Challengers open season with 11-1 win

The new-look Challengers took the field on Saturday, trying to prevent last year’s ignominy by losing the opener against the Reussbuhl Eagles.

They did everything right, winning 11-1 in seven innings, shortened by the ten-run mercy-rule.

Newly-acquired Tom Huston and veteran Thomas Landis both homered, and Thomas Burger pitched five shutout innings for the win.

After the first three frames, the Challengers had already built up a commanding 9-0 lead against the Eagles and starter Jerome Müller. While Burger retired seven batters in a row in those innings, Müller had to concede eight of those nine runs with two outs.

After five innings, Chris Palatinus relieved Burger on the mound, giving up the only run of the game on an infied error and a double in the seventh, the Eagles‘ only extra-base hit oft he game.

With no outs in the seventh, player-coach James Sanders reached on an error by second baseman Reyes that enabled Huston to score the final run.

Game notes
Landis entered his 18th season in the NLA, tops amongst all active players. …Burger won his first start oft he season, an achievement that took him four starts last season. ...Bryan Shemley collected his 200 total base when he singled in the second inning.