The Tribune

By Godfrey ‘Goofy’ Brown

Special To The Tribune

FORGET about the late opening because play in the Masters Softball Association is off to a flying start nonetheless.

Action at the Archdeacon William E Thompson Park is expected to heat up again as some interesting matchups (Saturday double header followed by another twin bill Sunday afternoon) are on tap.

More so, with a couple of regular season weekend games in the books, ardent fans who visit the historic southern Recreation grounds, wish that every day was MSA.

Early though it may be, one half of the six-team field is sporting perfect records and the trio on the other side stands winless after having played twice.

Last-year runners up Millers Construction’s Joshua Knights appear to be “taking no prisoners” having won twice in abbreviated style, like the A-1 Signs/McDonalds Raiders.

Never mind that they have a defaulted triumph, for defending MSA Kingpins dozer Heavy Equipment Company’s Pros are also 2-0 on the 2015 campaign.

Teams yet to step in the winners’ circle are the Corner Boys/ Sunryse Shredding Service’s Giants and BTC’s Untouchables.

Regular park goers got an extra treat Saturday past, when the MSA’s Pros turned back their “younger” siblings (New Old Timers Softball Association) 18-8 and snatched “Bragging Rights”, in the wake of Dozers annual Grudge Match.

Knights 25, BTC 9

Manager Sammy Adderley’s bunch continued their offensive onslaught on the young season, eventually scoring eleven runs in the top of the fourth inning during the weekend opener. Johnny ”Caryle” Armbrister was staked to a quick 10-0 lead and settled down to handle the Untouchables rather easily, after yielding all nine tallies in the bottom of the second.

Slick-fielding shortstop Keith “Sir Barnabas” Butler drilled a pair of two run homers (one out of the park) to highlight Miller’s explosive fourth. He finished four for five and also slapped a double.

Third baseman Gary “super” Johnson slugged two round trippers and drove in five runs and first sacker Perry Seymour socked a two run shot in the first and finished three for three, against loser Steve Hepburn. BTC left fielder Kirkwood “Herbie” Ferguson bombed a three run dinger and centrefielder Thomas sears had two run producing homer as well.

A1-McDonalds 15,

Corner Boys 4

Seemingly bent on keeping pace with the Knights, A1-McDonalds scored five runs in the first and poured it on, once Corner Boys cut the lead to a pair within minutes.

Likable leftfielder Warfield “Bugger” Bain’s two-run blast keyed the winners’ top of the third, when they scored four more, putting the game further away 12-3.

First baseman Dennis Davis signaled home Andy “Smudge” Ford, prior to cruising home ahead of Bain. Ford was five for five and scored each time he hit safely

Durable hector Rolle yielded a three-run shot to Culbert ”Buster” Evans whose clout came promptly after both Daylen “Raster” Williams and Clifford Jones signaled, but stifled the Boys afterwards.

Dozer 18, Sunryse 8

Determined not to be out done, the Pros wasted little time against Tim Sawyer and Company, by virtue of lacing seven straight hits in the top of the first inning stanza, on aggression, coupled with misplays.

Dozer led 13-3 (seven and six runs occurring in respective order) after two and never looked back.

Versatile players Greg Smith and Anthony “Tony” Brown swung potent bats, Smith had two-run producing doubles (first as well as third) and scored a quartet of runs. Brown laced a triple and two bagger, in addition to driving home a pair, with three runs scored.

In related news, MSA president Rory Newbold extends heartfelt sympathy to the Untouchables standout Maxwell Armbrister and family on the death of his sister Caroline Simmons.

Speaking on behalf of fellow Executives and team members, Newbold asserted that “We” continually pray for divine sustenance in their hour of bereavement.

So as to permit Armbrister’s teammates to attend Ms Simmons’ home going service (slated for 10am Saturday) at the Bahamas Faith Ministries, BTC’s game against A-1 Signs/McDonalds has been postponed.