The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE are some things worth waiting for. Winning the Bahamas Softball Federation’s 2017 Rozina Taylor men’s national softball championship crown was one of them for the C&S Hitmen.

After they got stunned as the Grand Bahama BTC Blazers doubled them up 6-3, the Hitmen, sponsored by Clifford Sands, gained revenge when it counted the most.

Their 7-0 shutout in the final game played on Sunday night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex more than made up for their loss. But it would have been even more sweet if Alcott Forbes had completed his job in grand style.

Forbes was working on a perfect game but had to settle for a no-hit shutout after the Bulldogs managed to get a runner on base on an error. Forbes, however, finished the game with 10 strike outs.

“Words can’t explain how I feel right now,” said Forbes about winning the national title that has eluded him in the past. “When we came to the nationals, we’ve been to it three times and now we came to the fourth time and we won it. God is amazing.”

In his own amazing performance in the round robin, Forbes shut out the two teams he faced and struck out a total of 19 batters for his ERA of zero.

Forbes, batting third in the Hitmen’s line-up, also went 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in sharing the MVP honours with centre fielder Rodney Forbes, who went 4-for-9 with two RBI and two runs scored.

“What is so exciting about this nationals is that I didn’t give up a single run in my games,” he pointed out. “Tonight, I had a perfect game until the fifth, but thanks be to God.”

Forbes said he was really committed to winning the title and he kept his eyes on the prize and was able to lead a talented Hitmen team all the way to the championship.

Manager Darren Stevens said they are already starting to plan for the defence of their title next year. “We’re going to start working out from February and we are going to put in the work,” he stressed.

“I’ve told the guys that we are going to need a 9-10 months commitment if they want the success.

“We put in the work and this is our success. So we’re going to get right back into practice in February and hopefully we will put in the work to get us ready to defend our title.”

He added that as long as they have Forbes committed to playing again next year, half of their job is done.

All they need to do is bring all the pieces together around him again.