Challengers hold on to finish qualification phase with 11-1 record

7-6 was the score in Game 2, as well, but this time the Challengers hung onto their lead and won their final game of the preeliminary round against the Therwil Flyers.

	Jose Valdez took over the lead in all three triple crown categories, going 1-for-2 with with two walks and two runs scored.

The Challengers jumped on starter Alain Kurz and scored six runs in the first three innings.

Two sacrifices by Tobias Siegrist and Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer in the first and second inning paved the way for a four-run outburst in the third inning.

Jose Valdez hit an RBI-single, Siegrist added yet another sac fly, and Manny Marchant, who hit the only homer of Game 1, connected for a two-run blast that landed well behind the fence in left center-field.

Kurz managed to escape the jam by retiring Harry Bregy with two runners in scoring position, but he was sent to the showers after just three innings of work.

The Flyers nibbled at the Challengers lead, but not fast enough.

	Tobi Siegrist hit three sac flies in the doubleheader, probably a new Challengers record.

Starter Roger Brunner rattled his opposition by getting ahead in the counts and relying on his tough defense that committed just two errors the entire game.

The Flyers then brought in reliever Reto Siegel, and the Challenger bats grew silent.

They managed to score just one more run on Marchant's RBI-single in the fourth inning, but after that, Siegel was in total command.

He struck out six of the nine batters he faced in the final three innings.

His offense tried everything to get to Brunner, but he continued to excel on the mound.

Siegel's run-scoring ground out in the fifth and Djibril Traore's run-scoring fielder's choice in the sixth inning were the only runs the Flyers managed to score off him.

	Thomas Landis went hitless in seven at-bats in the doubleheader and dropped his batting average 95 points to a still respectable .488.

Brunner started the final inning by giving up a double to Jacob Clinton. Siegel followed with a two-run homer, and Brunner's day was done.

In came closer Marchant who blew the save in Game 1, but he seeked revenge, and he got it.

He walked Stefan Koller and retired the side on three strikeouts for his second save of the season.

The Challengers finished the preeliminary round with an 11-1 record, scoring in double figures in every game except in today's doubleheader.

The first doubleheader of the qualification round will take place on July 27 when the Challengers will host the fifth place team, the Reussbühl Eagles at the Heerenschürli.

Game notes
Thomas Landis struck out in the sixth inning for just his 100th career strikeout in 948 at-bats. ...The last time Landis went hitless in a doubleheader was on June 26, 1999 when he went 0-for-6 against the Zurich Barracudas. ...Blickenstorfer's double in the third inning was his 40th of his NLA-career.