Country South Africa Appearances 1 (First in 2000) Location South Africa | Appearances 3 (First in 2006) Best result 8th | |
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Confederation African Baseball &Softball Association Best result 16th (2 times, most recent in 2009) | ||
The South African national baseball team is a baseball team which represents the Republic of South Africa in international baseball competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and formerly the Summer Olympics.
Contents
2006
South Africa's inclusion in the WBC was considered rather surprising by many observers. South Africa has never sent a player to Major League Baseball, indeed, the highest a South African player has ever gotten in the minor leagues has been Triple-A (Mark Miller, a catcher in the Cincinnati Reds organisation who reached AAA with the Indianapolis Indians in 1980).
In the team's first game, South Africa nearly pulled off an upset of Canada, a team consisting of mostly Major League Baseball players. South Africa took an 8–7 lead into the ninth inning before falling 11–8. This would be as close as the team would get to winning a game. The South Africans lost the next two games to Mexico 10–4, and to the United States in a mercy rule-shortened 17–0 rout.
2009
South Africa competed at the 2009 World Baseball Classic in Group B with Mexico, Cuba and Australia.
In game 1 South Africa were overpowered by international powerhouse Cuba, giving up 6 home runs in an 8–1 loss. The South African defence was a bright point in the match however, turning three double plays and 2 pickoffs.
In the group elimination match South Africa lost heavily to hosts Mexico 14–3. Although the South Africans kept it a one-run ball game heading into the 7th inning, the Mexican team pounced on the inexperienced bullpen pitchers that entered the game late on and scored 11 runs in the final three innings.
South Africa finished the 2009 WBC with an 0–2 record, with 4 runs scored and 22 conceded.
2012 Qualifier
Four qualifying tournaments were scheduled in 2012 for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, with one team advancing from each to join the 12 squads that had qualified previously by winning at least one game in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Each of the pools included one team with previous experience in the WBC, but which failed to win a single game during the 2009 tournament. South Africa was placed in Qualifier 1 with Spain, France and Israel at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
South Africa lost the first game of this double-elimination tournament to dark horse Israel, 7–3. They moved into the loser's bracket where they eliminated France, 5–2 in 11 innings, after Paul Bell hit a 2-run double into left field in the top of the 11th. In the loser's bracket final, South Africa fell to eventual WBC qualifier Spain, 13–3, and was eliminated from the tournament. Minnesota Twins prospect, Hein Robb pitched 5.1 innings in 2 relief appearances, giving up 0 runs while striking out 4 batters during the qualifying tournament.
Olympic Games
The national team appeared in their first and only Olympic tournament in 2000. The team finished with a record of 1–6 with their only win against the Netherlands.
The win against the Netherlands was thanks largely to two key players:
South Africa gained entry into the tournament by beating Guam 3–0 in a Best-Of-Five Africa/Oceania playoff series.
All-Africa Games
South Africa was the host of the All-Africa Games in 1999. South Africa won the gold medal with ease, by defeating all of the other national teams. In order of the wins South Africa won against Lesotho (43–0) with Ian Holness hitting 4 home runs and 14 RBIs, Zimbabwe (37–2), Nigeria (19–1), Uganda (31–0) and Ghana (28–3). South Africa was again the dominant power in the 2003 Games held in Abuja, cruising to the final where they beat Nigeria 15–0 to win Gold.
World Baseball Classic Qualifier 2012 South Africa Team Roster
2000 Summer Olympics
Players that have represented South Africa.