Challengers upend Lions 17-1

Thomas Burger pitched his first complete game in more than three years in a 17-1 romp over the Zurich Lions.

Bryan Shemley went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and five other Challengers added two hits each in a 17-hit attack.

The last time these two teams met, the Challengers were shut out for the first for innings before finally breaking through in the fifth en route to an 8-0 win on June 27.

This time, the Challengers scored almost that many in the first inning, capitalizing on poor pitching and an even poorer defense that committed three errors in that inning alone.

The Challengers kept going in the next innings, starting off the second inning with five straight hits, including Shemley's fourth double of the season, for three more runs.

In the third inning, two more errors and Robert Sedin's second triple of the season extended the Challengers' lead to 14-0, and that was more than Burger needed to seal the deal.

He struggled with his command early on and walked five batters in the first three innings, but managed to escape all jams.

In the second inning, he made an especially fine play as - with the bases loaded - he grabbed Mario Dreiding's comebacker behind his back, and initiated an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.

In the third, the first two Lions reached on a walk and a double, but Burger retired the next three batters on a popup to first, a strikeout swinging and a ground out to the second baseman.

He struck out two of the last three batters to complete his first game since May 29, 2010, a 4-9 loss versus Roger Savoldelli and the Embrach Mustangs.

Game notes
Sedin went 0-for-2 in the first inning, accounting for the first and third out of the inning. ...Burger passed Roger Brunner and moved into sole possession of fourth place on the Challengers all-time list for complete games with 15. Burger is the active leader amongst Challengers in games started with 51. ...The 17 runs were the most since scoring 20 in July 28, 2012's 20-0 win over the Wil Devils.