OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 11.20am.
AN excellent performance from lead off-pitcher Tim Harrell helped South Africa to a 5-1 win over Guam in Randburg, bringing them closer to their Olympic dream.
The game was the first in a best of five series between the two countries, with the winners going on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Both teams started the game rather nervously, with good pitching from Harrell and Guam’s Kin Fernandez keeping the batters in check.
No runs were scored by either team in the first innings, the tension mounting among the players and a good crowd of just under 2000 for this important game.
South Africa made the breakthrough in the bottom of the sixth innings, with Errol Davis walloping a big three-bagger.
Ian Holness then stepped up and smacked the ball to left-field, making it to third base, but more importantly allowing Davis to make it home for the first run.
Jason Cook then skied a big hit centre-field, where he was caught. But Holness waited for the play to be completed and was still quick enough to make it home for the second run.
Guam continued making little headway against Harrell, with South Africa instead making the game safe in the eighth innings by running in three more runs for a virtually unassailable 5-0 lead.
Guam came in to bat in the ninth innings, knowing the odds were stacked heavily against them.
But Joseph Tuquero at least scored a consolation for them and denied Harrell his shut-out to make the score 5-1.
South African coach Ramond Tew replaced Harrell with Glenn Morris at that point, Harrell leaving the field to warm applauds for his match-winning effort.
Morris needed just three balls to strike out Dale Alvarez and put the seal on a good win for the South Africans.
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