The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the men’s national softball team travelling this week, the New Providence Softball Association will only open its best-of-five first round playoffs with the women’s division in the Banker’s Field at Baillou Hills Sporting Complex this weekend.

NPSA president Godfrey ‘Gully’ Burnside, who will be travelling as the manager of the men’s national team for the Pan American and World Championship qualifying tournament in Medellin, Colombia, said the men’s post season play is scheduled to begin on September 26.

The best-of-seven championships is all set to start on October 6 with the men and women champions earning the rights to represent New Providence in the Bahamas Softball Federation’s national round robin which is being dubbed the President’s Cup in celebration of the BSF’s 40th anniversary. The championships, featuring seven men and seven women teams from throughout the Bahamas, is slated to be held November 1-4 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The NPSA was scheduled to complete its regular season at the Banker’s Field on Tuesday night.

Pennant winning Bommer G Operators, who finished with an impressive 17-1 win-loss record, is set to take on former champions Wildcats, who were fourth at 10-7.

The other half of the coin will see the first year Lady Hitmen against the defending champions Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks.

The Lady Hitmen, who were sitting in second place at 13-5, were set to play the third place Lady Sharks (10-7) in the regular season finale last night.

“The playoffs should be very exciting,” Burnside said. “I see the injection of Mary ‘Cruise’ Edgecombe-Sweeting on the Y-II Wildcats bringing a lot of energy for them. They are really the contenders for the championship at this time. It’s just sad that they are going to be playing the Bommer G Operators in the first round. That could have probably been the match-up in the championship.

“And the match-up between the Lady Hitmen and the Lady Sharks should be just as exciting. As you know, Thela Johnson pitched and played for the Sharks last year, helping them to the championship and national championship titles. This year, she will be out to carry the Lady Hitmen to the championship.”

When the men’s playoffs get underway, the 16-2 pennant winning Bommer G Truckers will take on the 10-10 fourth place John’s Buccaneers, while the second place Dorin United Hitmen (15-5) will face the third place Y-2 Shipping Bulldogs, who were also 10-10.

The Truckers were scheduled to play their final regular season game last night against the hapless 0-18 Mighty Mitts.

“The men’s playoffs should be just as exciting. We have four teams that have good pitchers,” he said. “The Truckers probably have the edge over the Blue Chip Buccaneers and the Dorin United Hitmen have the edge over the Bulldogs. It will probably be the Bommer G Truckers against the Dorin United Hitmen. That’s the way I see it at this time, but hey, they could prove me wrong.”

Here’s a look at the standings heading into Tuesday’s regular season finale:

THE STANDINGS

Teams W L Pct. GB

Ladies’ Division

Bommer G Operators  17  1  .944  -

Lady Hitmen  13  5  .722  4

Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks  12  5  .705  41/2

Y-11 Shipping Wildcats  10  7  .588  61/2

Black Scorpions  6  12  .333  11

Sigma Brackettes  3  15  .166  14

ASAP Assassins  1  17  .055  16

Men’s Division

Bommer G Truckers  16  2  .888  -

Dorin United Hitmen  15  5  .750  2

Y-II Shipping Bulldogs  10  10  .500  7

Blue Chips Buccaneers  10  10  .500  7

Miller Rams  7  13  .350   10

Mighty Mitts  0  18  .000  16