MARK WARD
Helderberg Pirates kept their hopes alive of retaining their Major League status with a narrow 8-6 win over Thistle at Ottery on Saturday.
The lack of consistency is keeping Pirates in danger of the relegation as the season heads into the final fixtures of the third round.
But on Saturday they showed intent from their first turn at bat when Cassius Vlok (4/6) reached first base on safe hit, then scrambled to second while he crossed the homeplate on an error for his side’s first run.
Stalwart pitcher Daryn Chalmers kept the homeside’s batters in check with some feisty pitching on the mound. He struck out eight of the 24 batters he faced. Kevin Costigan, who relieved Chalmers in the sixth innings gave-up three hits.
Log leaders Bothasig, meanwhile, remain unbeaten as the season heads for the third round after beating Crusaders 12-5 at the Abe Sher Grounds.
Bothasig’s batters went on the rampaged and amassed 17 hits off the visitors two pitchers Lucien Swartz (8 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk, 7 runs) and Chad Beukes who faced 17 batters allowed nine hits and five runs.
Brandon Smith 4-5, Nicholas Eagles 3-5 and Dayle Feldtman 3/5 were the homeside’s best batters.
Crusaders batters could only manage to get three hits off Bothasig’s pitchers Jared Elario (1 hits, 4 strikeouts),
Dean Jacobs (2 hits, 4 strikeouts, 5 walks, 5 runs) and
Brandon Smith ( 4 strikeouts).
But Chad Beukes (1/3) brought some luck for Crusaders with a three-run homer in the seventh innings while Liam Samuels (1/3) and Chandler Hine (1/4) also showed intent.
VOB went the rampage against Durbanville to register an 18-5 win over Durbanville with big hitters Zubair Larney (3/4, including 5 rbi’s) and Luke November (3/-5, including 4 rbi’s) having a field day.
Stuart Baron (12 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts) and Luke Jacobs (5hits, 7 walks), shared the pitching shores for Durbanville.
Daniel Mendelson who shared the pitching with Damain Perkins for VOB allowed eight hits while he fanned eight batters. Perkins faced 10 batters and gave -up three hits while he gave two batters marching orders.
