Softball – Redemption vs Khayelitsha 11-12

Saturday 3 November.
Super League: No game, fixtures affected by national commitments.

Second League: VOB 12, Khayelitsha Super Stars 11;

Why we played these opponents for the second time in only our fifth match is an anomaly, but we were happy to reverse the previous result. A boisterous crowd of spectators raised the atmosphere and made the victory that much more fun.

With our regular pitchers unavailable, it was Deirdre (Bernie), to the rescue after more than a decade out of the game. She started the pitching only to find the backstop an easier target than the strike zone. Then redeemed herself when moved to centre field and eventually became an instant celebrity in the final frame when she hit safely and advanced with confidence to score the winning run; converting her earlier vociferous critics on the sidelines to supporters.

Jamie (Bokkie) took to the rubber after the second batter with some temerity yet never lost heart for her first win in the second league. She was well supported by her field in a crucial first innings, noteworthy for a bullet throw from left fielder Jodi (Magnum) to catcher Shaunal (Haggis) who made a brilliant tag for the out at home.

We hammered in six runs in our first batting turn, Sian (Sheena) going deep. That should have been just the start of a landslide, but after that we stuttered away at the plate until Bokkie’s long drive in the penultimate frame cleared the bases allowing her to be ambitiously stranded for the comedy act of the day.

Batman (Farah) and Nightingale (Gadija) were their usual competent selves while JohnFred (Iman) and Manisha (Lollipop) also did their bit to make for a fine win.

Juniors: VOB 0, Lavender Hill 12;

As the second strongest team in the league, we were expected to run the powerful Lavender Hill team close. Instead we threw in the towel from the start, our best players looking out of their depth.
It was left to the lesser lights to show some fight, Lisa twice drawing walks and stealing second, Zahra not backing off and swinging the bat with intent. Nawaar was the only batter to hit safely.

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Softball Update

Super League: VOB 5, Tantasport 9

After a dismal pre-season, we would have been satisfied to just put a team on the field, but we put in a solid, committed performance. And had it not been for two mistakes (not judgement related) by the relatively inexperienced umpires we might have ended up as victors.

Meghan pitched fairly well to Tracey, who did not look like someone who had hardly caught in a decade. The left side of our field failed to cope with difficult visual condition, the sun being low and bright, but we coped well with balls hit to the right.

Our offense was a bit patchy yet potent at times; failure to string hits together at the end hurt us. Mercedes, Tracey, and Carmenita all came up with key hits, keeping us constantly in the game.

Second League: VOB 2, Khayelitsha Super Stars 11;
6 players at seven on Saturday morning became a possible 10 at one, slipped to 7 at two, finally settled at 9 at ten past two, 7 of then juniors. And we started off playing that way, lethargically and (simple) error-prone.

When we woke up it was too late, though a last-inning rally could had radically reduced the deficit were it not for a base-running mistake. Manisha, Hannah and Zoe each had two hits.

Thanks to Chiamaka, Michelene, Nawaar, and Zahra to come to the game without any pre-season preparation.

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