The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Sting Truckers bounced back last night to take their frustration out on the hapless D&K Smokers as they avenged their disappointing loss to the defending men’s champions Arnette’s Sporting Lounge Hitmen in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night.

Coming off just their second loss of the New Providence Softball Association’s 2014 season, the Truckers steamrolled past the Smokers 19-2 via the 15-run mercy rule after four innings in the opener of the double header Thursday night. The other game was played between the BTC Elite Warriors and the Chances Mighty Mitts, who were responsible for giving the Truckers their first loss.

Calling it a “good workout,” shortstop Marvin ‘Tougie’ Wood said they just simply didn’t want to take the youthful Smokers for granted as they improved their front running record to 13-2, while the Smokers fell in almost a reverse direction in fourth place at 3-10. Only the Mighty Mitts trail the Smokers. They were 2-12 going into their game against the Warriors, who were in second. “It was a good workout tonight. We came out here to play softball and we didn’t want to take them too lightly,” he said.

Wood admitted that it was a good opportunity for the Truckers to show their true colours after such a devastating loss. “The Hitmen were a much better team that night, but we were willing to come back out and take everybody serious and pull off the win,” he said.

And they did it without some of their key pieces.

Manager Perry Seymour didn’t suit up and so Wood stepped in and handled the coaching chores at third base. “We are in a rebuilding stage, but we will be alright,” he said. “We still have a team that is capable of winning.”

After getting off to a very slow start, getting just one unearned run in the top of the first inning off Jeffery Woodside, the Truckers exploded for six runs in the second, thanks to a two-run home run from catcher Jamal ‘Sarge’ Johnson as they came from a 2-1 deficit for a 7-2 advantage. In that inning, they managed to chase the Smokers’ towering fast baller off the mound.

Bradley Cash, who came in from right field sending Woodside to catch, was able to hold the Truckers’ bats off stride, limiting their potent offensive attack to just one hit, that coming from Eugene Pratt with a crashing bases loaded three-run double to left field as the Truckers extended their lead to 11-1.

Cash lasted the first third of the fourth when he loaded the bases. That forced manager Andy Percentie to come in and clean things up after Olando White scooted home from third on a wild pitch. But the compact lefty was greeted by Lamar Watkins with a two-run double to centre field, scoring Deigo Hutchinson and Paron Rolle. Robert ‘Bobby’ Saunders came out of the coaches box at first to pinch hit and ripped a run-producing single to plate the speedy Watkins.

But before the inning was over, first year acquisition Garfield Bethel reached safely on first on a walk as the bases were loaded again with one out for Pratt. This time the tall, lanky infielder drilled the pitch from Percentie to right centrefield, sending Saunders and Bethel home.

As they batted around the clock for the second time, McPhee got a RBI single to knock in Pratt and after a couple of wild pitches that Woodside couldn’t hold onto from Percentie, White raced home with the Truckers’ 19th and final run.

Thomas Davis would mow down the Smokers in order in the fourth to end the game. The 1-2-3 threat was duplicated in the third. Davis also had the same trend in the second, but with two out, Oscar Skippings stunned the Truckers’ defence with a shot to right field for a triple. However, he was left stranded on base as Davis struck out D’Kyle Rolle.

Rolle, by the way, got the rally started for the Smokers in the first when he led off with a walk and was followed by a single by Philip Johnson. After Woodside struck out, Courtney Smith belted a shot to left centrefield for a two-single double, sending Rolle and Johnson home with their only two runs. Smith was left on second after Cash struck out and Gee Bethel popped up.

The NPSA is scheduled to take a break this weekend as they pay their last respects to the late Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson, the manager of the Electro Telecom Lady Hitters. A memorial service was held for 46-year-old Johnson at the park on Wednesday night. His funeral service is scheduled for 10 am Saturday at Wesley Methodist Church in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.