The young Macaws were back at Chukker Road to host Athlone A’s, their southern suburbs rivals, who have been strong this year so far.
This young team have become resilient and do not get affected if their better players are not available to play. They just move on and the next player tries to take their opportunity.

MIkhaeel “Mickey” de Bruin got the start this week and was opposed by A’s ace Uzair Taliep. Both pitchers struggled with pitch counts in the first inning with Mickey racking up 39 pitches while conceding 5 runs. That one inning was all he saw as Promise Khamula replaced him at the beginning of the second inning. For a second time in two games Promise struggled with his control and was replaced after three hitters by Josh November.

By this stage A’s had a healthy 6-1 lead, but this Macaws team knows that the game is never over unless they quit, which they do not. Steadily chipping away at the A’s lead while November kept A’s scoreless, the Macaws found themselves 7-5 down at the beginning of the last inning when Jaime Brookes replaces November. Jaime mowed down the A’s lineup facing three hitters, striking all out in 10 pitches.

Now it was up to the hitters to do their job! Fortunately the top order was up and A’s were down to their third pitcher by this stage. Leadoff Jermaine Mohamed got on with a walk followed by Josh November with a second walk. Two stolen bases put them in scoring position and Brookes then smashed one to the outfield scoring both and tying the game. Now it was Josh Smith’s turn to be a hero and duly responded scoring Brookes to walk it off in dramatic fashion against a disappointed A’s who saw this one slip away.

Best hitters were Jaime (3-3,BB,2B), Josh November (1-2, 2BB’s), Josh Smith (2-3, BB) and Promise (1-3).

Great character from the Macaws while having two players on the injured list (Nur Scelo and Jared Riffel) and then losing a third during the game to a school appointment (Mickey), but that just gave u12 player Caleb Bell an opportunity to play more than half the game.

We keep on rolling!