01 Feb 2015

A lapse in concentration from the Blue Angels in the dying minutes of the game cost them an arm and a leg as Panthers delivered an epic finish to snatch a 7-6 victory.

The January 31 encounter was one of the BOFINet softball league highlights at the National Diamond as both teams came guns blazing to prove the strongest man. Blue Angels were first to bat and delivered a solitary point in the first inning through Kgari Mogotsi.

Panthers’ Thato Matenge gave his team something to look forward to as he hit a homerun in the first inning. Tiro Mazulugwa followed suit and smacked the ball over the fence to deliver another homerun and sailed home Pako Samotsholo who was at third base.

The double homeruns prompted Blue Angels to switch pitchers and the damage control seemed to have worked well for them.

Blue Angels went on a dry spell in the second and third inning while Panthers registered a point in inning two courtesy of Thuto Seitshiro from an error throw by the pitcher as it crawled past second base. They scored again in the third inning after Oitsile Duna hammered the ball which saw Tiro Lopang dash home.

Blue Angels soldiered on despite the gap and came in to the fourth inning stronger than ever as Archie Kgosiyang scored through a pass ball followed by Neo Kgothi from a brilliant bunt by Bokhutlo Molekane.

Pressure was now pilling up on the Panthers side which saw them concede two runs from Mmoloki Maphane and Molekane to level the score line which prompted them to also make some changes as they brought in their veteran pitcher Tony Moyo. The fourth inning was nerve wrecking for Panthers as all the runners were eliminated before they could even step on second base.

Blue Angels’ Reetsang Mokgatlhe almost handed Panthers a heart attack in the fifth inning as he thumped a homerun which left the opponents stunned. The fifth inning was a do or die for Panthers knowing very well that they needed atleast a run for a tie but it didn’t look good for them as they went on two down with all bases full and looked desperate to deliver those runs.

A pass ball saved Panthers as Blue Angels catcher couldn’t see a ball that was just lying between his legs ensuing Mazulugwa to sprint to the home plate to level score.

During that same play, Blue Angels catcher seemed to have panicked and made an error throw to third base as the ball passed to the outfield to their dismay Lopang flying home to give Panthers an epic finish with a 7-6. In another encounter Vikings beat Panthers ladies 9-8 in a game that could have gone either way. ENDS