The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama: For the third consecutive time, Aruba defeated the Bahamas, the last coming in the championship game to secure their berth as the representative of the English Caribbean Amateur Softball Federation (ECAST) in the World Championships in Cali, Colombia in July.

Aruba, with a youthful team of players between the ages of 17-21, blew out the Bahamas 15-5 by abbreviated ten run rule.

The game should have been stopped after the fifth inning with Aruba leading 15-5 by the International Softball Federation (ISF) rules, but the Bahamas Softball Federation had set the game to be played for the full seven innings.

Aruba, who were awarded a bye into the final after they pulled off a 12-4 win in the opening game on Thursday (after it was tied 3-3 in regulation) and came back for an 8-7 decision on Saturday night to finish the double round robin with a 5-0 record, took control of the game from the first two innings and they never relinquished the lead.

The Bahamas, who earned their berth in the final with a 16-1 rout over the Turks and Caicos Islands two hours earlier in the bronze medal game, started celebrating early with a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

But Aruba came back in the bottom as 21-year-old Riangela Flanegin blasted a three-run shot out the park at the Grand Bahamas Sports Complex. They out two more runs on the scoreboard to snatch a 5-3 lead.

After 22-year-old ace Sulyviendra Hooi shutout the Bahamas in the second, her team-mates produced six more runs in the second to push their lead to 11-3 in a rally that saw Bahamas ace Mary ‘Cruise’ Edgecombe got pulled for reliever Marvelle Miller.

The Bahamas got some consolation when Shevette Taylor knocked her third homer - a two-run shot - in the tournament out of the park to

trim the deficit to 11-5.

Aruba solidified their position as the top team in the ECAST when they put two more runs in the fourth and fifth respectively to push their

lead to 15-5. The game, by ISF standards, should have been stopped.

But after the game continued to the sixth with the Bahamas came back to put three more runs on the scoreboard in the sixth, it was held up

to as Aruba protested. However, after a lengthy delay, the game was finally awarded to Aruba 15-5.

Hooi was the winning pitcher and Edgecombe suffered the defeat.

The most valuable player was Flanegin, who was 3-for-4, three runs scored with five runs batted in.

In the bronze medal game on Sunday, the Bahamas routed the Turks and Caicos Islands 16-1 to advance to the final.

Tyrice Curry had a perfect 3-for-3 day with a three-run home run, scoring three times. Candice Smith was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs

scored. Winning pitcher Desiree Coakley, who threw a no-hitter with five strike outs, had a single and a walk, scoring two runs.

Karen Jones got on an error, stole second and scored Turks and Caicos’ only run on an error in the top of the first. Atlavia Russell suffered

the loss.

The Turks and Caicos ended up third, while Jamaica finished at the bottom of the pile at 0-4.

Here’s a look at the results posted in the tournament:

Aruba 8, Bahamas 7: Ludmila Geerman drew a lead off walk, advanced to second on a ground out and scored the game’s winning run on an error

as they pulled off a dramatic victory in the bottom of the seventh to win the round robin.Saturday night.

Geerman scored her second run as she finished 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Shakeena Croes went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored and Milvienne Henriquez was 1-for-3 with three runs scored to help out.

Sulivienne Hooi was the winning pitcher.

For the Bahamas, Tara Evans was 3-for-4, including a two-run home run for two RBI with three scored. Neressa Johnson was 2-for-3 with a RBI

and run scored; both Larikah Russell and Thela Johnson were 1-for-4 with a run scored and Breshante Dareus and Shervette Taylor were

1-for-4 with a RBI.

Aruba 18, Turks and Caicos 0: Rianqela Flanegin had a batter’s dream and Ludmila had a pitcher’s delight as they led their team to the most

impressive victory of the tournament as they kept their winning streak intact on Saturday night.

Flanegin belted three homers, including a two-run and a three-run homer both in their 14-run first inning and a two-run shot in a

four-run second inning and she was joined by Yelitza Ras was 2-for-2 with five RBI and a run scored; Shakeena Crors and Franchesca Diaz

were both 3-for-3 with three runs scored; Milvienne Hehriquez was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and Guilen Dirkksz was 2-for-3 with three

runs.

Geerman pitched the only perfect game of the tournament with five strike outs.

Bahamas 30, Turks and Caicos 0: Dorian Perry had a perfect 4-for-4 night as she picked up the win on a two-hitter with three strike outs

as the Bahamas went deep in their bench in the shutout on Saturday night.

Her daughter Brandi Perry was 4-for-5 with two RBI and four runs; Sharnell Symonette was for-4 with four RBI and three runs; Candice

Smith and Tesheena Pinder were both 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored; Larikah Russell was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs;

Lathera Brown was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored; Tyrice Curry 1-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored and Sharvette Taylor

2-for-4 with RBI and three runs.

Romana Williams was tagged with the loss.

Bahamas 19, Jamaica 0: Tarah Evans had a perfect 2-for-2 day with a two-run home run, driving in a total of five runs and scoring twice to

lead the Bahamas in their shutout on Saturday. Sharvette Taylor helped out going 3-for-3 with a solo homer, finishing with four RBI and two

runs scored and Breshante Dareus was 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs.

Desiree Coakley tossed a one-hitter with a walk and four strike outs.

Apphia Williams was the losing pitcher.

Kirah Dames got the lone hit for the losers.

Turks and Caicos 17, Jamaica 8: Shanella Forbes-Hall was 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored for their win on Saturday. Shalawn

Mulls-Delancy was 2-for-4 with a RBI, scoring two runs; Karen Jones was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Romana Williams was 2-for-2

with a RBI and four runs scored.

Karen Jones was the winning pitcher and Appjhia Williams got tagged with the loss.

Shanna Kay Blackwood was 2-for-3 with a RBI, scoring two runs in a losing effort.

Bahamas 24, Turks and Caicos 1: Tyrice Curry went 3-for-3 with four RBI, scoring three times in their blowout victory as the Bahamas

avenged their opening loss on Friday night.

Lathera Brown was 2-for-2 with four RBI and two runs; Sharvette Taylor was 2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored and Latoya Brown was

2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs.

Dorian Perry was the inning pitcher with a no-hit, three strike out performance. Atlaveria Russell was the losing pitcher.

Angie Quant was 1-for-1 with a run scored in a losing effort.

Aruba 15, Jamaica 0: Shakeena Crates went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead Aruba on Friday. Franchessa Diaz was 2-for-2

with two RBI and two runs scored and Mariete Kock was 2-for-2 with a RBI, scoring a run.

Linda Brown threw a no-hitter, giving up one base and scoring eight for the win on the mound. Apphia Williams suffered the loss.

Aruba 18, Turks and Caicos 2: Rianqela Flanegin went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, driving in four runs and scoring three times to lead

Aruba to a double header victory in the feature contest. Marietje Kock had a perfect 2-for-2 night with two RBI and as many runs scored.

Jennifer Chirino was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs.

Mandy Angela was the winning pitcher on a three-hitter with seven strike outs. Atlivia Russell was the losing pitcher.

Judy Delancy and Karen Jones were both 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Aruba 12, Bahamas 4: After playing to a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation, Aruba blew the game wide open by batting around the clock,

scoring nine runs in the extra eight innings on Thursday night to open the tournament.

Jiulen Dirksz went 3-for-4 with a RBI and run scored; Loamik Gerrimon wqs 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored; Milvernne Herriquez was

3-for-5 with two runs scored and Sulivendra Hooi had a grand slam home run to lead the attack.

In a losing effort, Sharnell Symonette was 1-for-3 with a RBI, scoring a run.

Rudlyn Ras Hooi was the winning pitcher and Thela Johnson got the loss in relief of starter Mary Edgecombe.