Labhart dominates last game of regular season

In the second game the Challengers wanted to show what they’re really capable of.

	Labhart pitched a fine game, allowing only two earned runs in a complete-game six-hitter.

Oliver Labhart stepped to the plate and quickly ended the inning with a groundout and two K’s, but not before giving up a homer to the Unicorns' third batter.

Labhart led off the offense and got on with a single, as did Adrian Kämpfer">Adrian Kämpfer after him.

But with only one out they got stranded on third and second, as sluggers Thomas Blank and Orlando Balbuena popped and struck out.

Thus the Challengers were behind again.

In the second inning, Labhart again gave up a hit that left the park, this time for a ground-rule double.

But a lineout to Blank and two more strike outs cut the opponent short.

Labhart continued strong, giving up only three more hits for the rest of the game and eventually getting the win in a complete game.

He also played an important part in the Challengers' offense, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI’s, and also scoring two runs.

Unexpectedly, he was supported by the bottom of the lineup.

Urs Blickenstorfer and Jeff Wakeman both scored twice after getting on with hits in the second and third innings, but the real surprise was Thomas Burger. He even topped Labhart's performance with four hits, four runs, three RBI's and two stolen bases, all game-high numbers, and has to be named offensive player of the game.

Burger also led the Challengers in their shaky third defense, although in a negative sense.

Having grabbed a 3-1 lead, the team lost its concentration right away with the first batter.

Labhart let a slow roller right back to him pass through, Balbuena picked it up, but hurried the throw, and the runner was on second after two errors on just one ball.

Burger then committed two consecutive errors on routine plays that scored the first runner, while two more were driven in by the following ground outs: Unicorns 4, Challengers 3.

	Thomas Blank finally got a hit after going 0-for-7 in the last two games.

But this was the last time the Unicorns were ahead in this game.

The C's offense continued to work and score, while the defense, apart from another Burger error in the sixth, now stayed flawless.

Even some spectacular plays were made: Labhart and Kämpfer recorded the first pickoffs of the seson at first base.

In a close play with Blank after a slow roller towards third, Kämpfer used all his height, and Urs caught two difficult balls in the hard-to-play Hünenberg left field.

After two perfect innings and with a score of 13-4, Labhart at last was damaged in the seventh by Scott Newman's pinch-hit RBI-single with an earned run.

But the Challengers' ace soon recovered and finally took his second victory of the season, ending the game with his seventh strike out.

Now it's up to the Unicorns to stay in the league for the next season by beating the Uzwil Helvetics at least once next weekend. If they fail to do so, luck of the draw would have to decide between them and the Challengers who would face the Thun Hunters in the Playout Series.

Game notes
Labhart's game score of 58 is the highest in the NLB this season. ...With his five doubles of the day Labhart tied Chris Hardy's mark for doubles in one season from last year. ... Burger's game-high numbers are all career-high marks for hits, runs, RBI’s and stolen bases. ... Founding member Enrico Zingg played his first two games in the NLB for the Challengers since 1995. He went a combined 2-for-7 with a double, two RBI's and a stolen base.