The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Nassau Christian Academy Crusaders, St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine and the Queen’s College Comets took the spotlight on day one of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) sudden death softball playoffs.

Yesterday at the Freedom Farm Baseball League as the first half of the sudden death playoffs got underway between the pennant winners and fourth place teams, the Crusaders booked two of their teams into the best-of-three championship series that is scheduled to get underway next week and the Big Red Machine and the Comets got the other two spots. Their opponents will be decided today when the number two and three teams will clash for their berths.

• Here’s how the first four teams clinched their berths yesterday:

Crusaders 10, Falcons 8

Senior boys pennant winning Nassau Christian Academy came up with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come from a 8-6 deficit to avenge their only defeat during the regular season to Jordan Prince Williams.

Deangelo Johnson had a pair of hits and scored as many runs and Kevon Moxey was intentionally walked three times and scored each trip to lead the Crusaders’ offensive attack as they got two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The Falcons, who opened the game by scoring one in the first and added three in the third, one in the fourth and three more in the sixth, was led by Nathaj Miller’s three-run homer in the third.

“The difference was on the mound where Devon Curtis got the decision over a hobbling Michel Bethell came out firing in the early innings,” said NCA’s coach Ainsworth Beckford. “But we knew we had to put the best on the ball. I told my guys we play seven innings, not just two. We were able to dig in and play seven innings and we were still able to pull off the win.”

The Crusaders will now await the winner between today’s showdown with defending champions St Augustine’s College and Charles W Saunders Cougars.

Big Red Machine 10,

Cougars 0

After Shakarna Sweeting drew a one-out walk and scored the 10th run on Mechelle Moss’ RBI ground out, there was a delay by plate umpire Eddie Ford to determine whether the game should be stopped via the 10-run rule. While SAC was ready to celebrate their return to the senior girls’ championship to defend their title, Charles W Saunders was not too pleased that the game was eventually called.

But at that point, it may not have made a difference because the Cougars didn’t have any answer for SAC’s ace pitcher Valencia Gibson, who threw a one-hitter with seven strike outs in the abbreviated three innings. After striking out two in the second, Gibson watched as the Cougars loaded the bases. All she did was strike out the next batter to kill the rally. Then in the third with one out with runners in scoring positions on third and second, Gibson then struck out the next two. One of those batters in the third, Mia Turner - the losing pitcher - got the only hit of Gibson.

The Big Red Machine got the game winning run in the bottom of the first on Moss’ RBI walk as Turner loaded the bases. They went on to put eight runs on the scoreboard in the second on just three hits, highlighted by Gibson’s two-run single, as they batted around the clock to put the game out of reach. Moss’ run-producing grounder plated Sweeting with the game ending run.

“It was good. It was sweet, but we started off a little slow with our bats,” said SAC’s coach Anastacia Moultrie. “I expect better play and quicker bats, but I expect us to come out on top.”

Comets 10, Crusaders 7

An explosive nine-run tear in the top of the first inning was all the momentum that Queen’s College needed to upset the undefeated junior boys pennant winning Nassau Christian Academy.

Nijai Armbrister helped his own cause on the mound for the win as he got a pair of hits and scored three times and was joined by Myles Adams with two runs and Damaal Sands, who had three hits.

Kenwin Ingraham was tagged with the loss for Nassau Christian Academy, who got two runs apiece from Joel Bodie, Roy Burrows and Michelangelo Bullard.

“It was nice to start off with nine runs in the first inning,” said QC’s coach Gary Markham. “We felt very confident going into the game because when we played them during the regular season, it was a tight game. We made some mistakes that gave them the game. Today, their pitcher didn’t pitch that well and we hit. The boys were not scared of him. It was a good performance for our boys. Our pitcher didn’t pitch as well as he was capable of pitching, but it was good enough to help us get the win. So I was pleased with it.”

Crusaders 11, Comets 5

In a different outcome in the junior girls’ division, the pennant winning Nassau Christian Academy made sure that they were not upset as well. After scoring three runs in the first and one in the second, they came from a 5-4 deficit by tacking on four more runs in the third to secure their berth in the final.

“We were a bit nervous in the first two innings, but we settled down and I knew that from there, we had the game in control,” said Crusaders’ coach Michelle Miller. “After four years of not even being in the playoffs, it’s good to be in the championship. I think we worked very hard during the offseason and we set our sights on getting into the playoffs and then into the championship.”

Jimiah Filterman, Alijah Rowe and Rhema Outaber all scored two runs for NCA. Benet Johnson was the winning pitcher and R Hanna was tagged with the loss.

The other half of the playoffs is all set to get underway 4pm today.