Eagles makes return to Major League
South African baseball outfielder Nick Eagles has made his return to the Cape Town Baseball Federation’s Major League after three months out with an ankle injury.
Eagles, from Plattekloof, is a member of the Bothasig Knights Baseball Club.
“My favourite highlight with my team and my club has to be winning the league for the sixth time at the end of the 2023/2024 season. Not only was it one of, if not, the best individual seasons for me but it was the second time that we went unbeaten as a team to win the league,” said Eagles.
His well-timed return helped the Knights win by 17-0 against Thistles Baseball Club, on Saturday, December 6.
In his absence, the reigning Major League champs won against the Bellville Tygers, Grassy Park Crusaders and the Durbanville Villains. They lost twice to log leaders VOB Macaw and third-placed Athlone Athletics Baseball Club. It was their second loss in two seasons.
Eagles said their dominant win over Thistles this past weekend showcased their hunger to reach the top of the log again.
Not too worried about the past months results, Eagles was more interested in the opportunity given to younger players in the squad.
“For a long time we have been able to maintain a good balance of youth and experience in the team. I was fortunate to get a call up to the first team at a relatively young age and I was able to learn a lot from the more experienced players, a trend that is still happening with the younger players today. We are fortunate to have seven players that have represented South Africa at the senior level, which is a huge benefit for our younger player’s growth,” he said.
For a very long time, Eagles dreamed of representing the country and when he received the call-up seven years ago, the national outfielder grabbed it with both hands.
“The most important thing for a young player coming through is to be coachable. Being willing to keep an open mind and allow themselves to be guided and taught at any given time will only help them grow as players and individuals. There is always going to be an opportunity to learn something and get better every day. The only way to stay ahead is to improve every single day - if you remain stagnant, others will surpass you,” he said.
Eagles said the success of his recovery and his performance on the field is a result of the support he’s received from his teammates, family and friends.
“I have an extremely sporting family, and I’ve always had a lot of support and encouragement to do the things I enjoy. My dad got me into playing baseball at a very young age, as it was something he and my grandfather played and I’m happy to be continuing that legacy,” he said.
“In terms of my playing style, a lot of that comes from watching some of my favourite players as well as the confidence I have in myself to perform on the field,” he said.
In other Major League results, Durbanville Villains clinched a 10-9 victory over Maitland Giants. Athlone A’s won 6-5 against the Bellville Tygers. VOB Macaw won 19-3 against Grassy Park Crusaders.
In the second league, Bellville Tygers won 25-1 against Thistles. VOB Macaw beat the Knights 4-1. Athlone A’s won 5-3 against Durbanville Villains. Battswood won 5-4 against Helderberg Pirates. Silvertree Titans won 15-8 against Lansdowne Eagles.
Knights will play fifth-placed Durbanville in a thriller at Bothasig on Saturday afternoon.
