Manicaland Baseball team was crowned winners of the Inter-provincial Baseball competition held at Mutare Boys High School last weekend.

Five provinces including Midlands, Bulawayo, Harare, Mashonaland West and the hosts took part in this event.

For winning, Manicaland were given a trophy and a full Baseball kit courtesy of Zimbabwe Baseball Association.

The tournament was graced by assistant national team coach Brat Bratcher.

Speaking to Sportszone, Manicaland Baseball Association chairman Marvelous Ngangai said they are in a process of organizing more tournaments for national team selection.

“We have started already to have some tournaments. In these tournaments, we will select players who will be drafted into the national team.

“We are also doing it so that we will have strong teams that will represent the province in the forthcoming annual baseball competition – the Dream Cup in December. As a province we hope to send three teams”, said Ngangai.

The Manicaland Chairman is also thrilled with the growth of the game in his province and with the popularity, the sport is now being played in six of the seven districts.

“Baseball is currently doing well especially in schools. We can talk of Sakubva High 1, Bonda and Mutare Boys High to mention a few. 

“These schools did well at the NASH games,” affirmed Ngangai.

Baseball is one of the sporting disciplines that are gaining momentum in the province.

Last month, Sakubva High School was crowned the national champions in the NASH Softball and Baseball competitions held in Bulawayo while St David’s Bonda Girls High came out on third position.

Mutare Boys High School came out second while Sakubva High dominated the individual prizes.

Meanwhile, there will be training for all volleyball players, coaches and Umpires this coming weekend at Sakubva High 1 School.

Japanese coach, Utaro Tawaza, who is the current national team coach, will conduct the training.

Manicaland Baseball Association secretary Collin Gando confirmed the coaching clinic and said that the training sessions are open to all the players, coaches, umpires and new players.

“Yes, we will be having the national team coach Utaro Tawaza with us on Saturday to Sunday, I think it will greatly help us as a province as we prepare for the December tournament.”