Challengers drop season opener 6-14

The Challengers' NLB-team was held to a single run in their season-opener against the Rohr Hawks, losing it 6-1.

	Patrick Zöllig Infielder, Pitcher Patrick Zöllig
	1999 SEASON STATISTICS AB R H RBI HR AVG 3 0 2 1 0 .667 IP W L SV SO ERA 3.1 0 1 0 2 5.40

Hawks starter Chour scattered eight hits in seven innings, allowing just Patrick Zöllig's sac fly in the bottom of the third inning that scored Benny Räber from third base.

But by then, the Hawks were already leading 4-0. They profited from the Challengers' shaky defense that allowed four unearned runs to score by committing nine errors.

The Challengers also wasted several scoring chances by leaving a total of 10 runners on base, six of them in scoring position.

The Challengers loaded the bases in the first inning with one out, but Chour retired Cameron Minns on an infield fly and got Sami Mikkonen on three strikes to end the threat.

They also had runners on first and second in the fourth, six and seventh innings, but weren't able to profit from it.

Challengers starter Zöllig lasted 3 1-3 innings, giving up five runs - three of them unearned - on just two hits and six walks. He was lifted for Räber who allowed just one more unearned run to score in the final 3 2-3 innings.

Rookie Mikkonen struck out in his NLB-debut, but singled in his following two at-bats to finish 2-for-3.