The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Spanish Wells Bulldogs, splitting their team in two, repeated as the Bahamas Softball Federation’s Austin Knowles National High School Softball champions as the B team showed the A team how to do it.

The Bulldogs’ B team, made up of a lot of the players from the defending championship team, did it on Sunday in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

Shortstop Siam Charles, named the most valuable player, knocked in the final two runs with a two-run single in a four-run third inning as the Bulldogs rebounded from a 2-0 deficit. Charles finished with a 1-for-1 day with two RBI.

“It was a good game. We all came out here to give it our all and we showed that we were the better team,” Charles said.

On his performance, Charles said “we knew they were a tough team to beat and half of our team had already given up. But when I came up to bat, I knew that I had to do it.”

Kacie Roberts was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

“We wanted this one. We worked hard for this one. We came here with one mission on mind and that was to win it all,” said Delano Cartwright, coach of the Spanish Wells. “We had 11 guys on this team and they came here to finish it off. We had some doubts in the second inning, but I never doubt their hearts. They came back and they proved me wrong.”

Cartwright, however, said they brought in two teams because they wanted to ensure that they can get ready for next year when they will be losing some of their players from their championship team.

Kade Roberts, one of the players to continue the legacy next year, came in from centrefield to finish the game in the third inning as he replaced starter Kirby Albury for the win. Micah Bethel was tagged with the loss.

“I think we played very well in the tournament, especially in the championship,” Roberts said. “We were down going in the third, but we came back and scored four runs. I think we did an excellent job. It’s good to win another title.”

Shortstop Courtney Smith and first baseman Travell Ferguson were both 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored in a losing effort.

“It was a good game, but it wasn’t the outcome we expected,” said Jordan Prince Williams’ manager Dave Wood. “We just came up short, but we will be back next year. Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes in this one and get the job done next year.”

Spanish Wells advanced to the championship with a 17-2 win over the North Andros Seminoles and Jordan Prince Williams pulled off a 12-2 over the St John’s Giants. In the bronze medal game, North Andros Seminoles knocked off St John’s 10-4.

Seminoles 10, Giants 4: Torie Storr had a two-run home run and Darell Taylor added a solo homer to lead North Andros to the victory for the bronze medal. Ricardo Knowles was the winning pitcher and Alex Knowles was the loser.

Bulldogs 17, Seminoles 2: Kade Knowles was 1-for-3 with three RBI to lead Spanish Wells in their playoff game. Kirby Albury was the winning pitcher and Ricardo Knowles was the loser.

Falcons 12, Giants 2: Courtney Smith was 1-for-1 with three RBI and two runs and Micha Bethel was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Bethel went on to pull off the win, while Daven Neelly was the losing pitcher.

In the consolation round, the CV Bethel Stingrays nipped NGM 4-3 to eliminate Exuma. The Stingrays went on to clobber Spanish Wells Team A 10-1 to eventually win the consolation game.

At the end of the tournament, the following players were awarded the individual awards:

Batting champion – Martin Conliffe (CV Bethel) 3-for-3 with a 1,000 average

Most hits – Martin Conliffe ICV Bethel) and Dorrell Taylor (North Andros) 3 each

Most runs – Dorrell Taylor (North Andros) 4

Most RBI – Christian Wright (St. John’s) 5

Most K’s – Micha Bethel (Jordan Prince Williams) 9

Best ERA – Micha Bethel (Jordan Prince Williams) 0.00

Robin Robin MVP – Martin Conliffe (CV Bethel)

All-Tournament Team

Pitcher – Micha Bethel (Jordan Prince Williams)

Catcher – Martin Conliffe (St. John’s)

First base – Lorenzo Rolle (North Andros)

Second base – Dwayne Taylor (St. John’s)

Third base – Dorrell Taylor (North Andros)

Shortstop Courtney Smith (Jordan Prince Williams)

Left field – T’Shad Cornish (CV Bethel)

Center field – Patquis Armbrister (North Andros)

Right field – Lynden Gaitor (North Andros)

Championship MVP – Siam Charles (Spanish Wells)