The Randburg Mets Rebels went down to the Mets Brew Jays in a Minor League baseball match at the Randburg Sports Complex on July 26.

Although the Rebels lost, players said the result did not tell the full story of their effort on the day. Many of the squad are playing baseball for the first time this year, and the team showed clear signs of improvement despite being a new and largely inexperienced side.

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Eddie Chen, one of the players, said the team started the match well, but let the opposition score some easy runs early on. He said there was still plenty to work on, but the squad was confident of getting better with more games under their belt.

Chen said baseball in South Africa was more competitive than many people realised, with several players in local leagues having represented Proteas sides or been selected for national teams. He added that the sport made for a great family outing, with many supporters bringing their children along to enjoy a Sunday morning or afternoon at the ballpark.

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Martin Otto, known to teammates as Cito, said the Rebels were beaten comfortably, but had put in a good performance for a team made up mostly of new players. He said the squad’s hitting and fielding were coming along nicely, and praised the atmosphere created by the fans who came out to support them.

Otto said it was pleasing to see the improvement in new players like himself, and he thanked the supporters who turned up to cheer the team on at the Randburg Sports Complex.

The Rebels will be looking to build on Sunday’s performance as the Minor League season continues.

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