SPORT: Consistency is key for Pirates
Ready for the national team. . . (from left) Cassius Volk, Zack Crowther and Kevin Costigan.
A long-standing tradition of developing players for provincial rosters continues to be the benchmark of achievement and progress for the Helderberg Pirates Baseball Club as eight players from various junior and senior divisions were selected for the upcoming National Baseball Championships (NBC) and two team coaches.
In addition, towards the end of the season, the Pirates under-12 team performed best after winning the Plate League that season, while senior Daryn Chalmers was selected for the South African team and took part in the World Baseball Classic in Germany October last year.
“We are extremely proud of all of our players and coaches,” said club chairman Brett Leah. “It’s been a great season of cohesion, development and growth.”
Teams play under the umbrella of the Cape Town Baseball Federation, and according to Leah, the club has produced players who have competed in back-to-back national championships for well over 30 years. This despite the sport receiving much less interest in a community where cricket and rugby are dominant.
The juniors selected for the national teams include U-10 players William Hart and Luke Sprowson, and U-12 players Liam Armitage, Luke Peckham and Ryan van Niekerk.
The seniors selected are Zack Crowther (17), Cassius Vlok (24) and Kevin Costigan (21), and the two coaches are Ian Smith and Simon Grantham.
Costigan, who has been active as a junior for a number of years, will play in the U-23 squad. “It’s always a privilege to be selected. I look forward to playing against players from other provincial teams,” he said.
Crowther, a well-known pitcher and all-rounder, will represent the U-18 team. “I hope to put on my best performance at the tournament and hopefully make a lasting impression,” he joked.
Vlok, who was nominated for the B-Team A-Team, appreciates the rivalry between Western Province (WP) and Gauteng. “Traditionally, WP has the biggest rivalry with Gauteng, but our biggest focus will be to reach the finals. We want to make the pirates proud and be consistent.”
The national championships will take place over the Easter weekend in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Simon Grantham, U-12 manager, praised his team for their hard work this season and said they were competitive and had grown well together as a unit and as a family.
“We are proud of the boys and happy that they form provincial teams,” he said. “We support them all along the line.”
According to Leah, baseball was “an easy sell” to the community because they have great coaches and always strive for participation.
Coach Ian Smith also appealed to the community to support the club in the upcoming tournaments, since transport and other costs would otherwise be borne by the players.
- To get in touch with the Helderberg Pirates Baseball Club, follow them on Facebook, email [email protected] or contact club secretary Ian Smith on 082 376 3268.
The juniors and coaches selected for the national teams. Front (from left): Luke Peckham, William Hart, Luke Sprowson and Ryan van Niekerk. Absent: Liam Armitage. Back row (from left): Coaches Simon Grantham and Ian Smith. Photos: Yaseen Gaffa