Westridge Yankees claim CTSA ladies softball titles in two divisions
The Westridge Yankees have clinched the championship titles in both the Ladies Major League and First Division of the Cape Town Softball Association.
Westridge Yankees downed Lavender Hill 5-1 to win the Ladies Major League championship last weekend.
Coach Nazeem Dulvie and Jade Morkel said their team put up an outstanding performance, during a gripping contest, that could have gone either way.
Both of the team’s pitchers delivered well, restricting batters to minimal hits until the very end.
Morkel said the win is a huge achievement for the community of Westridge.
“To go back as league champions is a huge achievement. To see the hard work produced in training executed on the field is truly commendable. It’s a moment to be proud of for the community of Westridge and this showed in the support we got from them and we are so grateful for that,” said Morkel.
Westridge Yankees’ First Division team, coached by Rhonda Minnies and Jo-anne Fritz, were also crowned league champions after a 19-2 victory over Lavender Hill’s second team last week.
Westridge Yankees’ Third Division team, coached by Lisa Dyers, gained promotion into the second division after a top two finish in their league.
This past weekend, the team continued where they left off, putting up an impressive 29 runs in two matches and only conceding one for the entire weekend.
Yankees beat Falcons 14-1 in the Grand Challenge Knockouts on Saturday. On Sunday, they beat Kenfac Phillies 15-0 in the Knockout.
Yankees pitcher, Amy Minnies had a standout performance after she threw a no-hitter in the match against Falcons on Sunday.
Coach Dulvie said the Grand Challenge is split into two streams; stream A and stream B.
Yankees’ first team is competing in stream A alongside the top four teams of the Major League.
Stream B is made up by the bottom three teams, since there are seven teams in the Major League.
The newly promoted Yankees’ second team, will join stream B, to make it four teams.
On Saturday, February 22, Yankees first team will play against Tantasport in the Grand Challenge. Next weekend, they will play against Lavender Hill.
The Knockout semi-finals will be on March 2, with the final scheduled for March 16.
“We have to keep the flag high. We are very happy and excited for the future,” said Dulvie.
With the treble on the line, coach Morkel said there’s a rhythm, there’s a good aura in the team, but staying humble and taking it one game at a time while always giving 110% is key.
“We as the First team coaches and manager back these girls 100%. Continue to believe in yourself and each other and the results will follow. We have the depth of experience and brilliance to go all the way to clinch a treble this season,” said Morkel.