MARK WARD
Costly errors put paid to the Crusaders picking up much needed points in their Major League baseball match against Athlone Athletics at the Grassy Park sports ground on Saturday.
With the scores locked on 4-4 in the top of the eight innings, Crusaders allowed Casley Ripepi to cross home plate on an error and Lance Gordon, who reached base on a single down the outfield, to scramble home on a passball.
The match was up to that stage pretty evenly poised with the homes getting two on base in the night innings before Athlone’s pitcher Niaaz Gelant struck.
Gelant faced 16 batters, allowed one hit, gave up three walks.
Jason Ripepi started off on the mound for the visitors, struckout four of the 27 batters he faced and allowed four walks.
Ashwin Kleintjies 1/5, Chad Beukes, 2/2, Warren Adams 1/ 4 and Aqeel Joseph 1/3 were Crusaders best batters.
Lucian Swartz and Kleintjies shared the pitching duties for Crusaders.
Meanwhile, with the season heading for the home straight, Bothasig Knights sport a 100 percent record at the top on 30 points from 15 games while VOB has moved into second spot on 22 points. While Bellville Tygers has the same record as VOB, the latter has a better points difference.
Results: Bellville Tygers 2, VOB 5; Durbanville 11, Thistle 12; Crusaders 4, Athlone Athletics 6; Helderberg Pirates 3, Bothasig 13.
