The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Sigma Wildcats, regrouping with some players who played against them last year, brought out their dancing shoes as they celebrated their 4-2 series victory over the Sigma Brackettes in the New Providence Softball Association’s Carl ‘Bang Bang’ Johnson championship.

In the clincher Monday night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the Wildcats prevailed in an 18-12 slugfest over the Brackettes as they danced and danced and danced on the infield.

Shonell Symonette, who got the save before she was replaced by Mary ‘Cruise’ Sweeting in the fourth, said her team was depending on her so she did what she had to do.

“They told me all I had to do was throw the ball across the plate and they will do the rest,” Symonette said. “So I went out there and did what I was expected to do.”

As for the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin to be played this weekend at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Symonette said they are anticipating the same results when they face the championship teams from Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.

Like Symonette, infielder Vonetta Nairn came over from the defunct Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks and she made her presence felt as the starting shortstop.

“Wow. It feels great. Another chance at a national championship,” she said. “It feels wonderful. I’m so glad that I played with the Wildcats. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t, but I want to thank God for this victory.”

With the Brackettes threatening to come into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh, Nairn orchestrated a double play and was responsible for completing the final play as the Wildcats began their celebrations.

“I just wanted to come out here and help us to win,” she said. “The only thing that was on my mind was that we needed to win and get to the round robin.”

And now that they are there, Nairn said if they come out and play “like we did tonight and cut down on the mental mistakes and the errors, we can go out there and win the tournament.”

Centrefielder Candice Smith, who provided some of the spark on the outfield and enjoyed a great offensive series, said they came back this year to win the title and they finally got the job done.

“The big competition will come this weekend at the round robin, but right now we are going to enjoy every moment of this championship,” she stated.

And with that, the Wildcats continued their celebrations, dancing the night away.