ML vs Bothasig 0-17

Our home opener and the boys just never rocked up to play. From the very first inning we gave away walks and made errors and it never stopped till the end of the game. Macaws started with lefty Damian Perkins hoping to have a few pitchers stretched out over the next few weeks and hopefully make Bothasig something different. However walks, errors and one or two hits cost us big time today.

We faced SA pitcher Jared Elario who has been preparing for months for the French series and it showed. He mowed down our hitters with pace and precision. When we did get on base we could not capitalize.

With a very young team we will have good games and bad ones. Today was one of the latter. Now for our young boys to show character and start all over again next week.

Kevin Mullins and young Luke Budler got their first taste of ML baseball with Mullins also getting his first ML hit. Budler was comfortable in the outfield and ended the day playing all three outfield positions between u18,MLR and ML today.

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Masters vs Battswood, 12-2.

It was a scorcher in Cape Town today as we took on out neighbours. Unfortunately some guys mistook the field for Athlone baths as there was lots of diving going on. Some guys took a dive into the ball, some guys took a dive next to the ball. And it soooo was not pretty. Hadley and Overs doing most of the diving looked like they saw perlamoen somewhere on that field.

Owen and Haliem looked really classy as a 72 year old struck them out with minimal effort. The man could hardly walk. Haliem may have moved one or two vertebrae as he swung into nowhere. Our pitching was great as Hadley and Glen shared the day. Our Newby Rafael Nadal started the game a little nervous but gave us quite a performance after the game which will long be remembered.

We are still having a problem with our leadoff spot as Kulpy got given the spot but struggled a bit as he hit someone the night before with his knee. Welcome back to all the guys who played their first game. Overall lots of laughter and a good afternoon in great company. Oh and Wayne still has a lam boud. 😂

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VOB U18 Win Season Opener At Bellville

VOB U18 Win Season Opener At Bellville at PP Smit Stadium, Bellville. 14 – 5 (W)

Eight hits from seven batters

(W 1 – L 0)

Saturday saw the first round of the U18 league at a windless and hot PP Smit Stadium. VOB U18 came up against Bellville U18 , second in the standings over the past two seasons, but currently in a rebuild phase.

A hit to the opposite side, extended by an error, saw leadoff Luke November on third. An infield error saw him score. Good contact then saw Luke Budler move around the diamond, and score on a fielder’s choice to the right of the diamond by Seth Beukes. Budler, in his first stint on the U18 mound, put the first two runners on with walks. A pop fly, and a base running error, saw Bellville two down, and the innings was finished with the first of 6 strikeouts by Budler. 2 – 0.

A two down walk at the top of the VOB U18 order, and a double by Budler, followed by double from lefty Keegan Hickley, saw Luke and Budler again scoring. Following an opening hit by pitch, Budler then steadied himself and delivered three bottom order K’s. 4 – 0.

2 walks, and a double by Shak Jattiem saw two runs scored and Bellville pull their experienced starting pitcher. A 2 – 0 count drive by Zinedine Rocks, a walk, and a double by Luke November saw Shak and Zinedine score. Two more walks then saw 9-hitter Alec Adonis walked in for the 5th run, and compulsory side away. A well taken fly to short stop, and two K’s bracketing a walk, saw Budler again wrap up the Bellville innings in short order. 9 – 0.

A hit by pitch, a walk, and a double from Seth Beukes, saw Jordyn Riffel score. Two more walks saw Josh Adonis cross the plate, and a second pitching change. An error then saw Seth score, and Jared Riffel, (U15) in for Luke at catcher, drove in Shak, Zinedine and Alec (with Alec’s run not counting due to the 5 run compulsory side down rule). Budler then gave way to Josh on the mound, who struggled with control. A walk turned into a run on a dropped fly. Two further walks turned in two runs on a well hit line drive down the third base line. Finally an out on a ground ball to the pitcher. Then the 5th run came in a well hit drive between third and short stop. This time we were saved by the 5 run compulsory side away – the first time since the last game of the 2016/17 season. 14 – 5.

Coach’s comment – good aggressive start with the bat. Good tight pitching from Luke Budler. Some mental errors. Some nerves. We will get better.

Batting: Luke November 2 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 2 rbi’s; Jared Riffel (U15) 1 -1(triple), 3 rbi’s; Keegan Hickley 1 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 4 rbi’s; Seth Beukes 1 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 2 rbi’s; Shakeel Jattiem 1 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 2 rbi’s; Luke Budler 1 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 1 rbi; Zinedine Rocks 1 – 2 (double), 1 bb, 1 rbi; Alec Adonis 0 – 2, 1 bb, 1 rbi.

Pitching: Luke Budler (W) 3 innings, 6 K, 0 hit, 3 bb, 0 runs, 0 earned; Josh Adonis 0.1 innings, 2 hits, 3 bb, 5 runs, 4 earned.

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VOB pull off the unlikely with a stunning win vs Bellville.

ML VOB vs Bellville 20-10-2018

Our opening game of 2018 was a road trip to PP Smit sports complex to face Bellville Tygers. Tygers have been a force over the last few seasons, but have not planned well for the future and I have seen the cracks started showing over the last two seasons. However, with the Macaws in their rebuild phase, Tygers would still be the favourites, especially at home.
Tygers had their SA pitcher, Kevin Townend, on the hill while the Macaws surprised by giving the ball, and his ML debut on the hill, to Jesse Johnson. Townend (3 IP, 3 hits, 2 BB’s, 2 K’s) and Johnson (3.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB, 2 K’s) had a good duel going for 2 innings before the Macaws exploded for 5 runs in the 3rd inning to rattle the Tygers.

Tygers replaced Townend with young Marcel Steyn, but he could not stop the bleeding and allowed a further 3 runs in the 4th inning before settling down. Steyn (3 IP, 3 hits, 4 BB’s, 3 K’s) was later replaced by Russel Olivier (3 IP, 6 hits, 2 K’s) who also gave up two runs in his stint on the hill.

The Macaws, meanwhile, looked to stay ahead and cause an upset. Johnson was replaced by newcomer, Damian Perkins, who happens to be the first lefty pitcher at VOB since Ruan Klink many years ago. Perkins (2.2 IP, 1 hit, 3K’s, 5 BB’s) managed to only give up 1 run, but was not as economical as he could have been. He did, however, manage to hold the lead before handing over to another newcomer, ex-KZN player Derrick Bayliss. Bayliss (3 IP, 5 hits, HBP, K) gave up 2 runs, but saw out the final 3 innings to give the Macaws a valuable opening Day win.

On the hitting front the Macaws surprised even more by outhitting a Tygers team ,that was minus a few players, 12-8. Bayliss had a dream debut going 3-3 (BB, SH, RBi) while Zubair Larney (2RBi’s), Jody Burch (RBi), Luke November (RBi) accounted for the runs scored in this game. As great as the result was VOB will have to be more clinical when runners are in run-scoring position as they left 13 on base.

A great result for VOB Macaws on Opening Day against perennial league winners or challengers Bellville Tygers. 

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