Baseball and softball players bury the hatchet

Moyahabo Mabeba

LIMPOPO – The battle for supremacy on the provincial sporting landscape that almost tore baseball and softball asunder has been suppressed after both parties recently decided to work together.

Earlier tension between two sporting codes

Tensions have been simmering between the Limpopo Softball Association’s (LSA) head honchos and Thabang Contact Number Letsoalo, baseball’s pioneer in the province.

When baseball started entrenching itself here up north, softball loyalists started to badmouth Letsoalo, whom they branded a traitor who wanted to wipe out softball in its traditional home base.

At an earlier stage, president of the LSA, Derrick Mahapa remarked that: “We cannot be threatened by baseball. Limpopo is the home of softball and the sport will continue to enjoy massive support from its loyal fans”.

However, Letsoalo insists that his intentions are noble; having seen that softball’s attractiveness in the province was waning.

Letsoalo’s longevity during his heyday in softball saw him representing the province at Softball South Africa’s National Championship, representing the country in international tournaments and also featured regularly for the South African Students Sports Union during his academic years.

Before introducing baseball, Letsoalo played for big-name softball teams in the province, including Mokomene Guillotines, Mahwelereng Spikes (multiple champions) and Seshego Raiders before establishing Mankweng Pioneers, a team he has just converted into a baseball-softball unit.

While softball has no activities in the province, the majority of its players have now crossed the floor and are playing league games fortnightly. Although baseball activities are deeply entrenched in the Capricorn district, Letsoalo reckons the traditional American ball game is growing rapidly.

“Baseball here is spreading like wildfire. We already have teams in areas where softball and baseball were never heard of. We are making significant strides, especially since we introduced the sport at school level.”

Baseball’s rapid growth in Limpopo can be attributed to its healthy relationship with South African Baseball Union and America’s Major League Baseball who often conduct coaching clinics.

Coalition between sporting codes

For the sake of healthy sportsmanship and collaboration, Letsoalo says: “Since the athletes who are currently playing baseball are originally softballers, it will be better to forge a coalition in which both sporting codes can be run by a single federation.

“After all, we are using the same playing fields and in some instances, the same equipment. We can even seek funding together since we are both struggling financially. However, we will have different representation at the provincial sports council as the constitution dictates that each sporting code should be autonomous from the other”.