{"id":270086,"date":"2025-10-22T08:30:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/?p=270086"},"modified":"2025-10-22T08:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:30:24","slug":"athlone-as-sink-helderberg-pirates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/athlone-as-sink-helderberg-pirates\/","title":{"rendered":"Athlone A’s sink Helderberg Pirates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Helderberg Pirates senior baseball team put up a spirited effort but ultimately suffered a 7-2 defeat against one of the leagues top contenders, the Athlone Athletics Baseball Club, at Radloff Park in Somerset West on Saturday 18 October.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game, played in good spirits, started off very well for Pirates. However, a series of what the team described as “a few basic errors” shifted the momentum and put them on the back foot early in the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The home team struggled to claw back the deficit throughout the innings, often finding ways onto the bases, but failing to convert those opportunities into runs. Several runners were left stranded on bases \u2013 a factor that, if converted, would have made the final scoreline significantly closer.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the loss, the Helderberg team took positives from the challenging outing \u2013 playing against a strong Athlone A’s side provided valuable insight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All in all, we did well against one of the top teams in the league,” a team spokesperson stated.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We have a good idea now of what we need to work on and will be focusing hard on these things for the upcoming games.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirates will now concentrate on refining their play as they look ahead to their next fixture, an away clash with Bellville Tygers on Saturday 25 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pirates’ Zack Crowther makes it safely to first base.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Devan Rolfe gets home for Pirates after some quick running between bases.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Justin Smith doing good work on first base for Pirates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Helderberg Pirate’s CJ Brand (in white) tags an Athlone player on home base.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Zack Crowther gets to second base safely for Pirates against Athlone A’s at Radloff Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Helderberg Pirates senior baseball team put up a spirited effort but ultimately suffered a 7-2 defeat against one of the leagues top contenders, the Athlone Athletics Baseball Club, at Radloff Park in Somerset West on Saturday 18 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