The South African World Baseball Classic team goes into day three of their training camp this Tuesday to face the TSG Hawks at Lide Park Stadium in Kaohsiung City, Tainan, Taiwan.
After two days of tough competition against local teams, South Africa now faces Taiwan’s top professional team in preparation for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which will be held in Taipei from 15–21 February 2025.
Day one saw South Africa secure their first win against Tainan City, with standout performances from starting pitcher Dylan Unsworth, third baseman Anthony Phillips, left fielder Joshua Wentzel, and pitcher Jared Elario. As expected, team captain Jonathan Phillips led from the front. With day one out of the way, South Africa went into day two to face off against the Tainan Power team, who, like Tainan City, fielded several professional players.
After more than thirty-six hours of traveling, day two was largely about settling into the new environment and assessing the conditions. South Africa held their own for most of the game against Tainan Power, but Tainan Power eventually proved too strong.
For Coach Neil Adonis and his team, this match was an opportunity to assess the players and adapt to the playing environment in preparation for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Star performers on the day included pitcher Lloyd Stevens, Rowan Ebersohn, and debutant catcher Luke November, as well as Jason Carelse, who showed his command not only in the outfield but also at bat.
South Africa now faces the TSG Hawks, Taiwan’s top professional team. These pre-camp games are essential for their preparation for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which will be held in Taipei from 15–21 February 2025.
Behind the scenes, South Africa is working closely with MLB and the World Baseball Classic management to ensure the smooth running of operations, with President Marc Moreau playing a hands-on role in supporting the team.
The early days of the trip have once again highlighted the incredible support for Team South Africa, with messages pouring in from back home and around the world, including words of encouragement from several South African Springbok rugby players.
The TSG Hawks game will be broadcast live on YouTube from 5 AM (SA Time), and all World Baseball Classic Qualifier matches will be streamed live on several platforms. Click here to see where to watch.
