Table-toppers Bothasig should ease past Giants

This weekend sees the Baseball teams in Western Province move into a strength- versus- strength competition.

The first half of the season was dedicated to deciding the top six teams in the league, who will now compete in the Major League A division.

Although the top five secured their positions three weeks back, it was the sixth spot that was only finalised at the 11th hour.

At the start of last weekend’s fixtures, sixth-placed Grassy Park Crusaders held a two-point advantage over rivals Maitland Giants. Giants hosted Durbanville Villans knowing a win for them and a defeat for Crusaders against Athlone A’s was the only chance of leapfrogging Crusaders.

Both game panned out very differently. Giants prevailed in a tight game against Durbanville 4-1, while Crusaders put in a lacklustre performance to go down 12-3 to A’s.

Giants had a better run difference than Crusaders, and meant the celebrations took place at the Kensington Baseball Fields and not in Grassy Park.

The top six teams – Bothasig Knights ( 34 points), Bellville Tygers (32), Athlone A’s (24), VOB Macaws (22), Westridge Yankees (20) and Maitland Giants (14) – now play a double round-robin and carry forward their points.

Log-leaders Bothasig host sixthplaced Giants. Giants, who have struggled with their consistency, are in for a tough outing as they have not beaten Bothasig in the past two seasons. Bothasig’s all- round ability should be too much for Giants, who have battled in their hitting and fielding department.

Defending champions Bellville Tygers are also on the road, facing VOB Macaws at Chukker Road.

The game could be a close affair if the VOB pitchers can restrict the Tygers hitting line-up. The VOB hitters on the other hand, provided they remain patient in the batter’s box, could combat the limited Tygers pitching roster.

Tygers have been convincing winners against VOB in their last two encounters.

At Parktown Sports Complex hosts Athlone A’s should hold the upper hand against unpredictable Westridge Yankees if the season’s previous scores are anything to go by.

Should Yankees pitch up in the right frame of mind A’s could be in for a torrid time. With the current make-up of the teams this could be a closely-contested game.

The bottom four teams from the Major League – Crusaders, Durbanville Villans, Van der Stel and Helderberg Pirates – are joined by the two promoted teams from the Promotion League League (winners Milnerton Mavericks and runners-up Thistle) to make up the Major League B division.