MARK WARD
Baseballers across the metropole returned to action after the holiday break with VOB showing signs of continuing their steady march to be become competitive in the Major League while log leaders Bothasig thumped Athlone Athletics.
VOB took just five frames to register a 17-0 win over Helderberg Pirates at Chukker Road on Saturday with pitcher Daniel Mendelsohn claiming the shoutout.
But while VOB entrenched their third sport on the standings, Pirates’ prospects of remaining in the competition next season looks bleak.
Pirates remain at the bottom of the log with only one win in 10 matches and with the season moving into the second round, they will have to improve in leaps and bounds to stay afloat.
But it was Mendelsohn’s pitching which proved too hot to handle for the Pirates batters, paving the way for VOB’s emphatic win.
Mendelsohn restricted the visitors’ batters to only two hits while he struck out six batters in a match which was ended via the mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth frame. Josh November 3/3 and Liam Willemberg 3/ 4 were VOB’s best batters.
Meanwhile, playing at home, Bothasig thumped Athlone 13-2 in one sided clash.
While VOB travel to Grassy Park on Saturday to face struggling Crusaders, the focus will be on the top of the table clash between Bellville and Bothasig at the PP Smit sports ground on Saturday.
Fixtures:
Bellville Tygers vs Bothasig Knights; Crusaders vs VOB; Athlone Athletics vs Thistle; Helderberg Pirates vs Durbanville.
