Athlone itching to trip Bellville up

ATHLONE A’s will need to bring their A- game today when they take on Baseball Association of Western Province Major League log-leaders Bellville at the Vangate Sports Complex in Athlone.

Unbeaten Bellville, like second-placed Athlone, have a handful of national team level pitchers past and present to call on, which should make this a tight duel.

Adding to the interest this weekend is that clubs play tomorrow as well, so have to plot carefully how they deploy their pitching staff over two games in two days.

Athlone will rely heavily on current national pitcher and stalwart Carl Michaels to be very sharp, to take them deep into today’s game and will hope his possible replacement – possibly one of current SA pitchers Lloyd Stevens and Dean Jacobs – can maintain his levels.

Bellville have a choice of either of their former national pitchers, Bruce McClellan or Bertus Mostert, or current SA hurler Callan Pearce.

It is in hitting department where the game will be won or lost. Bellville have more players contributing more consistently in this department. Their top hitters – Anthony and Jonathan Phillips, Kyle Ettisch, Charl Cordier and Allan Randall – have been successful this season, whereas Athlone have been struggling to find more consistency.

In the last two games between the sides, Bellville have won 4-0 and 6-2.

Maitland Giants find themselves with a tricky doubleheader this weekend, hosting VOB today, and then travelling to Athlone tomorrow.

Against VOB, Giants have victorious in the last two encounters – 10-4 and 9-3. They will be looking for much of the same with their reliable Canadian Jas Shergill starting off the pitching duties. They have a choice of Brad Erasmus, Carlo Koks or Jayde Thorne to back him up.

Other Major League fixtures see Westridge playing Bothasig and VOB (Saturday and Sunday), Durbanville play Crusaders and Bothasig, with Crusaders facing Bellville on Sunday.

Promotion League fixtures see Devonshire host Van der Stel, Thistle host Helderberg Pirates, and Battswood travel to Milnerton. ll fixtures today start at 3.45pm, and tomorrow at 1.30pm. – Sean Campbell