Written by
Eric Okello
Getting There
The boys left Jinja at five on Saturday morning for the Dodgers Academy at ARVS School. We had given ourselves enough time for the journey, but the traffic around Kampala was heavy and we spent most of that spare time sitting still. As the start time got closer, the team decided to leave the vehicle behind and finish the last part of the trip on bodas. We arrived later than we wanted to, but we arrived. The boys got their kit off, warmed up and went straight into the game.
Two Games, Both Decided by a Single Run
Both fixtures were played at a genuinely high level. The Dodgers are a strong and well organised side and our boys matched them, with both teams showing a professional style of play from the first pitch. The opening game went our way by the narrowest of margins, 10 runs to 9. The second swung back to the hosts, who closed it out 5 runs to 4. Two games, and both of them decided by a single run. Nothing was given away by either side, and that is exactly the kind of tight, competitive baseball that sharpens a young team.
“Games like these teach the boys more than any training session can. And every time two Ugandan teams push each other this hard, the game itself gets stronger in this country.”
Coach Kennedy
Growing the Game Together
We are grateful to the Dodgers for the invitation and for the way they hosted us. Fixtures like these matter well beyond the scoreline. They give our players the experience of competing away from home against quality opposition, they build confidence, and they expose weaknesses that only show up under real pressure. They also lift the sport as a whole. Every well contested game between Ugandan clubs raises the standard of baseball in this country and moves us closer to the international level we are working towards. Our thanks to the coaches, the drivers, and everyone who made the long day possible.
