Maitland’s batters want to get over last week’s 10-0 hiding

SIXTH- PLACED Maitland Giants travel to Mitchells Plain today to take on third-placed Westridge Yankees, looking for another win to boost their chance of a top six place in the Baseball Association of Western Province Major League.

Giants, having been shut out 10-0 by Bellville Tygers last week, are keen to bounce back immediately today.

Giants were surprise winners in Kensington the last time the teams met.

Yankees, fresh from their 10-3 victory over Durbanville Villans, will be no pushover this time around.

Luwayne Du Plessis (player/ coach) and Jason Ripepi are more than reliable in their pitching department, and they have Kyle Ripepi to call on as well. The three are also contributors in the batting line-up, which also has Chad Eksteen, Jared Du Plessis and Ashley Julies to provide impetus.

Giants’ pitching will come from Canadian Jaz Shergill and USA import Connor Walsh.

The challenge for Giants is that foreign pitchers are only allowed to pitch five innings of any particular game, singly or collectively. The other four innings must be pitched by a local player/s, and this is where Giants seem to come unstuck.

They have not found the right formula for this aspect of their game.

They have utilised numerous players but have not found consistency. The four innings need to come from Kurt Pretorius (if available), Carlo Koks (if available), Alex Fortune and Kyle Russouw. Tyler Krobetsky (USA), Shergill and Walsh have also been their main contributors in their hitting game as well.

Van der Stel host Athlone A’s after their shock 12-10 defeat to Helderberg Pirates. In their previous encounter, A’s came from a 5-1 deficit to win 6-5.

A’s will be hoping their 7-5 victory over VOB Macaws last weekend will give their season the injection it requires to push on for more consistency.

Van der Stel will be pinning their hopes on utility player Robbie Clark with support from his teammates. Clarke has be their standout player on the mound and with the bat.

A’s will be looking for Darren Wedel to continue his hitting form from the VOB game. He was well supported by Josh Wentzel, Leon Dodgen and Aiden O’Connor.

A’s should hold the trumps in the pitching depart where they can call on the SA pitchers from Dean Jacobs, Lloyd Stevens, stalwart Carl Michaels and SA U23 team member Cameron Fortuin.

In other Major League games unbeaten log- leaders Bellville Tygers travel to the south to take on Grassy Park Crusaders, VOB Macaws host Durbanville Villans, and Bothasig Knights travel to Helderberg Pirates.

In the Promotion League log leader Milnerton Mavericks travel to last-placed Devonshire Rovers, and

Battswood host Bothasig thirds.