The VOB Macaws pulled off a big upset of the weekend at the Cape Town Baseball Federation (CTBF) games, edging out the Bellville Tygers 6-5 in a thrilling match at home on Saturday. This victory marked the Macaws’ fifth win in their seven games, taking them to second place on the league standings.
They trail the undefeated Bothasig Knights who remain perfect after seven games.
The Tygers on the other hand suffered their second loss in seven games, shaking up expectations as Bothasig and Bellville have long been seen as the dominant forces in the league.
However, this weekend’s results suggest that the competition is heating up with other teams starting to show they are worthy challengers, VOB being proof of that this season and Athlone A’s showed the same signs a season ago.
It was a bittersweet weekend for VOB though as they were unable to complete a perfect run. On Sunday they narrowly lost to the Athlone A’s, going down 3-2 in a tightly contested match in Bridgetown.
Despite the 1-1 split, the Macaws’ performance is proving that they aren’t just here to make up the numbers.
Their form suggests they’re aiming for more than just a mid-table finish, with eyes firmly set on the league summit.
For Athlone, it was a perfect weekend. The A’s started with an impressive 17-2 demolition of Maitland Giants on Saturday before edging out VOB on Sunday to complete a two-for-two weekend.
With three wins now under their belt, Athlone are quietly moving up the standings, with a lot of momentum heading into the next round of the season.
Meanwhile, Grassy Park Crusaders secured a much-needed win against league newcomers Thirstles, edging them 6-5 at home on Saturday.
It was the Crusaders’ first win in six games, but they remain at the bottom of the table. Their joy was short-lived, as they were soundly beaten by the Knights 16-1 on Sunday in Bothasig. With just one win from seven games, Crusaders remain at the foot of the table, tied with the Giants, who also have one win.
The upcoming clash between Grassy Park and Maitland Giants next weekend could be crucial, as both sides fight to avoid their current league position in the first round of the season.
The winner will jump out of bottom place and could gain a massive confidence boost going into the second round.
Despite losses, Thirstles continues to be one of the surprises of the season.
The newcomers have proven to be a formidable side with enough firepower to surprise their opponents.
They’ve already secured two wins this season, including a memorable victory over Athlone and a win over the Giants, and have been competitive in their four losses
