games between the Challengers and the Luzern Eagles and the U15-Cadets games against the Lions/BTE and the Devils/Vikings at Embrach scheduled for Saturday have been washed out. The fields were in no condition to Play on. Next up for the ladies is a night game against the Zürich Barracudas on Thursday, June 16 at 6.30 pm at the Klopstockwiese.
Continue Reading » Softball and Cadets games postponedSoftball home games cancelled
The softball home games against the Wil Devils scheduled for Sunday, May 29 have been cancelled due to rain and an unplayable field. A make-up date has not been announced so far.
Continue Reading » Softball home games cancelledSupport the Softball Nationalteam
For the first time in the history of Baseball and Softball in Switzerland the Softball Nationalteam has the possibility to represent Switzerland at the World Championships, that will take place from July 15 till 24 at Surrey, Canada. The Challengers players Simona Cellar and Leandra Simitovic are part of the Swiss roster.
For that the team can worthily represent its country off the field too, the players launched a project on the crowdfunding platform I believe in you, which is the most successful crowdfunding platform in the world. I believe in you was founded by the Swiss olympic athletes Mike Kurt (canoe) and Fabian Kauter (fencing) and the online-specialist Philipp Furrer.
The players bear a big part of the costs for the trip, practice games and practices. In addition to that they also have to pay for the equipment. With your support you are helping the Swiss Softball Nationalteam to make their dream come true.
Further informations about the project and how to support the team are available at I believe in you.
Softball Indoor Tournament at Rümlang
After the Cadets and the Juveniles, who were already in action, now the softball team will play an indoor tournament on Saturday, February 27 at Rümlang. The Challengers will face the Therwil Flyers, Bern Cardinals and the Zürich Barracudas. The tournament will start at 9 a.m.
Continue Reading » Softball Indoor Tournament at RümlangWinter Practice
The winter practice for the Challengers Baseball & Softball Club starts on Monday, October 19 with a pitcher and catcher practice for the U20 and U15 players at the Schulhaus Schauenberg. The practice for the Softball-Team will take place every Tuesday at the Turnhalle Lavater, while the Baseball hitting and fielding practice will newly take place on Wednesdays at the Turnhalle Hirzenbach. For further details concerning the NLA, NLB and 1st League practices, the Softball practice and the practice for the Juniors please check the team’s pages on the Challengers website.
Continue Reading » Winter PracticeLadies clinch playoff berth
The Softball-Team clinched the playoff berth without playing. The Wil Devils, the last opponent for fourth place, lost twice in a make-up double-header against the Zürich Barracudas with 2-13 and 0-26. So the Devils cannot pass the Challengers anymore, who will now face the Therwil Flyers in a best-of-three semi-final series the upcoming weekend.
Continue Reading » Ladies clinch playoff berth