Athlone Athletics secure 11–5 win over Thistle
Thistle catcher Jemaile Mohammed tags Athlone Athletics’ Altino Elliot during a Cape Town Town Baseball Federation Major League match, at Parktown on Sunday.
Image: Mark Ward
Mark Ward
While Durbanville lead the race for the Cape Town Baseball Federation’s Major League title, Athlone Athletics consolidated their mid-table position with a commanding 11–5 victory over Thistle at Parktown on Sunday.
In a rather bizarre twist, both Battswood and Crusaders recorded walkover (9–0) wins over suspended VOB, respectively, allowing Athlone to consolidate fifth spot on the league table.
Athlone, after going down 5–0 to Bellville on Saturday, went on to clinch their eighth win in 15 games after capitalising on costly Thistle errors in the bottom of the second frame on Sunday. The decisive surge proved crucial as the A’s went on to secure a much-needed result to entrench their place in the middle of the log.
Chad Morkel started the mound for Athlone Athletics during a Cape Town Town Baseball Federation Major League match against Thistle, at Parktown on Sunday.
Image: Mark Ward
Thistle fought back with some solid batting from Nicholas Jeffries, who went 2-for-5 with a single, while Keenan Thomas also impressed with a 2-for-5 performance that included two RBIs.
For Athlone, Lance Gordon starred at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and runs batted in (RBI). Altino Elliot also made a telling contribution, going 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI.
On the mound, Thistle pitcher Niyaaz Galant endured a tough outing, facing 43 batters and conceding 11 runs, five of them earned, while allowing three walks and recording four strikeouts.
Faizel Moosa of Athlone Athletics gets to first base safely as Thistle's Kyle Mulder tries to oust him during a Cape Town Town Baseball Federation Major League match at Parktown, on Sunday.
Image: Mark Ward
Athlone used three pitchers in a solid collective effort. Chad Morkel started and faced 28 batters, allowing six runs (three earned) with two walks and six strikeouts. He was well supported by Kyle Ripepi, who faced seven batters without conceding a run. Jason Ripepi closed out the contest, facing six batters and striking out two, also without allowing a run.
Other results: Bothasig 19, Battswood 2; Crusaders 9, VOB 0; Bellville 5, Athlone Athletics 0; Durbanville 12, Thistle 7.
Sunday results: Durbanville 7, Bothasig 2; Bellville 11, Crusaders 1; Athlone Athletics 11, Thistle 5.
Thistle pitcher Niyaaz Galant during a Cape Town Town Baseball Federation Major League match against Athlone Athletics, at Parktown, on Sunday.
Image: Mark Ward