11 Jun 2017

Botswana softball national team dominated South Africa in international friendly games played at the National Diamond on June 10.

In the first game Botswana trounced South Africa 9-0, but in the afternoon South Africa redeemed their pride by winning 2-1 in a mouth-watering clash.

However, South Africa managed to break the ice in the fourth inning through Thapusi Mogau after hitting a home run.

Botswana registered their solo run in the fifth inning through Gatalamotho’s Brian Dekoker.

In the third game, Botswana came with guns blazing under flood lights as they taught their opponents some softball techniques.

The game was decided by the run ahead rule after Botswana recorded seven runs with South Africa failing to record a single run.

The rule states that the game can be called early if one team had enough runs ahead of the other team.

The friendly games were used as preparation for the upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) men’s World Softball Championship which will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, from July 7.

Twenty countries from different continents will compete at the championships and Africa will be represented by Botswana and South Africa.

The team’s head coach, Pako Maforaga said he was happy with the results given that the whole idea of the friendly games was to gauge their preparedness ahead of the championships.

“We just wanted to gauge how ready we are for the World Series, and not necessarily to get results. We were trying different combinations and different batting orders to check the player’s mental strength,” he said.

The coach said the three games gave him a rough idea of the players he had in camp, adding that expectations were that they would continue to prepare for the competition using local clubs as opponents.

Furthermore, he said they would play against South Africa again in Attridgeville for a return match on June 24.

“So South Africa is the only international game that we are going to have, other than that we are going to play locally assembled players. I know the preparations are not enough but given the time that we have, I don’t think we will be able to find an international friendly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana ranked 19 in the world, is in the same group with Great Britain, Japan, Denmark, Indonesia, Turkey, Venezuela, Czech Republic, and New Zealand.

The opening game of the competitions has pitted Botswana against Great Britain who are on position 10 in the rankings on July 7.

The following day Botswana will take on Japan who are ranked two.  On July 9 the local lads with face Denmark who are at position 13.

On July 10, they will take on Indonesia in the morning and in the afternoon they play against Turkey.

On July 12, Botswana will face Venezuela and the following day spectators will be treated to a mother of all battles as Botswana takes on stubborn New Zealand who are ranked position one in the world. ENDS