Ottery's Thistle proves competitive force in final stretch of baseball season

With three games remaining in this season’s Cape Town Baseball Federation Premier Division, Thistle can hold their heads high with how the campaign has unfolded.

After 18 rounds of fixtures, the Ottery-based side has registered seven wins, the same tally as Athlone A’s, one of the teams that has consistently challenged near the top end of the table.

The Major Division has been dominated for several seasons by Bothasig and Bellville, who have largely held a firm grip on the upper reaches of the log.

However, this season has seen a shift in that balance, with Durbanville breaking the long-standing stronghold and currently enjoying life at the summit after winning 15 of their 18 games.

On paper, Thistle may be viewed as a minor outfit when compared to the league’s traditional heavyweights, but their performances this season suggest they are more than capable of competing with the established sides.

Their results over the past weekend further highlighted that point.

During a double-header weekend, Thistle finished with a 1–1 record after facing Grassy Park and Bothasig.

On Saturday, away to their neighbours, Grassy Park, Thistle produced one of their most complete performances of the season, cruising to a convincing 17–3 victory.

That result also ensured Grassy Park remained rooted at the bottom of the eight-team log, having managed just two wins so far this campaign.

The following day, Thistle faced a far sterner test when they hosted league giants Bothasig. Despite their best efforts, the home side could not contain the visitors’ firepower and eventually went down 19–7.

With three rounds still to play, Thistle can take encouragement from the fact that they will avoid finishing in the bottom two positions, having opened up a healthy gap over their nearest challengers.

Those sides are neighbours Grassy Park and Battswood, who remain locked in a battle near the foot of the table.

Grassy Park edged Battswood 6–5 on Sunday to secure their second win of the season, while Battswood were also heavily beaten 19–1 by log leaders Durbanville a day earlier.

Thistle still has fixtures against Bellville, Battswood, and Durbanville and will be aiming to claim at least one more victory to round off an encouraging season on a positive note.