The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH a nearly flawless performance yesterday, the CV Bethel Stingrays loudly announced themselves as GSSSA title contenders and a team to watch in this weekend’s Austin Knowles Softball Tournament.

Ellis Adderley pitched a perfect game and the Stingrays blanked the CI Gibson Rattlers 25-0 yesterday in senior boys action at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Adderley finished with four strikeouts and, backed by a stingy defense, saw the entire Rattlers lineup just once before the game was stopped after three innings.

The high powered Stingrays offense delivered an endless streak of highlight reel plays at the plate, outmatching Rattlers pitcher Nicholas Swaby early on.

Every member of the CV Bethel starting lineup scored at least two runs.

Lead off man Kenneth Curry finished 4-4, including a triple, three runs and four RBI, Peron Rolle finished 2-3, including an in the park home-run, two runs and three RBI and Courtney Smith finished 2-3, including a solo in the park home-run, a triple and two RBI.

Brandon Charlton finished 2-3 with four RBI and three runs, and Irvin Smith added three RBI and scored two runs.

Brandon Bethel scored a team high four runs, while Cheddi Ferguson added three while Adderley scored three of his own.

After today’s competition, the GSSSA will observe mid-term break and schools will take part in the Austin “King Snake” Knowles National Championship, which is expected to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date.

The 2011 tournament featured 20 teams from throughout the Bahamas in senior boys and girls play, but Bahamas Softball Federation executives expect the 12th edition in 2012 to exceed that number when the teams take the field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex October 18-20.

Along with the gold medal and “national champion” title, tournament winners will also receive a kit courtesy of the BSF, which includes 24 softballs, 12 gloves, four bats, five helmets, catchers’ gear, DVDs on pitching and coaching clinics, and a computer.

“With the schools competing first on the sporting calendar and running at the same time, we definitely expect even more teams to take part and the competition level to be elevated as everyone will be into the swing of things,” said BSF president Burket Dorsett. “It is a welcome addition to the regular seasons among the schools as it helps the players themselves building the competitive spirit between leagues and islands, while getting in as much games as possible.”