The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

ANTHONY Moss couldn’t ask for a better transition from the basketball court to the softball playing field.

In his initial season in the New Providence Softball Association, the towering catcher for the Atlantis Titans was named the most valuable player after he drilled a two-run home run over the centre field fence to bring the Vice President team back from an 11-9 deficit to a 12-11 victory over the President’s men in Saturday night’s All-Star Classic.

Moss’ shot was in the last of two games played in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

In the ladies’ opener, it was the Vice Presidents who also prevailed with a 15-7 win over the Presidents.

After third baseman Thomas Davis of the Cyber Tech Marlins was walked and eventually scored their 10th run on Renegades’ Dylan Culmer’s run-producing single, that set the stage for Moss, who came through on a fast ball from C&S Hitmen’s losing pitcher Martin Burrows Jr of the President’s team.

In picking up Culmer from first base, Moss’ two-run shot earned the one-run victory for the Vice President’s men.

“It started off a little rocky for me behind the plate. I played the whole game and I was a little tired at the end, but I just had to give it that extra push,” said Moss, who went 1-for-3 with three RBI and two run scored.

Moss, who hit a shot to right field but was caught in the fourth inning, said his aim was to go for the $100 challenge that was being offered to the first person to hit the Sunshine Auto sign inside centrefield.

However, he was just inches of it with his home run out the park.

“This is my first All- Star in my first time in the league, so it’s amazing. This is the highlight of my career,” said Moss, who didn’t win anything substantial as yet in the New Providence Basketball Association.

“The only thing that could top this is the championship.”

Centre fielder Angelo Watson of the Marlins was 1-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored.

Atlantis Titans’ ace Cardinal Gilbert, who came in relief for his Marlins’ team-mate Deon Whyte in the fourth, got the win on the mound and he helped his own cause by going 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Marlins’ catcher Garfield Bethel enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate with a walk, two RBI and four runs scored to lead the President’s men.

Burrows helped his own cause by cracking a two-run homer to left field in the third inning to extend their lead.

Their only two runs after that came in the fifth on Bethel’s two-run homer.

Vice President’s 15, President’s 7: In the ladies’ opener, Sunshine Auto Wildcats’ shortstop Larikah Russell went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored in the win to earn the ladies’ MVP honours for the Vice Presidents, managed by Anthony Bullard and coached by Sidney ‘Bobby Baylor’ Fernander.

She was followed closely by the battery mate of catcher Vashawna Bastian of the Black Scorpions, who was 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored and R&B Operators’ ace pitcher Brendia Ferguson, who went the distance with a four-hitter and five strike outs to go along with her perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate with a RBI and two runs scored.

But while celebrated, prayers and best wishes were offered for Johnson’s Lady Truckers’ shortstop Kendalia Turner, who suffered an ankle injury, was treated on site and then rushed to the hospital for further evaluation.

“The game actually went well on both ends, offensively and defensively,” Russell said. “We were having a lot of fun out there. That’s what it’s all about.”

Russell, however, echoed the sentiments of just about everybody in the park as the game was held up to ensure the safety of Turner.

“You don’t want to see players get hurt. It was very unfortunate, but I want to wish her the best. When you see something like that, it’s very unfortunate. We just have to check up on her to make sure she’s alright.”

Bastian, one of the rising young stars in the league, said she’s only getting better as time progresses.

“I feel like I could do better, but because I’m just getting into it, I am very competitive against players who have been playing for more than 10 years,” she said. “The more I face different pitchers in the league, I can only get better.”

The President’s team, managed by Shane Albury of the University of the Bahamas Mingoes, saw second sacker Eilayah Johnson of the Operators, catcher Sophia Cartwright of the Mingoes and losing pitcher Diva Burrows of the Operators all get one hit.

However, Johnson scored twice, while Cartwright and Burrows came home once. Burrows gave up 16 hits and struck out four in the loss.

The NPSA is scheduled to resume play on Thursday night with a double header starting at 7pm as the second half of the season gets underway towards the race for the playoffs.