Free passes cost VOB

VOB Macaws only have themselves to blame as they were punished 18-1 by Bellville Tygers in five innings after allowing their opponents 22 free bases in their Cape Town Baseball Federation Major League match at Chukker Road in Kenwyn on Saturday 9 November.

Three VOB pitchers allowed 14 walks and two hit-by-pitch, while their fielders made six errors.

Tygers took full advantage by scoring five runs in the first and third inning, three runs in the second and fourth innings and two runs in the fifth inning. VOB scored their solitary run in the fifth inning.

Anthony Phillips recorded three of Tygers eight hits, with Jody Burch recording two of VOB’s four.

VOB started with Derrick Bayliss on the mound who pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, eight walks and two hit-by-pitch, while striking out two hitters. He was replaced by Marvin Mahoney for 1.2 innings allowing two hits, three walks and struck out two hitters. Michael Scritten threw the fifth inning for VOB. Tygers started with Kevin Townend who threw the scoreless inning, no hits and was replaced by Lloyd Stevens who pitched two innings.

At Abe Sher sports field, Bothasig Knights beat Athlone A’s 14-4.

After being restricted to a 2-0 lead after four innings, Bothasig took the game away from A’s with six runs in the fifth, four runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh inning.

Bothasig scored two runs off Cameron Fortuin in the first inning from two hits, an error and a walk.

Fortuin settled down the next three innings keeping the Bothasig scoreless.

He was replaced by Mathew Diedericks after conceding three walks and without getting an out in the fifth inning.

Diedericks came straight into the firing line with bases loaded.

Benjamin Smith’s sacrifice-fly to center-field allowed a run to be scored, Justin Lazarus’ base hit to left-field to scored another run and Darren Boltman launched one over the left-field fence for a three-run homerun.

Diedericks gave up two walks and three in the sixth inning before being replaced by Dean Jacobs who finished the sixth and seventh inning.

Australia-bound Dylan Unsworth pitched five innings conceding a run from six hits, walked one and struck out seven hitters in his pitching stint.

He was replaced by Jared Elario who pitched the last two innings conceding three runs from three hits, two walks and struck out five.

Josh Wentzel, Cameron Fortuin and Jason Carelse each grabbed two hits for A’s, while Benjamin Smith and Darren Boltman grabbed three hits each with Bolman’s including the homerun in the fifth inning.

In the Promotion League, Helderberg Pirates’ staying power was too strong for Lansdowne Eagles as they ran out 9-0 winners also at Chukker Road.

Clever and steady pitching by Kieran Clackett kept Lansdowne at bay. Clackett struck out 15 hitters, allowing two hits and no walks.

Pirates big inning was the seventh when they scored four runs from nine walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Lansdowne used Keagan Kulp for six innings and Tristan Fahrenfort for three innings. Lansdowne recorded two hits and Pirates four hits for the game. Justin Smith of Pirates was the only hitter to get two hits.

In other Major League results, Maitland Giants shutout Van der Stel 10-0 and Durbanville Villains secure their first win of the season with an 8-7 victory over Grassy Park Crusaders who remain winless.

Thistle beat Milnerton Mavericks 14-4, while Westridge Yankees beat Silvertree Titans 16-1 to remain unbeaten in other Promotion League matches.