Truckers, Wildcats keep All-Star titles in Nassau

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Softball Federation’s All-Star Classic on Sunday in aid of Hurricane Dorian relief saw the Commando Security Truckers and the Sunshine Auto Wildcats keeping the titles here in New Providence.

In the late game played on Sunday night to complete the weekend tournament in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the Truckers whitewashed the Eleuthera All-Stars 8-0.

Earlier in the night, the Wildcats pulled off a 9-6 triumph over Abaco, comprising mainly of the NPSA runners-up Inventive Intellect Lady Warriors, to emerge as the ladies’ champions.

The NPSA men’s champions CS Hitmen opted not to participate and so once they got the Truckers to step in to represent New Providence, BSF president Ted Miller said the tournament turned out to be better than they had anticipated. “I think the concept was a very good one because we had representation from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island,” Miller said.

Miller said the format is one that the executives of the BSF will be considering as they move forward.

He indicated that while they will still like to look at crowning the men’s and women’s champions, they want to see the participation of all of their affiliated island associations so they may decide to keep the All-Star Classic as well.

“Constitutionally, I will say the champions can’t be crowned the way they did this tournament,” he said. “This tournament was brought up out of the necessity of having a tournament because we would not have had a tournament.

“Realistically, I think we can have the two tournaments, so it’s a work in progress so we will look at the possibility of having the two tournaments being staged at the same time at the end of the season.”

Despite not having the Hitmen entered, Miller said the competition was still as keenly competitive as any national round robin they’ve hosted in the past.

photo

BSF president Ted Miller and sponsor Deanza 'Sonny' Cox make the presentation of the men's championship trophy and medals to the Commando Security Truckers.

“Eleuthera’s ace pitcher Edney Bethel was hurt and so he couldn’t pitch in the last game,” Miller said. “But barring that, we would have seen one of the games we saw in the competition where the two teams played to a scoreless draw. “The Grand Bahama team was in a similar situation and when your ace pitcher is off the mound, you will have a different game. But the men’s division was very competitive.”

As for the ladies’ division, Miller said it was a surprise that Grand Bahama didn’t take their usual spot in the final against New Providence. But he noted that Abaco turned out to be a much worthy foe. “New Providence came out with the victory over Abaco, but it was a very nice game, barring one or two errors,” Miller pointed out. “So we had some good competition. No one was a pushover. It was a very nice game as well.” Miller praised both Grand Bahama and Abaco for taking the initiative to enter teams, although they were devastated from the hurricane and a lot of their players were not able to attend.

He noted that while it’s still early in terms of the figures, from all indications the federation will be able to make a substantial contribution to both islands to help in their restoration.

New Providence 8, Eleuthera 0: In the men’s featured championship game, winning pitcher Thomas Davis helped his own cause by cracking a two-run home run in the bottom of tbe first to lead the Truckers in their whitewashing of Eleuthera for the men’s crown.

Thomas ended up 1-for-2 with his two RBi and run scored. He also fired a two-hitter with 14 strike outs on the mound.

His battery mate Garfield Bethel had a perfect 3-for-3 night with an RBI and two runs scored.Player/manager Adrian McPhee helped out with a 2-for-3 production with an RBI and two runs scored.

First baseman Daniel DeCosta had the only two hits for Eleuthera. Shawn Taylor suffered the loss.

New Providence 9, Abaco 6: Right fielder Lashonda Bethel went 1-for-3 with a run scored and winning pitcher Thela Johnson was 1-for-2 with two runs scored to seal the ladies’ championship title.

Melinda Bastian was 1-for-4 with an RBI and first sacker Latoya Brown was also 1-for-4 with a run scored. Center fielder Keisha Pratt was 1-for-4 and two runs scored.

• Here’s a summary of the ladies games played in the tournament:

Abaco All-Stars 5, Grand Bahama All-Stars 3: Shortstop Melinda Bastian had a one-our RBI ground out and first sacker Latoya Brown added an RBI single as they produced the winning and insurance runs in the third to send Abaco into the final.

Brown finished 1-for-1 with two RBI and third sacker Lathera Brown was 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Danashja Hield was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored for Grand Bahama.

Diva Burrows was the winning pitcher. Anthonia Cooper was the losing pitcher.

Wildcats 9, Freeport All-Stars 0: Winning pitcher Thela Johnson went 1-for-2 with two runs scored as New Providence as they clinched their berth into the championship.

Anthonia Cooper was the losing pitcher.

Abaco All-Stars 10, Exuma All-Stars 7: Second sacker Jeanette Hilton enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored to stay alive.

Diva Burrows was the winning pitcher. Laurell Rolle was the losing pitcher.

Freeport All-Stars 26, Andros All-Stars 1: Shortstop Rashall Cooper completed a perfect 3-for-3 day with four RBI and four runs scored; right fielder Alexandria Reeves 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and second sacker Breana Hield was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for Freeport.

Denise Sears walked and scored the lone run for Andros in the second.

Anthonia Cooper was the winning pitcher and Dshi Robinson suffered the loss.

Wildcats 6, Brackets 2: Shortstop Larikah Russell was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; second sacker Aaliyah Ferguson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored and centerfielder Dennisha Woodside was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored for New Providence.

Third sacker Shevette Taylor and catcher Jirah Sturrup were both 1-for-2 with RBI for Exuma.

Thela Johnson was the winning pitcher and Laurel Rolle was the loss.

Brackets 10, Eleuthera 0: Centerfielder Sequell Smith was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored; first sacker Dwayna Pratt was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored and shortstop Shevette Taylor was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for Exuma.

Right fielder Phillipa Kelly was 2-for-2 for Eleuthera.

Laurel Rolle was the winning pitcher and Delena Symonette was the losing pitcher.

Wildcats 16, Eleuthera 2: Catcher Donette Edwards was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored; third sacker Tamika Stuart was 3-for-3 with two RBi and two runs scored and first baseman Tarah Evans was 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Linda Knowles was the winning pitcher and Brazilia Kelly was the loser.

Long Island All-Stars 13, Andros All-Stars 3: Winning pitcher Marville Miller went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored; first sacker Lashanta Greenslade was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored and second sacker Nacara Curtis was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Asharan Arthur was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored for Andros.

Grand Bahama All-Stars 10, Abaco All-Stars 8: Rashell Cooper was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and Tempest Stubbs was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Catcher Melinda Bastian was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored and center fielder Keisha Pratt was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Antonia Cooper was the winning pitcher. Brendia Ferguson was the loser.

Abaco All-Stars 24, Andros All-Stars 0: Right fielder Shavonne Dames posted a perfect 3-for-3 day with five RBI and three runs scored; designated player Crystal Finley was 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored and first baseman Latoya Brown was 3-for-3 with three runs scored.

Diva Burrows was the winning pitcher. Adoynia Stainalus was the losing pitcher.

Grand Bahama All-Stars 5, Long Island All-Stars 4: Center fielder Danashja Hield was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for Grand Bahama.

Nacara Curtis was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Breana Hield was the winning pitcher. Marvelle Miller was the loser.

• Here’s a summary of the men’s games played:

Eleuthera All-Stars 3, Grand Bahama 2: Center fielder Sheldon Newton and catcher Justin Pinder were both 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Eleuthera All-Stars into the final.

First baseman Quenton Rolle highlighted Grand Bahama’s comeback with a leadoff solo homer in the top of the fourth inning.

Shawn Taylor was the winning pitcher with two hits and five strikeouts. Michael Sweeting was the losing pitcher on three hits.

Truckers 3, Grand Bahama All-Stars 0: Shortstop Myron Johnson ripped a two-run double and scored on left fielder Anthony Hanna’s RBI single in the second inning as New Providence earned their berth into the championship.

Thomas Davis was the winning pitcher. Quenton Cooper was the loser.

Eleuthera All-Stars 3, Chances Mighty Mitts 2: Sheldon Neymour drilled a two-out run-producing single and scored the winning run on Shaquel Delancy’s RBI single in the fifth to keep Eleuthera’s hopes alive.

Edney Bethel was the winning pitcher on six hits with nine strikeouts. Christopher Russell was the losing pitcher on three hits with four strikeouts.

Freeport All-Stars 3, Chances Mighty Mitts 3: The battery mate of winning pitcher Quenton Cooper and catcher Rex Missick were both 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored to lead Freeport.

Third baseman Malik Innis was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored for Long Island.

Christopher Russell was the losing pitcher

Truckers 0, Eleuthera All-Stars 0: Thomas Davis gave up three hits with nine strikeouts and Edney Bethel fired a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in the scoreless pitcher’s dual.

Eleuthera All-Stars 4, Chances Mighty Mitts 1: Junell Bain scored the game’s lone run in the fifth inning on an error after he had a one-out triple.

Chris Russell was the winning pitcher and Edney Bethel got tagged with the loss.

Truckers 7, Freeport All-Stars 0: Catcher Garfield Bethel was 1-for-2 with an RBI for New Providence.

Dion White was the winning pitcher. Donovan Cox was the loser.

Chances Mighty Mitts 11, Exuma 1: Catcher Kenneth Curry was 1-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored and second baseman Philip Johnson as 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored for Long Island.

Kelito Johnson led off with a single in the second and scored Exuma’s only run on an error.

Chris Russell was the winning pitcher. Akeem Newton was the losing pitcher.

Freeport All-Stars 6, Eleuthera All-Stars 1: First baseman Quenton Cooper was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored and both shortstop Quenton Cooper and centerfielder McKell Bethel were 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Second baseman Andre Gardiner doubled and scored the lone run for Eleuthera on an error in the first.

Michael Sweeting was the winning pitcher. Shawn Taylor was the loser.

Truckers 14, Long Island All-Stars 6: Catcher Garfield Bethel and designated player Thomas Davis were both 11-for-1 with two runs scored for New Providence.

Left fielder Junel Bain was 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored for Long Island.

Eleuthera All-Stars 6, Exuma All-Stars 0: First baseman Donald DeCosta was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored for Eleuthera.

Edney Bethel got the win. Akeem Newton was the losing pitcher.