South Africa’s Women’s Baseball teams continued their campaign at the 2026 PONY International Women’s Baseball World Series in Shanghai with another exciting day of international competition, as the senior team recorded two impressive victories while the Under-23 side once again showed its determination and growing potential against quality opposition.
The senior women’s team opened the day with an emphatic 21-5 victory over Shenzhen. While the final score suggested a comfortable win, the contest was closely fought through the opening innings. Both sides were locked at 2-2 before the score moved to 4-4, with the home side matching the South Africans early on. It was only in the latter stages that South Africa’s bats came alive, producing an explosive offensive display to pull away and secure another convincing victory.
Riane Botha was handed the start on the mound and worked through the opening innings before Mia Cloete took over pitching duties. After settling into the game, Cloete delivered an outstanding performance from the circle, shutting down the Shenzhen batting line-up while South Africa’s offence continued to build momentum and put runs on the board.
The South African Under-23 women were next in action against Hong Kong in one of the most entertaining and closely contested games of the tournament so far. Hong Kong applied pressure from the outset behind a strong pitching performance and gradually built an advantage during the middle innings.
Despite trailing 7-4 late in the game, the South Africans refused to give in. The Under-23 side produced a spirited comeback with the bat to draw level and set up a thrilling finish. Hong Kong, however, managed to keep South Africa scoreless in the final inning before crossing for the winning run to edge the contest 9-8.
Although the result did not go South Africa’s way, the performance once again highlighted the determination, resilience and fighting spirit of the young squad, who continue to gain invaluable experience against strong international opposition.
The day’s final fixture saw an all-South African encounter as the senior national team took on the Under-23 squad. The match was interrupted shortly after it began when heavy rain forced play to be suspended for approximately two and a half hours. Originally scheduled to start at 14:30, the game eventually resumed at around 16:30 once the field conditions had improved.
Nicky Grobbelaar started on the mound for the senior team before Kay’D Shay Naude came in to close out the contest. The Under-23 side rotated through four pitchers, with Riley Jeftha getting the start, followed by Storm Butler, Kim Knoop and Bonolo Thlome.
The senior team’s experience ultimately proved decisive as they claimed an 18-0 victory, but the scoreline did not tell the full story. The Under-23 players continued to show great character and produced several outstanding defensive moments throughout the game.
Kim Knoop was one of the standout performers in the field, taking two exceptional catches at shortstop, while Shane Hunkin produced a superb catch in the outfield. Bonolo Thlome also impressed with several quality defensive plays, underlining the depth of talent emerging through South Africa’s women’s baseball programme.
The tournament continues to provide invaluable international exposure for both squads, with the younger players gaining experience against top-quality opposition while learning alongside the country’s senior internationals. The coaching staff remain encouraged by the progress being made throughout the tour and believe the experience gained in Shanghai will play an important role in the continued development of the next generation of South African women’s baseball players.
With victories over Shenzhen and the South African Under-23 team, the senior women continue to build momentum as the tournament progresses. At the same time, the Under-23 squad has earned praise for its resilience, competitive spirit and the quality of baseball it has displayed throughout the competition. Together, both teams continue to represent South Africa with pride while showcasing the growing strength and depth of women’s baseball on the international stage.
