The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Larikah Russell has enjoyed her share of success as a tennis player. Now the Grand Bahamian native is doing it in softball as well.

On Sunday night, Russell walked out of the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with the most hits, most runs scored, batting title, best shortstop and the most valuable player of the round.

Additionally, Russell helped the Katty’s Boutique Katz clinch the Bahamas Softball Federation women’s national title over the Bommer G Lady Operators.

Russell’s performance was expected, but the 27-year-old admitted that she was a little surprised that she took so much hardware back to Grand Bahama when she travelled home with the other members of the team on Monday.

“My performance was good, but I was actually shocked that I received all those awards,” she said. “My offense was pretty good. But I know my defense was great. So it was kind of shocking to receive all those awards for my offense. I was really frustrated with myself in the championship because I wasn’t hitting. So I didn’t expect to get that many awards. It was pretty impressive.”

The only major award she didn’t have in her possession was the championship MVP. That went to her team-mate, second baseman Tarah Evans.

But Russell said she was just delighted to have been able to make a contribution to the team’s championship victory.

“I worked hard,” she said. “Everything just fell into place. So I was pretty excited.”

Russell comes from a sporting background, having started playing tennis in an after school programme when she attended Freeport Primary. She inherited her softball skills from her parents, Larry Sr and Eloise Russell. They hail from East End, which was known as the sporting prowess in Grand Bahama.

“Everybody up there was athletic. They were all involved in some sport or another,” she said.

Out of the two, Russell admits that she enjoys tennis more because of the individual aspect of it compared to softball where it’s more team oriented.

“I mean, I don’t have a problem being on a team, but whenever I’m on the court, it’s me when I mess up,” she said. “It’s my fault. I can’t blame anybody.”

Russell, the top female tennis player in the country, said it’s unbelievable playing at such a high level.”

“Once you keep yourself in shape, you can do almost anything at a high level. But it’s a challenge and I enjoy it.”

As a tennis player, Russell said she has been able to develop her hand coordination, which has helped her tremendously in softball.

“The reason I have good hand and eye coordination in softball is because of tennis. Tennis training helps because not only do you make contact with the ball out in the front of your body,” she said. “You also get adapted to the different speeds, spins and variations of balls thrown or hit at you.

“This gives me an advantage and causes me to perform at my highest level. Let’s just say that tennis training helps me to be mentally and physically prepared and exceptional in any sport I play.”

Russell, a tennis instructor in Grand Bahama, said now that softball is finished for the year, she will turn her attention back to tennis.

“I’m getting ready for the (Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s) national tennis tournament that they are having in December (at the National Tennis Center),” Russell said. “I’m just going to get in a much better shape so I can be ready for that. But I’m okay right now.”

In an effort to keep her fit, Russell also participates in basketball.

“That’s my favourite sport, actually,” she said. “I played on the junior varsity team in college when I was on a tennis scholarship. They always wanted me to play basketball in college, but I was much more advanced in tennis, so I decided to stick with it and it created so many opportunities for me since I was young. It gave me a lot of exposure, so I just decided to continue with it.”

No doubt, she will continue to be a force to reckon with in softball as well.