The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The tough road to consecutive championships already hit a snag with an early season loss, but the SAC Big Red Machine Junior Girls look to keep pace with the league’s two undefeated teams.

The Big Red Machine went on the road to dismantle the NCA Crusaders 19-8 yesterday at the NCA campus.

What looked to be a close game in the opening frame, got out of hand early before the the game was stopped due to the “10 run mercy” rule.

SAC led 11-7 in the first inning and outscored NCA 6-1 the remainder of the game en route to the win.

First baseman Dachye Stubbs led the Big Red machine offensive attack and finished 4-4 with three RBI and a team high four runs scored.

Catcher Valencia Gibson was 3-3 with three runs scored and five RBI, Shawnte Curtis added three runs, while Mechelle Moss, Tiffany Hanna and Kyra Mckinney each crossed the plate twice. 

SAC Head Coach Vernice Russell, said her team was able to overcome a slow start from the mound and clamp down defensively.

“First we started off a little slow from the mound and I think our pitcher was a little nervous because this is her old school where she came from, but we were able to put it together,” she said, “The team knew what they came out here to do and with that goal in mind, we just knew we had to go out there and excite and thats what we did.”

The Big Red Machine rebounded after a 23-9 loss at the hands of the undefeated Queens College Comets.

The St. Andrews Hurricanes are also undefeated thus far on the young season.

“It is early in the season and we have a lot of improvement to make as we look to go ahead. Our goal is to win the championship once again and this team has the determination to make those improvements and get better. We have the stickability and the desire to get back to that championship level so as the season goes along we will continue to get better,” she said, “During the course of the season sometimes you have hiccups and may not play up to your full potential, but when that happens we want to learn from those and play our best softball headed into the playoffs.”

In 2011, the Big Red Machine won three of the four divisions, unseating powerhouse St. Andrews Hurricanes who had dominated each of the four leagues in recent years.

The Crusaders Senior Boys captured the only other title.

In 2012 there are eight junior girls competing for the coveted BAISS title.

The season is expected to run until November 17-18 when the sudden death playoffs are scheduled to get underway. The best-of-three championship is scheduled for November 12-16.