The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Shortstop Larikah Russell, on the verge of helping the Sunshine Auto Wildcats repeat as the New Providence Softball Association ladies’ champions, won the 2018 batting title.

Russell, playing in her third year in the league since coming from Grand Bahama, posted a batting average of .625 per cent in 24 or more at bats as compiled by NPSA’s chief statistician Rozina Taylor and released by chief umpire Thomas Sears.

“It feels pretty good. There are a lot of good offensive players in the league, so to come out on top is quite an honour,” said Russell of her first title that she hopes to complement with Sunshine Auto winning another league title when they play game five tonight in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

In 24 appearances, Russell ripped 15 hits with 10 runs batted in (RBI) and scored 18 times to lead the ladies’ batting race. Shevette Taylor, the Johnson’s Lady Truckers’ infielder, was the runner-up with 37 at-bats, 25 runs on 22 hits and 22 RBI for a .595 average.

“I got in a lot of work with my brothers because they are very good offensively,” said 33-year-old Russell, who attributed her success to siblings Larry and Desmond. “They really helped me so I want to thank them for that.”

Rounding out the top five are Russell’s team-mate Ruthann Simms with 27 at-bats, 11 runs, 15 hits and seven RBI for a .556 clip; Yvanna McDonald of the Lady Panthers with 26 at-bats, 11 runs, 14 hits, eight runs and one homer with a .538 and Lady Warriors’ versatile Melinda Bastian, who had a .528 clip from 36 at-bats, 18 runs, 19 hits, 10 RBI and three homers.

Lady Sharks’ infielder Sari Albury won the most hits category with 23, followed by Taylor with 22; Bastian 19; Lady Sharks’ infielder Sophia Cartwright with 17; Lady Wildcats’ outfielder Daria Cambridge and Lady Truckers’ infielder Mia Turner with 16 each.

Albury also took the most RBI category with 28. Taylor had 22, Cartwright 17, Taylor 15 and Lady Panthers’ Amariage Taylor with 14.

Turner scored the most runs with 30, Lady Sharks’ Danisha Woodside and Shevette Taylor both had 25, one more than Lady Truckers’ outfielder Dawayna Pratt with 24; Cambridge had 23 and Albury ended up with 22.

In the home run category, there was a three-way tie for first place with Albury, Bastian and Lady Sharks’ Keshelle Robinson all producing three.

And on the most stolen bases, Woodside led with 15, Pratt and Mia Turner both had 13 and Lady Truckers’ Kendalia Turner and Lady Sharks’ Aliyah Johnson both finished with 10.

In the pitching category, Sunshine Auto’s mainstay Thela Johnson took three of the four statistical titles.

She pitched the moist innings with a total of 44, three more than Lady Truckers’ Valencia Gibson with 41. Lay Panthers’ Cara Gilbert had 38 and both Lady Sharks’ Taylor Cartwright and Lady Warriors’ Ashanti Darville had 30 apiece.

Gibson beat out Johnson for the best earned run average with a 2.88 average. Johnson was 3.79, while Cartwright was 4.43; Gilbert 7.12 and Darville rounded the top five with 8.22.

Johnson, however, produced the most wins with eight. Albury had seven; Gibson six and Cartwright five.

And Johnson also struck out the most batters with a total of 62. Gibson was her nearest rival with 49. Cartwright finished with 32; Gilbert had 27; Albury 26 and Darville 21.

Here’s a look at the top 20 batting averages (24 or more at-bat)

Players Teams AB R H RBI HR AVG.

Larikah Russell Wildcats 24 18 15 10 0 .625

Shevette Taylor Truckers 37 25 22 22 1 .595

Ruthann Simms Wildcats 27 11 15 7 0 .556

Yvanna McDonald Panthers 26 11 14 8 1 .538

Melinda Bastian Warriors 36 18 19 10 3 .528

Keshelle Robinson Sharks 25 14 13 13 3 .520

Tyrice Curry Wildcats 28 18 14 7 0 .500

Kenyoka Ingraham Sharks 27 16 13 6 1 .481

Sari Albury Sharks 49 22 23 28 3 .469

Nadia Thompson Warriors 30 16 14 4 0 .467

Ramona Hanna Sharks 25 17 11 10 1 .440

Sophia Cartwright Sharks 39 16 17 17 2 .436

Daria Cambridge Wildcats 37 23 16 13 0 .432

Kendalia Turner Truckers 28 18 12 6 0 .429

Mia Turner Truckers 40 30 16 15 2 .400

Shaquel Bain Truckers 29 17 11 10 0 .379

Jeanette Hilton Warriors 30 12 11 9 0 .367

Latoya Johnson Panthers 30 15 11 11 1 .367

Dwayna Pratt Truckers 36 24 13 10 0 .361

Amariage Taylor Panthers 34 15 12 14 1 .353