Crusaders, Giants in battle for A-division status

THIS WEEKEND sees the completion of the second round of Western Province Major League fixtures with the final log positions determining who plays in the Major League A and B divisions for the remainder of the baseball season. The top five teams have secured their spots in the top six, with only position places up for grabs. Currently Bothasig Knights are on top with 32 points followed by Bellville Tygers who have 30. Athlone A’s are third on 22 points followed by Westridge Yan- kees and VOB Macaws on 20. Things then hot up as Grassy Park Crusaders (14 points) are sixth with Maitland Giants hot on their heels with 12.

Both teams have different stories for 2018. Giants have yet to secure a win and Crusaders come off arguably their biggest victory for the club when they beat defending champions Bellville Tygers 3-1 earlier this month.

Crusaders, having lost both games in last weekend’s double- header, 14- 6 to Yankees, and 9-3 to VOB, host A’s and victory will secure sixth spot. They will be hoping their pitching department of Grant Robertson, Jarrod Williams and Lucien Swartz are able to restrict the A’s hitters to give them a chance of victory. Their batters, who have struggled this season, will need to combat the A’s pitchers of Dean Jacobs, Lloyd Stevens and Carl Michaels who are SA national players. A’s, currently third, beat Durbanville 3-1 in 12 innings last Saturday, and Maitland Giants 9-3 on Sunday.

In their quest to secure a top six position Giants, who went down 9-5 to VOB, host Durbanville Villains in a mustwin game. Giants have been competitive in the first five innings in most of their games when they have had their overseas pitchers on the mound. It is the four innings without them where they have been conceding most of their runs, and they will need to find a solution to this today.

Van Der Stel, Durbanville and Helderberg Pirates are already condemned to the Major League B division.