Result: not important

Result: 23-18 (VOB)

Result:

VOB vs

Result:

vs Crusaders

Result: 7-6 (Crusaders)

Parents

Can we please ask that parents not get involved with calls made by the umpire or chirps from the opposition as this reflects badly on the club and the boys then think that they can do the same. At the same time kindly refrain from negative comments during a game. Remember, they are kids, they learning and they most certainly are trying their best so let’s be positive in the comments that get passed.

vs Battswood

Result: 11-8 (Battswood)

Result:  11-5 (VOB)

Batting first at a breezy Rooikrans Sports Ground in Grassy Park, VOB U18 blew the chance to go into a dominant position in the first.  First up designated hitter Luke November drew a hit by pitched ball, advanced on a wild pitch and a steal, and scored on Luke Budler’s hit. Budler stole 2nd, and advanced on a wild pitch.  Jesse Johnson walked and advanced to second on catcher indifference. It looked like runs. Not to be as 4, 5 and 6 were retired by 2 K’s and a long fly.  Crusaders bounced back with a hit, a walk, and a double to score one, before starter Johannes Nuy was able to induce two pop fly’s and a ground ball to short stop.  1 -1.

Again VOB U18 got runners on through a walk and hit, but a missed signal cost us.  Crusaders then piled in as Johannes struggled to find the edges.  Two walks sandwiched a K, and then runs followed on a long double to left, and missed shallow fly, and blown run down.  Not our best performance.  1 – 5.

Up stepped the team.  Luke and Jesse walked.  Jesse punched a double, scoring Luke, and Jordyn Riffel singled over the 2nd base to score Budler and Jesse.  The top order had done their job and we were back in it.  Johannes in turn held firm and we were at 4 – 5.

3 walks and a fielder’s choice saw VOB U18 load up the bases, and Budler did his job perfectly, driving in Keegan Hickley and Abduraghmaan “Durie” Wakefield.  The bases were loaded again as Jesse walked, and Jordyn then drove in Luke and Budler.  Jesse then scored on a wild pitch as Alex Japhta drew a walk to end the innings on the 5 run rule with one down only. 9 – 5.

Up stepped lefty Kian Africa and he efficiently set about closing out Crusaders hopes of a comeback.  A further run in the top of the 5th from Liam Willemburg, who scored on Durie’s second hit of the day, kept the momentum shift going.  Alex Japhta, who had bagged 3 pop fly’s at catcher, and made a good recovery throw for a caught stealing at 3rd in earlier frames, then put the cherry on the top with a strong throw to 2nd for another caught stealing.  Kian promptly finished it off. 10 – 5.

Batting: Luke Budler 2 – 2, 1 bb, 3 rbi’s; Jordyn Riffel 2 – 3,  2 rbi’s; Abduraghmaan Wakefield 2 – 3, 1 rbi;  Jesse Johnson 1 – 1 , 2 bb, 1 rbi.

Pitching: Johannes Nuy 3 innings, 1 K, 4 hits, 3 bb, 5 runs, 2 earned; Kian Africa (W) 2 innings, 3 K, 1 hit, 1 bb, 0 runs, 0 earned.

Thanks to Liam’s dad, Craig, for acting as a base ump; and Brady for being a very able assistant coach.

Masters vs Bellville

Result: 12-2 (VOB)

Sunday

Masters vs Battswood

Result: 11-9 (VOB)

Once again the bats were working for us with no errors I can remember. We welcomed a few new players over the weekend who proved that they still have it. Adie, Clinton Overmeyer, Shaun, Haliem and others with some great hitting. Highlight of the day was Mark Isaacs hitting 2 homeruns on his return like he wasn’t gone at all. Overall a great game played in great spirit and lots of fun and laughter as always.

Sunday

What should have been a fairly comfortable win turned out to be quite a challenging game. Ruan started a little off balance on the mound but in the end proved too strong for the opponents’ batting. One of the great comebacks from the boys with the bats. Trailing until the end where the bats once again woke up and went crazy. Some serious character shown by all. Some dodgy calls from the umpire, Glen Joseph, who cried to the coach saying that he wants to come into the game. Apparently the team needed him. Welcome Michael Kulp to the VOB team. Kulpie looked very comfortable in the VOB uniform and even handed out Blue energade to the guys after the game. Guys acted a bit strange after those drink so not sure what happened. A great comeback accompanied by great finishing with Ruan securing us this win. Lotsa fun and laughter made it a great day.

SATURDAY

MLR vs Crusaders

Result: 8-6 (VOB)

SUNDAY

MLR vs Pirates

Result: 13-2 (VOB)

Another windy day out in Southern Suburbs saw VOB take on the Crusaders of Grassy Park. VOB were keen to build on the recent momentum gathered by the senior team. Eager to get out of the blocks early VOB scored three runs in the first inning. VOB started with Lee van Wyk on the mound and kept Crusaders scoreless in the first. Then VOB added two more runs in the second and allowed Crusaders to score one run taking the score to 5-1.

VOB went to sleep in the middle innings allowing Crusaders to pull back two runs while VOB failed to score, making it a tight game at 5-3 by the top of the 6^th inning.

VOB started a rally at the top of the 6^th to score 2 more runs. Matthew Darius replaced Lee van Wyk on the mound. In Crusaders batting turn they matched the efforts of VOB taking the score to 7-5.

VOB managed another run in the 7^th and had to defend 3 runs to get the victory. Crusaders got their leadoff on but VOB remained composed and went for the easy outs, leaving the runner to score, but running out winners 8-6.

A game that remained close but one that we never seemed in danger of losing. The team has stepped up from the early season promise and is improving by the day.

Sunday

On another windy day with the temperature around the 30-degree mark VOB travelled to Somerset West for the Sunday fixture. The VOB players were eager to continue where they left off on Saturday with 16 players on the line-up sheet. This is unheard of for a Sunday reserve team fixture.

With players like Miguel Wilson, Robin Jones, Luke November, Matthew Darius, Jesse Johnson, Liam Willemburg all with Major League experience and many more players who are regulars in the Major League squad, it was always going to be a tough ask for Helderberg to keep VOB in check.

VOB started the game well, getting runners on base early but only managed one run. Jesse Johnson started on the mound and dominated the Helderberg line-up, keeping them scoreless in the first.

In the next 2 innings, VOB scored six more runs while keeping Helderberg scoreless, taking the score to 7-0. VOB made seven changes to the line-up in the fourth inning using all of their substitutes.

VOB scored six more runs in the final 3 innings taking the score to 13-0 before giving Jordan Leppan a stint on the mound. With the game won VOB was sloppy in the field making several errors and allowing two runs to score. The final score was 13-2 to VOB.

ML vs Crusaders

Result: 8-3 (VOB)

SUNDAY

ML vs Pirates

Result: 12-8 (VOB)

On Saturday we were on the road to Grassy Park to face Crusaders who, after surviving the relegation drop due to a league format change, went 4-0 to start the season. However, their fortunes were soon to change and they started skidding down the log table and the Macaws were wary of the dangerous “wounded animal”.

Ex-Crusaders players Michael “Mikey #1” Scritten was given the ball to take on his old team. This would not only be a game against 9 opponents, but ALL the Crusaders supporters as well. They gave Scritten plenty of stick, but he handled it brilliantly and pitched 7 innings (2 hits, ER, 5BB’s, HBP and 4K’s) before he handed the ball to our Canadian pitcher Andy Orfanakos to close the game. Andy (2 inn, 2K’s) faced the minimum 6 hitters and closed like a true closer.

As we have become accustomed this season so far, our hitters kept their best for late in the game, scoring from 4^th to 8^th inning to take the game away from crusaders. Best hitters were Kieran Moore (2-4, RBi), Altino Elliot (1-2, SF, HBP, RBi) and Zubair Larney (2-3, HBP, 3xSB, 2 RBi’s).

Contrasting feelings with the Macaws continuing on their 5-game win streak while Crusaders plummeted to their 5^th straight loss.

Player of the game was Michael Scritten for his sterling pitching performance.

Sunday

On Sunday we took our first trip to Somerset West to face Helderberg Pirates in years. The wind was pumping, but it was still scorching hot. With the team on a nice 5-game win streak the belief in the team can be seen by all. This is a new team currently and starting to play a little to their potential.

The ball was given to Josh Rich to continue the streak, but he struggled to get going and we were forced to make a change early as Pirates were just connecting and finding all the gaps. Josh (1.2 inn, 6 hits, 6ER’s, BB, 3 HBP, K, WP) was replaced by Jayde “madmax” Thorne to”stop the bleeding” which he did perfectly. Thorne (7.1 inn, 10 hits, 2BB’s, IBB and 7K’s) only gave up 2 more runs for the rest of the game to keep the Macaws winning streak going.

Although the hitters were getting on base regularly, they just did not make it count and left 10 runners on base before eventually exploding for a big inning when some pinch hitting changes were made. The best hitters were Lance Gordon (3-3, BB, SB, RBi) and Michael Scritten (2-4, 2B, BB, 2RBi’s) with Marc “makes” Quickfall getting the big pinch bases-clearing triple that blew the game apart in the 8^th inning.

Two wins over the weekend gets the Macaws into third position on the log and continues the streak!

We also need to thank our behind-the-scenes-always-there scorer, Judi Beukes, for doing such a selfless job so brilliantly. Thanks Judi!