A battle on the diamonds

AFTER they started their Limpopo Softball Association (LSA) Super League campaign with passion, Moletlane Texas will go into battle against Mahwelereng Spikes at the Mahwelereng diamonds on Sunday.

Texas goes into this weekend’s fixture at the back of victories over Lebowakgomo Wild Beasts and Mamaolo Rebels, whom they beat 9-3 and 11-4 respectively.

Since the day the first ball was pitched, the game’s legion of devotees have been remarking on Texas, the reigning kings.

The star-studded side from the citrus neighbourhood of Zebediela remains the team to beat and are their opponent’s nightmare.

Benny Boshomane, connoisseur of the game, reckons Texas will give their counterparts a run for their money.

“Texas are a formidable outfit and every team they will be trading bats with, will have to pull all the stops to beat them. They are a well organised unit led by an experienced coaching staff,” says Boshomane.

Coach Mamphiri “Backstage” Sethosa has revolutionised the team into a competitive squad.

Sethosa is a decorated graduate of both home club and provincial ball games, and remains the club’s brain trust, continuously building a team that embraces generational mix of novelty acts and veterans.

The coaching staff at Texas is complete with the “Three Musketeers” of Sethosa as head coach, aided by Thapelo Sekhoka and Nakedi Mohlake.

Seshoka and Mohlake have long being the club’s catalysts in every facet of the teamwork, steadfastly enriching the team’s silverware cabinet over the years.

While Mohlake has led the team from the pitcher’s mound with perplexing deliveries, Seshoka has marshalled the troops at the heart of the field, performing the whole gamut of tricks – from brilliant catchers to double-play exploits.

Sethosa meanwhile, has brought fresh talent into the team, pinning his faith on Mohau Thupudi at the demanding responsibility of manning the second base, just next to veteran shot-stopper, Seshoka.

As national u/19 and provincial coach, Sethosa tactfully assembled an outfield set-up that features Tebogo Maphetho and Thabang Kekana at centre and left field.

The team’s pinup boy, Tidima Kekana is significantly indispensible to both the fielding and the batting line-ups.

Texas still have bragging rights on the domestic softball landscape, having won the Wild Beasts Memorial Games and the Mahwelereng Spikes Memorial Tournament recently.