Bellville still on a roll as baseball playoffs near

AFTER this weekend’s games in the Baseball Association of Western Province Major League, the division will be split into two sections of four teams, top four and bottom four.

Bellville, Bothasig, Athlone and Maitland have secured the top four places.

Top dogs Bellville will play fourth-placed Maitland, and runners-up Bothasig will take on third-placed Athlone in the winners’ semi-finals.

Durbanville, who will finish fifth, will play Crusaders, while Westridge will host VOB in the plate semi-finals.

The semi-finals are the best of three games. The team on the highest log position has home ground advantage next Saturday. Should a third game be required, the decider will be played on Sunday at the opponents’ venue.

The finals, also best of three, will take place on the weekend of April 1 and 2.

The highlight of the final round of games this weekend’s games will come at Bothasig where visitors, league champions Bellville, will be going all out to maintain their unbeaten record, which currently stands at 27 games.

Bothasig will look to fitagain ace pitcher Jared Elario to lead their challenge from the mound. Keenan Clarke will provide back-up for Elario.

The Bellville offensive charge will be lead once again by Jonathan Phillips, Kyle Ettisch and Charl Cordier.

Maitland Giants travel to Mitchells Plain today intent on settling a score with Westridge Yankees.

Despite having a torrid second half of the season, during which they have not won a game, Yankees have trounced Giants twice this season, by big margins.