The Ghana National Baseball League returned after a two-month break with big wins for table leaders Tema Tigers, who thrashed Tema Giant Hitters 19–1 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Koshien Baseball Field, Labone.
The victory completed a double over their city rivals, following a 12–1 result on the opening day of the league. The likes of Samuel Baah, Solomon Addison, and Desmond Duodo set the tone early, producing four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Meanwhile, pitcher Henry Nikoi delivered a masterclass, restricting the Giant Hitters with superb strikes that sent three batters down in the top of the first inning, before an early switch in the second.
The Tigers roared louder as the game progressed, stretching their lead in each of the five innings played, while the in-form Nikoi kept the Hitters silent. The only consolation came in the third inning when Yussif Armoh managed the solitary run for the Hitters.
The emphatic 19–1 victory extends Tema Tigers’ lead at the top of the table to 12 points, with a +40 run difference, having scored 45 and conceded just five in four matches. Unfortunately, their rivals Tema Giant Hitters sit bottom of the table with no points and a –48 run difference, losing all four games.
In the earlier fixture, LD Dodgers climbed to second place with six points after cruising to a 16–3 victory over Shai Osudoku Hawks. The Dodowa-based side dropped from second to third with just three points after three matches.
After putting up a spirited fight against the league leaders on July 26 (Week 3), where they lost 4–1, the youthful Shai Osudoku Hawks lost momentum. Their struggles included repeated fly ball catches, base touches before arrival, and quick grabs by base keepers.
Joshua Nyamadi and Kwaku Alaglo secured the three runs for the Hawks, while the La lads of LD Dodgers dominated every inning; loading bases and running home in succession. They scored five and three runs in the first and second innings respectively, as Frank Opoku restricted the Hawks from flying high.
With few players going down to the young and enterprising pitcher Maxwell Owusu, the Dodgers completed the game with four runs each in the last two innings. Jerry Dovlo, Yemo Ofoli, Edmund Ackom, Lawrence Baffour, Alexandre Asare, Ebenezer Tetteh, Alex Koranteng, and Bernard Koomson stood out as heroes for LD Dodgers’ dominant performance.
The maiden league, which kicked off with a launch game on June 28, went on a two-month break to allow the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation (GBSF) to prepare and host the 2nd Koshien Championship for Schools, supported by the Japan-Africa Baseball & Softball Foundation (J-ABS) and Kioe University in August.
Additionally, a four-day intensive Coaches Clinic was held in September, where experts from Global Sports Partners trained 20 coaches to boost local development.
The league resumes on October 18 with Week 5 fixtures; LD Dodgers will host Tema Giant Hitters in the morning, before Shai Osudoku Hawks seek revenge against the Tema Tigers later in the day.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
