Dynasty? Challenger win double and fifth Title in last seven seasons

For the fourth time in the last six seasons, the Therwil Flyers and Challengers matched up in the Finals to determine the Swiss Champion.

	The 2004 Swiss Champions Zürich Challengers.

And just like in 1999, 2000 and 2002, the Challengers came out as winners, winning 15-5 in Game 4 for a 3-1 Series win.

Coupled with their wins in '82, '83, '86 and '98, the Challengers have now a record eight National Title, compared to seven by the Flyers.

The foundation to their first Title since 2002 was getting to Reto Siegel in Game 3, and then relying on their own staff ace Thomas Landis to bring the trophy back.

And Landis delivered a masterpiece, going the full nine innings in which he allowed five runs - one of them unearned - on nine hits and three walks while also striking out ten.

With that win, he closed out an illustrous career that will be most probably crowned with yet another MVP title - his ninth total.

	Thomas Landis delivered a masterpiece in probably his last start for the Challengers.

He will retire, but made clear that a comeback is not impossible. Considering his age of 29 years, he still would have some great years left.

The Challengers set the tone in Game 4 by scoring twice in the first inning on RBI-singles by Tobias Siegrist and Anubis Benitez.

The Flyers got one run back as Daniel Eichenberger homered with no runners aboard in the second inning.

The Flyers shuffled their lineup before the game, hoping to get a more balanced production from their hitters.

That part of the plan didn't work as well as desired, but the other part - pitching and defense - worked even worse.

Starting pitcher Stefan Koller surrendered three more runs in the third inning, but two errors by shortstop Siegel and one by second baseman Mario Cuevas made two of those runs unearned.

And the Challengers kept the pressure up and kept on scoring in the next innings.

In both the fourth and fifth innings, the Challengers scored one run each with two outs.

The Flyers also managed to score one run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings on a throwing error by Landis and Anthony Bennett's solo homer.

	Tobias Siegrist went 4-for-4 and also collected three RBI's.

But Koller and the Flyers finally lost it in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After Siegrist batted in Landis for the third time with an RBI-single, Roger Brunner and Benitez reached on a walk and a ground-rule double.

Substitute Nick Lehmann followed with what looked like the inning-ending grounder to third baseman Seppi Zwyer. Zwyer picked up the ball and unleashed a throw to catcher Bennett, hoping to nail Brunner at home.

But Zwyer's throw hit Brunner on the helmet, and everybody was safe.

Saentis Zeller later capped the inning with a two-out three-run homer that sent Koller to the showers.

Nelson Vilomar relieved and allowed two more runs in the final 2 1-3 innings.

After a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, Landis started to sruggle in the final frame.

An error, a walk and three singles pushed two runs across the plate and left the bases loaded with one out and slugger Eichenberger stepping to the plate.

	Saentis Zeller's three-run homer in the sixth inning was the definitive blow to the Flyers' hopes of winning the game.

The two players with uniform number 34 have faced each other so many times, and both players had their big moments.

This one belonged to Landis as he rung him up on three strikes, sending Eichenberger back to the bench with a smile.

Vilomar grounded out to rookie shortstop Thomas Burger for the final out, enabling the onfield celebrations to start.

Game notes
Landis was at his best in the postseason games he started, as show his numbers: 32.1 IP, 39 SO, 2.78 ERA... Benitez collected his 300th hit in the NLA with the Challengers as he doubled off Stefan Koller in the sixth inning. ...Talking 'bout a career milestone-setting game: Zeller singled in the second inning for his 200th hit in the NLA. In the fifth inning, he hit his 50th double of his career. And in the sixth inning, he homered and scored his 200th run in the NLA. ...Landis tied his career-high for runs scored as he crossed the plate five times. He also set a new career-high with 21 free passes all season. ...The switch to wooden bat this season had a big impact on the statisitcs: The team batting average dropped to .300 and was the worst since the 1991 team that had a .254 batting average. There were only six homers hit by the Challengers all seasons. Only in 1984 and 1985 were there less homers with five each. ...Some players had incredible offensive drop-offs, with Harry Bregy's .250 - compared to .422 in 2003 - being the biggest difference. Others who felt the switch to wood the most: Benitez with a plunge of 171 points to .242 and Chris Palatinus losing 143 points with a team-worst .198 batting average. Players who didn't bother hitting with wood instead of aluminum were Siegrist who equaled his batting average of .410 from last season and also tied his career-high by hitting 17 doubles, and Brunner who also equaled his numbers from 2002 - his last full season in the NLA - going an exact same 24-for-64 for a .375 batting average.