The Tribune

GAME three of the New Providence Softball Association’s Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson Memorial Championship series got rained out last night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The ladies’ game between the pennant winning Sigma Wildcats and the defending champions Sigma Brackettes was in the top of the fifth inning when plate umpire Mark Demeritte stopped play as the rain came pouring down.

They will attempt to make up the game starting 7pm tonight, followed by game three of the men’s series between the defending champions Arnette’s Sporting Lounge Hitmen, who lead the pennant winning Sting Truckers 2-0.

Before the rain came, the Brackettes seemed to have gotten their “wake up call” as they started to play like true champions.

Down 5-3, the Brackettes had shortstop Zella Symonette sitting on third after she led off with a walk, got to second on an error and moved to third on a wild pitch. However, she was left stranded as Sharvette Taylor struck out for the first game as the game was called.

The Wildcats broke up a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fourth when Mechelle Moss got to first on an error, stole second, advanced to third on another error and scored on Candice Smith’s RBI sacrifice fly.

The Brackettes drew the first blood, scoring two runs in the first from Krystal Delancey and Symonette. But the Wildcats came back in the bottom to get on the scoreboard on a run from Moss.

Jaquena Ferguson kept the Brackettes ahead, 3-1, as she scored on a RBI ground out from Delancey in the second for a 3-1 lead. Again, the Wildcats cut the deficit to 3-2 as Mary Sweeting singled and eventually scored on an error in the bottom of the inning.

After Sweeting retired the Brackettes in order, the Wildcats managed two runs off Ernestine Stubbs as regular season batting champion Jeanette Hilton and Vantrice Bowleg both crossed home plate for a 4-3 lead. They added another unearned run from Moss to push their lead to 5-3.

Unfortunately, the rain washed it all away, but the NPSA is hoping that mother nature will allow them to complete both series before the start of the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin Tournament scheduled to begin next Thursday at the Banker’s Field.

The male and female winners will represent the NPSA in the tournament that will feature the championship teams from Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama. The tournament is being held in honour of David Charles, Dave ‘Billy’ MicKlewhite and Nancy Russell.

Federation president Burkett Dorsett said the tournament should be keenly contested as all of the top pitchers in the country are expected to represent their respective island associations. So it will come down to good pitching trying to stop good hitting.