Rail Giants put firm foot forward in softball league
Koketso Kgoboge | Thursday February 9, 2017 11:19
Dominant Giants wrapped up the northern zone league on top of the log standings with both the men and women’s teams. The women’s Giants are eight points clear of Scramblers and have secured a berth in the women’s top 10.
The men’s team attained maximum points after nine games with second placed Orapa Carats eight points adrift on 10 after six games and with three games in hand. Carats can only finish on 16 points if they get maximum points in their last games.
Giants took advantage in their backyard to beat Raptures 4-0, Carats 7-4 and Sua Raiders 5-1. Their women’s side matched their men’s radiant performance with a 17-0 romp against Raptures, before sweeping Carats 15-0 and wrapping up with a 4-1 and 8-3 against Rebels and Sua Raiders respectively.
Giants’ men’s coach, Batsile Mokenti said their performance in the first round was just a tip of the iceberg. He said they have secured a training ground in Gaborone where most of their players are based and that has improved the team’s performance. Mokenti said they are now focused on a clean sweep this season.
“We will ride through the top 12 just as we did in the northern zone league,” he said. “I have built a strong squad and I am confident that this time around we will get it right. The difference has always been getting all our players training together. (Now) We have resolved that and it is paying dividends.
“We have reached the championship on many occasions and it seems we were just making numbers. We can’t be the same team year in and year out. Our dream has always been to be champions and we are going to live our dream this season. Our focus is on displacing BDF IX and Wells.” Meanwhile, four places are still up for grabs in the men’s league with Orapa Carats, Phikwe Comets, Ghetto Yankees, Scramblers and Rebels all in with a chance. Three places are still vacant in the women’s league with Scramblers, Carats and Yankees the probable candidates.
The battle lines will be drawn when the teams meet in Francistown on February 19 and 20 and in Serowe on February 28.