Angeles beat ub giants as softball league reach half-way mark

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Monday January 24, 2011 00:00

 

In the first game on Saturday, Blue Angeles walloped UB Giants 10-4 at the National Diamond. The game started well with both teams showing urgency. But it was the Thebephatshwa army-based Angeles that registered three runs in the first inning. The two teams were equal in strength but experience saved Angeles when the going got tough. Giants who did not show any respect to their fancied opponents in the initial stages lost it in the last three innings when they committed silly mistakes.

Angeles are still sixth in the log with 12 points after nine games. Angeles player coach, Goga Daman said that though his team won, they did not play well. He said the batting and pitching was not up to scratch may be because this was their first game after the Christmas break. He said that preparations for the game were interrupted by work commitments. He asserted that their aim is to finish in the top four and play in the top eight tournament and winning the title will be a bonus. He lamented that poor communication by the league committee resulted in  his team forfeiting points in two games.

UB Giants' coach, Titeo Mangope said they started the game well only to falter in the last three innings. Giants are currently 10th in the 11-team league with four points after playing nine games. Mangope said his team has not been doing well because most of the players do not have the experience of playing in the league. However, he was impressed about how his charges followed instructions in the game. He decried indiscipline in the league. He regretted that almost all games did not start in time because umpires and teams arrived late. Mangope blamed team managers for not instilling discipline in players. He said the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) is doing well to try to help teams. The league committee secretary, Gloria Gaosikelwe said the competition went well though the last games were supposed to have been played in December. The games were moved to January because of poor weather. Gaosikelwe said the postponed games would not affect the second round, which start next weekend. The league is scheduled to end in April.