The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

THE CRUSADERS took one step closer to the junior boys BAISS pennant with a convincing 9-3 win against the Queen’s College Comets yesterday, the victory taking the Nassau Christian Academy side’s record for the season to 4-1.

The first placed Crusaders came into the game with one goal - “to win and move one step closer to the playoffs.”

Nathan Sullivan, NCA’s starting pitcher, bounced back from a poor game in his last outing to steer his team to a big win with a succession of strikes.

Richard Wilson, coach of the NCA Crusaders, made no secret of how important the game was. During every at bat for his young players he could be heard shouting “we need a big hit, no pressure, no pressure.”

Wilson indicated that his team was really focused on getting the win because it would move them one step closer to the pennant with the season winding down.

Crusaders’ Coby Cartwright and Rashad Stubbs made a comeback for the Comets virtually impossible, adding four of the team’s nine runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Cartwright, the first at bat in the inning, took Comets’ pitcher Daalan Adderley deep, touching him up for a home run blast.

Not wanting to be outdone, Stubbs stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and cleared them. “The last game we didn’t play a good defensive game,” he said. “Today we pulled up our socks and played they way we know how to.”

He added: “Before I stepped to the plate I said a prayer. I knew it was a big spot I was in and I wanted to do my part to help us make it to the playoffs. Coach told me before I stepped in the batter’s box that the team needed a big hit. I just wanted to help my team.”

With the loss, the Comets’ record stands at 2-1 for the season.