Das Video zum 2. Night Game ist online unter BarracudasTV.

am nächsten Mittwoch, 18. August, 19.00 Uhr, spielt unsere NLA wiederum ein Night-Game gegen die Zürich Challengers!
Nicht nur war das 1. Nightgame ein tolles Baseball Spektakel, auch war der Sieg ein wichtiger Schritt Richtung Playoffs.
Genau gleich sieht die Ausgangslage im 2. Nightgame aus.. wir müssen gewinnen! Ein direkter Kampf um den letzten Playoffplatz zwischen uns und den Challengers...
spannender gehts fast nicht mehr!!

NLA PROVIDES NIGHTTIME FIREWORKS

The Barracudas played the first ever night game under the lights in Swiss baseball history on Tuesday against the cross town rival Zurich Challengers. The game would not disappoint a very large and enthusiastic crowd that showed up for the historic match as the Barracudas won on an extra inning walk off single. The 4-3 thriller against the 3^rd place Challengers puts the ‘Cudas in sole possession of 4^th place and the last playoff spot.

The pitching matchup for this late night dual pitted Challenger righty Tobias Siegrist against fellow right hander Andi Rüesch. The game would turn into a defensive barn burner as both pitchers were very tough to hit. The ‘Cudas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the 1^st inning however after the first two hitters were retired. Brent Nichols legged out an infield single deep into the 6 hole to start the rally. Hasson Rogers then came up and belted a double down the right field line which scored Nichols to open the scoring. After a wild pitch put Rogers on 3rd, the Challenger catcher tried to back pick him on ball four to Chico Colindres. This throw sailed into left field and allowed Rogers to score the second run of the inning. Rüesch was unhittable in his first few innings of work retiring the first 10 hitters he faced, six of these flyouts to left fielder Marcel ‘Loco’ Ochsner and centerfielder Clemens Lombriser. The Challengers got their first run in the 4^th inning after American player/coach Brian Hipps broke Rüesch’s perfect game up with a single up the middle. After a slow ground ball moved him over to second, the Challengers got a clutch two out single from their cleanup batter to score Hipps and make the game 2-1. The Challengers tied the game in the top of the fifth with a one out single followed by a towering double off the left field fence by 9 hitter and former Barracuda Farid Bekkali. The Barracudas got this run back and regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning however with the help of some shaky Challenger defense. After two out were recorded, Rogers reached base on an errant throw from shortstop Brian Hipps. Chico Colindres also reached on an error from 1^st baseman Bekkali who then compounded the mistake by throwing away a ball to 3^rd base to try and get Rogers who used some very heads up baserunning. This errant throw allowed Rogers to score again and give the Barracudas their lead back. The score would stay 3-2 through the next two innings as both pitchers did not allow a runner to reach scoring position. Beni Montag would then come into the game to pitch at the top of 8^th, relieving Rüesch who pitched 7 very strong innings giving up only 4 hits and allowing one walk. The 8^th turned out to be a scary one for the ‘Cudas as the Challengers tied the game and nearly broke the game open. The leadoff batter singled and stole second to start the inning before Hipps singled again to tie the game at 3. Siegrist, batting in the 3 hole, then doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. The Barracudas played the infield in but this was unnecessary as Montag reached back and struck out the cleanup hitter and then got the 5 hitter to ground back to him. The Barracudas then elected to intentionally walk the 6^th hitter and catcher Casimiro to load the bases. The next batter then popped up in foul territory which catcher Sascha Litscher made an unbelievable circus catch on to end the inning and preserve the tie. In the bottom of the 8^th, Colindres started off the inning with his 2^nd hit and then Chris Bissig bunted him over to scoring position but the Barracudas were unable to score him. In the 9^th inning, Montag settled down and retired the side and the Barracudas were also retired in order. This sent the first ever night game into extra innings. The Challengers failed to score in the 10^th as well thanks to a great diving catch by Ochsner in left field and a great over head catch by 2^nd baseman Rogers in shallow center field. Montag struck out his 3^rd batter of the game to end the inning and set up the drama in the bottom of the 10^th. Brent Nichols led off the 10^th with a walk, still of pitcher Tobias Siegrist who pitched an extra inning complete game for the Challengers. Rogers then hit a ball to shortstop and as Nichols broke up the double play, the 2^nd basemen’s throw sailed wide and allowed Rogers to advance into scoring position. The Challengers then decided to intentionally walk a hot hitting Colindres, who reached base in all five plate appearances to set the stage for Chris ‘Basher’ Bissig. Bissig would turn into the night’s hero as he hit a two strike line drive into center field which scored Rogers, his third run of the game, and gave the ‘Cudas the dramatic late night walk off victory. The win was Montag’s first of the season and made Siegrist the tough luck loser for the Challengers. The Barracudas must now travel to Embrach this Saturday to play the 2^nd place Mustangs. The second game against the Challengers will be made up in the middle of August.

Photo: Jonny Müller