Flyers can't overcome Räber and Challengers, lose 10-5

Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader between the Challengers and the Therwil Flyers was another close affair as the Challengers came up as 10-5 winners.

	Benny Räber improved to 5-0 on the season by limiting the Flyers to just six runs over five innings.

The Challengers were first to score as Anthony Bennett's passed ball enabled Thomas Landis to score from third base.

But that was all they got as Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer popped out with the bases loaded for the final out.

The Flyers tied the game on a passed ball by Tobias Siegrist, and went ahead 2-1 on Reto Siegel's RBI-single.

But the Challengers weren't rattled.

Doubles by Roger Brunner and Landis were the only hits of the inning, but three walks and a wild pitch by starter Jacob Clinton and a throwing error by shortstop Reto Siegel led to four runs for a 5-2 lead.

They added three more the next inning on an RBI-single by Anubis Benitez, Landis' RBI-double and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Manny Marchant for an 8-2 lead.

	Harry Bregy hit his first career triple, but was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer.

But the Flyers didn't let up and came right back with three runs on their own.

Clinton grounded into a run-scoring ground out, and Siegel followed with a two-run shot off starter Benny Räber.

After two scoreless half-innings, the Challengers pulled away and scored the final runs of the game on Jose Valdez' sixth homer of the year, a two-run blast off reliever Stefan Koller.

Räber's day was finished as Buser led off the sixth inning with a double. He finished the game with five runs allowed on six hits and three walks while also striking out one.

He picked up his team-leading fifth win with that performance.

Marchant again came on and closed matters out, facing the minimum of six batters in the final two innings.

He lowered his ERA to a team-leading 3.63 in the process.

Next up for the Challengers will be the Sissach Frogs, whom they will play on August 3 in Sissach.

With two wins, the Challengers would be as good as garantueed first place in the qualification round, and home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs, starting on August 31.

Game notes
Siegel's homer off Räber in the fourth inning was only the second one of the season given up by Räber, and the first since April 28 against the Reussbühl Eagles.