Get ready JMS fans, we are now officially passed the start of the season. These next few weeks will determine who are pretenders and who are contenders. The notorious slow starters will gain steam, while those who spent too much of the summer warming up will start to fade. Here is your week three preview!
Game 1: Owls vs Eagles
After a hot start, the Owls have been plummeting. In trying to figure out the multi-positional defence, it seems that the Owls have forgotten how to hit. Coming in against the Eagles, however, they have a chance to feast on some struggling pitching with both Riaz Champsi and Abbas Allidina off to a slow start. This match is going to come down to a battle of the captains with Kumail Meghani and Noor Zia looking to hold their own against Ali Manek and Asad Hussain. After an angry loss last week, this preview thinks Manek and the Eagles are going to come out swinging.
Prediction: 14-12 Eagles
Prediction: 14-12 EaglesGame 2: Lions vs Owls
This match features the Owls trying to hand the Lions their first loss of the season. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Asad Nasser and Kumail Meghani over the years, is that they love to play with a chip on their shoulder and take down the Goliath. Even though the Lions won both games last week, their bats seem to be starting to cool down. With the way the defence of the Owls is structured, if they can manage to play the entire game and not get walked off, this preview things the Lions get their first loss of the season.
Prediction: 8-7 Owls
Prediction: 8-7 OwlsGame 3: Eagles vs Lions
In last week’s first encounter between these two teams, the Lions squeaked out a nail biter. Word has it that Ali Manek took this entire week off so that he could plan his revenge. If there is anything we can anticipate going into this match, it’s that it will be wildly entertaining. Although some might call this match a coin flip, this preview thinks Miqdad Jaffer will never let Manek bask in the glory of victory.
Prediction: 10-9 Lions
Prediction: 10-9 LionsGame 4: Tigers vs Wolves
While the Tigers have found their offensive stroke, the Wolves seem like they won’t be able to hit double digits in runs scored until captain Imran Virji comes back from his injury. The big hope for the Wolves, however, is that they have Mikael Ratansi on the mound. Ratansi has the third lowest ERA in the league this season while having pitched the third most innings in the league. As much as we think it won’t be enough to stop the big bats of the Tigers, it definitely will make for a closer game than expected.
Prediction: 9-8 Tigers
Game 5: Falcons vs Wolves
In softball, typically a team can get by if they are missing a key piece. However, if there is one team that has an MVP upon whom they will be relying on all year, it’s the Falcons relying on Hussein Allidina. With no clear backup pitcher, the Falcons will need Hussein to be sharp and in attendance throughout the year. Unfortunately for the Wolves, Hussein is expected back, so look for the Falcons to be back in the win column.
Prediction: 11-7 Falcons
Game 6: Bucks vs Tigers
This is the third week in a row that these two teams are facing each other. The difference in this week is that it will be the Tigers playing their second game of the day, whereas the Bucks will be playing their first. What throws a wrench into predicting this game is that the Tigers get a break between games, whereas in previous weeks the Bucks were on the second half of a back to back. Now we’re not trying to make excuses for the Bucks. Rather, captain Ali Raza Nasser needs to get more base runners in front of him and Irfahn Khimji in order to actually make their home runs worth the jog beyond the fence.
Prediction: 10-8 Tigers
Game 7: Falcons vs Bucks
We have one more rematch from last week to close out the day. Whereas last week, the Falcons were short handed allowing the Bucks to take over the game, this week the Bucks are going to be short handed. Will the Falcons be able to take advantage? It will be the first game of the season for the Bucks reserves, so look out for some rust. This preview thinks the Falcons really want to get back atop the power rankings.