The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Sigma Wildcats hit top form to end the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs’ interest in the New Providence Softball Association ladies’ postseason play.

One week after they blew an opportunity to complete a three-game sweep, the Wildcats came out fighting to demolish the Lady Caribs 13-2 and wrap up their best-of-five playoff series 3-1.

Last night at the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Mary ‘Cruise’ Sweeting was in total command of her pitches, tossing a no-hitter with five strike outs, as the the opening game was stopped via the ten-run rule.

On the offensive end, the Wildcats got just four hits from the combination of starter and losing pitcher Ashanti Darville and reliever Tyrice Curry. But all four hits were instrumental in putting runs across the home plate for Sigma.

Wildcats’ manager Anthony Bullard said afterwards, “We sat down and talked to the ladies and we all had one goal in mind and that is to win the championship. As a matter of fact, we have already looked past the championship.

“We want to go to the round robin championship because we haven’t been there in a while. So everything is heading that way. All of our attention is focused on that right now.”

Before they can get to the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin Tournament at the end of the month, the Wildcats will have to take care of business first in the NPSA’s Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson championship series.

They are now awaiting the series between the defending champions Sigma Bracket and the Black Scorpions - game three of which will be played tonight. The Brackets hold a 2-0 lead.

“We will wait,” Bullard said. “All of our girls are healthy. At one point in the season, they were all not healthy, but they are now.

“Mary is back, the young pitcher (Mechelle Moss) is playing well and Shonel (Symonette) is ready, So we can’t wait to get started.”

Coming off a game three victory, COB was hoping to keep the streak going.

But they gave up the first run in the top of the first inning to Candice Smith, who got to first on a one-out error and eventually came home after Jeanette Hilton and the Lady Caribs made another.

And COB opened the second with yet another error that put Vonette Nianr all the way to third where she scored on another miscue.

Sweeting followed by getting on base on a hit by pitch and, after reaching third on a wild pitch, came home on Lashanda Bethel’s run-producing ground out.

The Wildcats came up with a big seven-run third inning as Darville walked Nairn and Maryann Ferguson in between a single by Sweeting to load the bases. That resulted in Bethell clearing the bases on a three-run double.

Mechelle Moss walked and, after she and Bethel moved around on a wild pitch, Candice Smith walked again to re-load the bases. This time, Jeanette Hilton had an RBI walk. Then, another error on a shot from Vantice Bethel resulted in the other runners scoring as they batted around the clock before they finally got out.

Trailing 10-0 in the bottom of the third, the Lady Caribs finally got on the scoreboard, thanks to the combo of Olympia Kelly and Jodie Clarke. Kelly walked and, with one out, Clarke got all the way to third on a rare rerror by the Wildcats that sent Kelly home.

The Lady Caribs also tightened up on their defence, shutting down the Wildcats 1-2-3 in order in the fourth. They then added their only other run in the bottom of the frame. Curry got on base on another Wildcats’ error and, with one-out, scored on Richara Bain’s RBI ground out.

But their recovery was short-lived, as Sigma bounced back in the fifth to score four more runs.

Mechelle Moss got hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball. Then she caught a ride home on Candice Smith’s two-run in-the-park home run.

Before they were done, Donette Edwards got a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and got knocked in on Vantice Bowleg’s RBI double. Bowleg, however, got picked off trying to stretch it into a triple before Nairn grounded out.

The Lady Caribs had a chance to score in the bottom of the fifth, but they were shut down as the Wildcats left them with two runners on base to end the game and the season for COB.

COB’s coach Oria Knowles reflected, “I think the girls gave it their best shot tonight. We had some players who were late for the game due to family problems. We had some deaths in the families of a few of our players.

“We’re not making excuses. We were not on track on the mound and that made a huge difference. But, for a first year term, I think we did a tremendous job getting here to the playoffs.

“We can only come back bigger, better and stronger next year. So we are already looking forward to next season.”

Knowles, who coached the team along with her husband, Colin ‘Troppy’ Knowles, said it was a learning experience. But she’s confident that once they can regroup and handle the pressure of playing seven inning games, they will be much better next year.

Tonight’s schedule

7 pm Black Scorpions (0-2) vs Sigma Brackets (2-0) L).

8:30 pm Chances Mighty Mitts (0-2) vs Sting Truckers (2-0) M.