The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE Martin Burrows Jr just missed a perfect game on the mound, third baseman Sherman Ferguson didn’t pass up the opportunity for a big offensive outing on Saturday night for the New Providence Softball Association defending men’s champions C&S Hitmen.

In the feature game at the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Burrows ended up with a one-hitter and Ferguson blasted a monster three-run homer to help propel the Hitmen to an abbreviated 10-0 shoutout over the Atlantis Titans.

The Hitmen, managed by Darren Stevens, was coming off a 13-12 slugfest over the pesky Chances Mighty Mitts.

The Titans, on the other hand, suffered another loss over the weekend, losing 10-2 to the Cybertech Blue Marlins on Friday.

On the ladies’ side, the improving University of the Bahamas Mingoes routed the Johnson Lady Truckers 27-7 in Saturday’s opener, while on Friday, the defending champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats prevailed with an 18-9 decision over the RAB Operators.

• Here’s a summary of the games played:

Hitmen 10, Titans 0: Sherman Ferguson Jr and Martin Burrows Jr delivered a 1-2 knockout punch for C&S as they whitewashed Atlantis in a quick four-inning affair abbreviated by the 10-run mercy rule.

Ferguson Jr drilled a one-ball pitch over the centre field fence for a three-run homer in a six-run third inning for the Hitmen as he earned the Most Valuable Player of the game - his second for the season.

“I just came out here to do me,” Ferguson said. “I am trying to hit the ball hard every time I bat.”

On the home run, he added that “Stuff happens. Sometimes it will be like that. You just have to be ready.”

Right fielder Rudy Fox was also ready for the parade as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Centre field Rodney Forbes joined him by also going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and shortstop Dino Sweeting was 1-for-1 with two runs scored.

“We played a pretty good game. This was the second time around facing Atlantis,” Ferguson said. “Our bats are getting there. When we face the rest of the teams in the league, we are looking for the same thing to happen.”

Burrows Jr was working on a perfect game until the top of the fourth with two out when Angelo Dillet ripped a shot back to the mound. Burrows Jr’s glove could barely retrieve the ball hit to his left side as Dillet was safe. Burrows Jr, however, struck out the next batter to end the game.

While Burrows finished with a one hitter for the win with four strike outs, Dillet suffered the loss, giving up seven hits.

Marlins 10, Titans 2: Catcher Garfield Bethel cracked a two-run homer in a four-run first inning to earn the MVP honours on Friday night.

Left fielder Winston Seymour was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored and right fielder Ellis Adderley was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Thomas Davis got the in on four hits with 11 strike pouts on the mound. Angelo Dillet was the losing pitcher on seven hits with four strike outs.

Colton Chase was 1-for-1 with a RBI and run scored for Atlantis.

Mingoes 17, Lady Truckers 7: Sophie Cartwright, playing third base, went 2-for-2 with four RBI and two runs scored to earn the MVP honours for the University of the Bahamas in their abbreviated four-inning affair on Saturday.

Left field Nabria Hamilton was 1-for-2 with three RBI and centre fielder Adonya Rolle was 1-for-4 with a RBI and four runs scored.

Shortstop Vanricka Rose and centre fielder Latonia McPhee were both 1-for-2 with two and one run scored respectively in a losing effort.

Both teams had to use a combination of pitchers to try and contain the other.

Wildcats 18, Operators 9: Sunshine Auto went wild with just about every batter in their line-up coming through with at least two hits, led by right fielder Lynette Kelly, who made her presence felt going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

First sacker Dornette Edwards went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, second sacker Crystal Taylor was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored, centre fielder Lashanda Bethel was 2-for-4 with a RBI and three runs scored, winning pitcher Thela Stevens was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, catcher Adiyah Russell was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored and shortstop Larikah Russell was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Eiliyah Ferguson was 2-for-2 with a RBI and run scored, catcher Ruthann Simms was 1-for-3, right fielder Sheryl Evans was 1-for-2 with a RBI and two runs scored and centre fielder Lathera Brown was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored in a losing effort for RAB.

This is the final week of the regular season in the NPSA.

• Here’s a look at the games on tap:

Tuesday

7pm - Black Scorpions vs Johnson Lady Truckers (ladies)

9pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs Atlantis Titans (men)

Thursday

7pm - Black Scorpions vs RAB Operators (L)

9pm - Renegades vs Cybertech Blue Marlins (M)

Friday

7pm - Black Scorpions vs UB Mingoes (L)

9pm - Renegades vs Chances Mighty Mitts (M)

Saturday

7pm - Johnson Lady Truckers vs Sunshine Auto Wildcats (L)

8:30pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs Atlantis Titans (M)