Effective pitching and awesome hitting set up a 7-3 win for Westridge Yankees against VOB Macaws at the Stephen Reagan sports ground on Saturday in the Western Province Baseball Association’s major league.
Luwayne du Plessis pitched nine innings, including five hits, seven walks and four strikeouts. His efforts were complimented by hitting by Kyle Ripepi (4/5) and Kyle Titus (2/3).
VOB’s efforts were thwarted from the first inning when the Yankees retired them with a triple play with runners on first and second base.
VOB were kept scoreless by Du Plessis for the first five innings.
They thought their fortunes were changing in the sixth inning when they scored their first run, only for Du Plessis to come back strong in the seventh inning. They only scored additional runs in the eight and ninth innings. VOB started with new recruit Jayde Thorne on the mound.
The Yankees managed five runs in four innings. Thorne pitched for seven innings and saw nine hits, five runs, three walks and four strikeouts.
He was replaced by Paul Bell who conceded a further two runs in the eighth inning. VOB registered a double play in the sixth inning. Paul Bell (2/4) was VOB’s best hitter.
On Sunday VOB turned the tables and recorded their first win of the season with a 9-8 home victory against Van der Stel.
After not scoring a run in their first two games, Athlone A’s should be reasonably satisfied with narrowly losing 4-3 to Bellville in Bellville and squeezing past Westridge Yankees 4-2 on Sunday at home at Vangate sports complex.
Good pitching by Dean Jacobs (seven innings) and Cameron Fortuin (one inning) set up ever-present Carl Michaels with a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning.
Bellville, however, scored two runs in the ninth inning to snatch victory.
A’s redeemed themselves on Sunday to record their first victory of the season.
Grassy Park Crusaders, Bellville Tygers and Bothasig Knights maintained their unbeaten run.
Crusaders beat Van der Stel 15-13 on Saturday and Helderberg Pirates 11-1 on Sunday.
Knights beat Durbanville 27-8 on Saturday and Maitland Giants 4-1 on Sunday.
Bellville beat Durbanville 14-3 on Sunday.
The promotion league saw Milnerton Mavericks beat Devonshire Rovers 19-0. Battswood beat Bothasig Thirds 18-7.
