VOB and Athlone in final stretch showdown

Buntu Gotywa|Published 1 month ago

A’s catcher Lance Gordon watches on as Jamie Brookes goes for a swing.

In an exciting Cape Town Baseball Federation game played at Chukker Road over the weekend, VOB Macaws got the better of Athlone A's with a 7-2 victory.

The win takes them to second place on the log, with 11 victories this season.

This crucial win came as the teams entered the final stretch of the 2024/25 season with just seven matches remaining before the curtain falls.

A's Runner Taariq Adams makes it to first base as Liam Willemburg goes for the ball.

Heading into this highly important fixture, both VOB and Athlone were tied with 10 wins apiece.

However, VOB pulled ahead and secured the win in a contest that has significant implications for the standings. The team’s impressive performance solidified their position, especially considering the dominant presence of Bothasig Knights and Bellville Tygers, who have long been expected to dominate the top spots.

Lance Gordon of Athlone A's looks up for the ball as Jared Riffel dives for a run.

VOB's rise to second place is particularly noteworthy, given that Bothasig and Bellville have been the two dominant forces in Cape Town baseball for years.

But this season both VOB and Athlone have made it clear that they’re ready to make a major impact on the title race.

Athlone, with their impressive streak are not far behind, making this an exciting race at the top of the table.

As things stand, Bothasig remain in first place with 12 wins, but with just a few games remaining, VOB and Athlone are hot on their heels.

VOB pitcher Josh November takes a huge swing.

The upcoming match-ups are crucial and with week 15 featuring a thrilling encounter between VOB and Bothasig at the latter’s home turf, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

A victory for VOB in that game could turn the title race on its head and give the Macaws a huge confidence boost heading into the final weeks.

Taking care of pitching duties for Athlone A’s is Jayson Ripepi.

The weekend also saw Bothasig Knights get the win against Grassy Park Crusaders 24-0, while Thistle secured their fourth win of the season with a tight 6-5 victory over Durbanville. Bellville, always a force to be reckoned with, were in fine form, brushing aside Maitland Giants with a dominant 10-0 win.

Vob runner Kevin Costigan tries to steal a base but Dean Groenewald is aware of it as VOB coach Kevin Johnson watches on.

VOB suffered a setback against Bellville at the close of 2024.

This win over Athlone was particularly sweet as before losing to Bellville they were on a five-game winning streak, which included a huge win against Bothasig. Likewise, Athlone’s five-game win streak, which included impressive wins against Bothasig and Bellville, was snapped in this loss to VOB, but they’ll be determined to bounce back.

Looking ahead, Athlone is expected to rebound against Durbanville Villains in their upcoming match, but as always, baseball is decided on the mound and nothing is certain.