The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bommer G Truckers lived up to their end of the bargain by giving sponsor Bommer George a Bahamas Softball Federation men’s national championship title.

Unfortunately, the Bommer G Lady Operators fell short of making it a bonus celebration in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Sunday night.

While the Lady Operators lost 6-3 to the Katty’s Boutique Katz from Grand Bahama, the Truckers knocked off the Bulldogs from Abaco 7-2 to keep at least one of the national titles in New Providence as Bommer George still went through a bitter-sweet champagne popping and fireworks display that was intended for the anticipated double championship feat.

“One is better than none,” was the way Bommer George tried to explain the atmosphere.

“It was very difficult losing the ladies championship because that was something that I worked on for a very long time,” he said. “I wanted the whole hog. I wanted the pennant, New Providence and Commonwealth titles. I wanted them all, but I guess we came short. Ain’t nothing you can do about it.”

As Bommer George tried to fathom what went wrong with the Lady Operators, he noted that he was extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Truckers. They made him proud as they wore down to the Bulldogs until the fifth inning when they broke through with three runs, highlighted by a run producing triple from ace Adney ‘The Heat’ Bethel before Olando McPhee drilled a one-out two-run homer to cross the plate with the winning run.

The Truckers came back in the sixth with four more insurance runs, sparked by a two-run triple and run scored from Eugene Pratt.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, drew first blood in the fourth as Andrew Albury got the first hit off Adney Bethel to lead off with his single. He also scored the first run after losing pitcher William Weatherford singled and an error moved him around to second.

Spanish Wells got their only other run in the sixth when Andrew Pinder scored on a lead off solo in-the-parker.

“The more the Truckers play, the better we get,” said Truckers’ manager Perry Seymour. “It’s hard for anybody to beat us in seven innings.”

Seymour said they really wanted to dedicate the victory to Bommer George after his Lady Operators fell short on the same day that the Miami Dolphins were beaten 23-20 by the Indianapolis Colts. Bommer George is an ardent fan of the Miami Dolphins.

Adney Bethel, the top pitcher in the tournament, said their goal was to make sure that they didn’t lose the two titles.

“I feel good for my sponsor because after winning about 27 national titles, I just feel good for him. This was his first one, so hats off to Bommer G,” he said.

Olando McPhee, the championship’s most valuable player, said it was a great feeling to be the champions.

“We came out flat, but as the game started going, we got more comfortable hitting the ball,” he said.

On his homer, McPhee noted: “In my first two at-bats, he threw me two good pitches inside. He jammed me a little bit. But I told the fellows, the next time, I won’t miss him. When he threw it, I knew I was going to hit it good. I was glad that it left for the park for the home run.”

After suffering the loss, a dejected Weatherford said he’s getting old and hopefully one day he will get the opportunity to play on a championship team.

“We will be back. We have some good young players, so we will be here,” Weatherford said. “I had the Truckers for five innings, matching Adney batter for batter until he came in to bat for himself and that kind of got it started for them. It just got away from us after we gave up some hits. It’s very difficult to lose like this.”

Adney Bethel finished with a six hitter with 11 strike outs, while William Weatherford gave up three hits with six strike outs before he was relieved by Lyle Sawyer in the sixth. Before the inning was over, Sawyer had to switch with Tyler Russell in left field as he came in to close the door, but it was a little too late to stop the Truckers.

The Truckers had to get past the Triple A Razorbacks from Spanish Wells in an 11-0 shutout earlier in the day to get into the final.

In that game, Terran Wood had a pair of two-run homers, the first coming in a three-run third and the other in a three-run seventh. Van ‘Lil Joe’ Johnson walked twice and got hit by a pitch as he scored twice and Ramon Storr had three walks and scored twice to help out.

Edney Bethel fired a one-hitter, striking out eight for the win.

Thomas Davis was tagged with the loss.