Friends and champions reunite at South African Masters Baseball Championship 2022 in Kwazulu-Natal.

The South African Masters Baseball Championship 2022 regathered in Kwazulu-Natal after nearly three years with old friends and rivals back in action

As expected, the event again delivered much excitement and social spirit and saw old rivals back in action with participants from Kwazulu-Natal, Easterns, Mandela Bay, Cape Town, and South Western Gauteng taking to the field.

Hosted by the KZN Baseball Federation day one opened in Amanzimtoti with CTBF up against SWG2 in the Challenge Masters while the CTBF Vets were up against Easterns and the Gauteng Vets got started against the KZN Vets with the hosts KZN winning 18-8.

Easterns were eventually crowned as the 2022 SAMBA Challenge Masters winners with CTBF as runners-up. Best pitcher in the Challenge Masters was awarded to Carl Michaels, Best Batter went to Easterns’ Gareth Hennesy (833) and MVP Jacques Groenewald.

After three days home ground advantage was not enough to stop the CTBF Vets who were ultimately crowned as the 2022 SAMBA Veterans Champions by beating KZN 14-2 in the final. Jonathan Trevor took the award for Vets best pitcher, Morne de Bruyn best batter (1000), and MVP went to Morne de Bruyn.

Kwazulu-Natal were victorious in the Elite section with Mandela Bay in second place and Easterns Mark Pressly gaining the accolade for best pitcher, while Deon Beukes took the awards for best batter ( 778) and KZN’s Clinton Jenkins the Elite MVP.

The SA Masters Baseball Championship annually sees old friends and rivals compete in the Elite Masters, Challenge Masters, and Veterans with districts and teams from across South Africa.

Many of the participants have been servants of the game for several years and this year saw a special long-standing service recognition award go to South African Baseball stalwart umpire Grant Rabie.

Grant Rabie – Long Standing Award
Cape Town Baseball Federation – Winners Vets Challenge
South Western Gauteng – Veterans
Mandela Bay and South Western Gauteng Challenge
SWG Masters CJB Team

To see more pictures from SAMBA 2022 click here.


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