Stingers’ struggles at the foot of the BoFiNet Softball league continued this weekend as they were thrashed 18 ÔÇô 4 by Panthers in a lopsided match played at the National Diamond this past Sunday.
While Stingers had at one point shown glimpses of recovery, they were no match for title hopefuls Panthers as their fate was long decided in the first innings and brutally finished off in the fifth and last innings. Playing at the bottom of the innings as the home side, Stingers’ troubles were evident as early as the first innings as Panthers’ Tshepiso Mphapogang and Tiro Mazulungwa registered two quick runs, forcing Stingers to swap struggling pitcher Peolwane Tlotleng with Frank Mmereki.
The move however failed to stem the flow of runs as a further three quick runs from Kabo Moshashane, Oitsile Duna and Metlha Matsetse forced Stingers to make yet another change. This time, it was their struggling catcher Mompati Kgakgamatso who was replaced by Mopati Monnatau at the plate. Despite the changes, Stingers leaked two more runs to the duo of Aldrien Villander and Tebogo Raditwadi as Panthers finished the first inning with seven runs on the score.
Called on to bat, Stingers failed to register a single run, leaving them seven points off the pace. Despite Panthers failing to increase their run tally in the second innings, Stingers did not make it count as they also failed to score. Stingers however showed some signs of recovery in the third innings as they managed to register four runs of their own. With Panthers having just made a single run courtesy of Thabang Bathusi to extend their lead to eight runs, Stingers responded in style, thanks to Floyd Ramogotsi, Mmereki, Katlego Ditaolana and Kaone Rangaka. It was however as good as it got for Stingers as Panthers scored a further two more runs in the fourth innings courtesy of Elliot Kgatlhanang and Duna, while Stingers failed to respond. If Stingers harbored any hopes of a comeback, they were ruthlessly decimated in the fifth innings as Panthers added eight more runs, which included two home runs by Duna and Lopang Bofelo to finish off the game. Stingers’ course was not helped by erratic fielding which led to Duna’s homerun while lack of communication, which saw their fielders colliding, led to Bofelo’s homerun. Called on to respond, Stingers failed yet again to register a run on the scorecard as their eleven games losing streak continued with an 18 ÔÇô 4 loss.
