The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a two-year hiatus as a result of COVID-19, the New Providence Softball Association opened its 2022 fastpitch season over the weekend with the new look Cybertech Blue Marlins and the veteran Sunshine Auto Wildcats getting off to an impressive start.

In Saturday night’s official opening night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the Blue Marlins, formerly the Truckers with some young talent on their squad, stunned the defending champions C&S Hitmen 13-0 in an abbreviated men’s featured contest.

And just before they were awarded their championship rings from newly elected Bahamas Softball Federation president Jennifer Dotson-Isaacs for winning the 2018 national title, the Wildcats easily got by the RAB Operators 10-3.

During her address, Isaacs-Dotson said it was good to be back in the park playing softball again and she pledged the support from her executive team in assisting newly elected president Dwayne Stevens and his executives in making the sport as vibrant as it was in the past.

The NPSA actually kicked off the season on Friday night as the Johnson Lady Truckers out-slugged the University of the Bahamas Lady Mingoes 17-12, while the Atlantis Titans took care of the Chances Mighty Mitts 14-6 in the men’s feature contest.

With the focus on the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championships at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex this week, the NPSA will take a break and resume competition on July 14.

Blue Marlins 13, Hitmen 0

Right fielder Winston Seymour Jr had a good night at the plate, going 4-for-5, including a three-run in-the-park home run in a four-run second inning to extend their lead to 9-0. He also drove aa total of five runs and scored twice.

Stephen Russell Jr had a two-run homer to help fuel the 5-0 first inning that also saw Austin Hanna come through with a clutch two-run doubles before he finished the game with a 2-for-2 production with three RBI and a run scored.

Angelo Watson added a 2-for-4 night with three runs scored, Levaughn Ferguson was 2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored. Thomas Davis got the win with three strike outs to go along with the two hits he surrendered.

“I was very proud of my guys. Thomas (Davis) pitched a good game and the guys hit the ball very well. All of our plays were very well executed, so overall, I think we had an excellent game for our first game,” said Blue Marlins’ manager Marcus Pratt.

Pratt said once Cybertech stay injury free, they should be the team to win in the men’s division this year.

Martin Burrows Jr, who relieved starter and losing pitcher Richard Bain Jr in the third, got the first of two hits for C&S in the second with one-out, while Bain Jr got the other in fourth with one-out as well, but they were both left stranded on base. “After a three-year hiatus without any practice, we did what we could do,” said Hitmen’s manager Darren Stevens. “Hats off to the Marlins. They put in the work and they deserve the victory.”

If history repeats itself, Stevens said he remembers losing the opening game to the Truckers, but his Hitmen still rallied back to win the title, so the road to the championship will still go through the C&S, who didn’t play ace pitcher Alcott Forbes and only got one-at-bat, a strike out from slugger Sherman Ferguson in a pinch hitting role.

Wildcats 10, Operators 3

Centre fielder Daria Cambridge got the celebrations started for Sunshine Auto with a 2-for-4 night at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, Thela Johnson-Stevens was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, third sacker Ciara Bowe made her debut going 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored and after first sacker Crystal Finley got two free passes on base, she added two more runs.

Johnson-Stevens tossed a two hitter, striking out three for the win on the mound.

“We came out with the same frame of mind as the last season to get out early,” said Wildcats’ manager Anthony Bullard. “We have some new youngsters playing on our team after some of the veterans retired.

“Some of the ladies look a little rusty, but with Thela (Johnson- Stevens) and Larikah (Russell) carrying the team, we will be okay. We will still be the team to beat. We’re going all the way.”

Right fielder Vanessa Sawyer had a hit and scored twice and Dorinda Knowles got a walk and scored the only other run for RAB before she got the loss on 10 hits and three strike outs.

Titans 14, Mighty Mitts 6

Marquel Pratt had a good season opener, going 3-for-3 with a pair of singles and a double, driving in three runs and scoring twice to lead Atlantis, who got a super pitching performance from Angelo Dillette, who threw a four-hitter with 11 strike outs.

Canton Chase was 1-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored and Dillette, Marino Cartwright and Anthony Moss all scored a pair of runs.

Kenneth Curry was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and Michael Ingraham was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Kayle Carey was tagged with the loss on five hits and as many strike outs.

Lady Truckers 17, Mingoes 12

Sisters Kendalia Turner, playing shortstop, enjoyed a 2-for-4 night at the plate with two RBIU and three runs scored and Nia Turner, the catcher, was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored for the win.

Two other sisters, Sari Albury, who gave up five hits and struck out six for the win on the mound, was 1-for-5 with a RBI and run scored and first sacker Skai Albury was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Left fielder Latonia McPhee added a hit with a RBI and two runs scored and right fielder Sheena Taylor-Cox was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Shortstop Adomya Rolle paced UB with a 2-for-4 night with three runs scored, second sacker Kenisha Kelly was 1-for-2 with three runs scored and catcher Sophia Cartwright was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.

Ramona Hanna got the loss on 12 hits and five strike outs.

Next playing dates:

Thursday, July 14

7pm - Black Scorpions vs

Johnson Lady Truckers (L)

8:30pm - Atlantis Titans vs

Renegades (M)

Friday, July 15

7pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs

C&S Hitmen (M)

8:30pm - UB Mingoes vs

RAB Operators (L)

Saturday, July 16

7pm - Black Scorpions vs

UB Mingoes (L).

8:30pm - Atlantis Titan vs

Cybertech Blued Marlins (M)