The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The runs came in bundles as the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine opened defence of their Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ softball titles with abbreviated victories over the St Anne’s Bluewaves.

In their two head-to-head match-ups at St Augustine’s College that started and ended simultaneously, the Big Red Machine’s senior boys erupted for all their runs in the bottom of the third as they pulled off a 17-2 come-from-behind massacre over the Bluewaves, while their junior girls exploded for 13 runs in the first and 15 in the second for a 28-0 whitewashing over St Anne’s.

Big Red Machine 17, Bluewaves 2: After giving up two runs in the top of the third, St Augustine’s senior boys settled down and turned up the offensive attack as they banged out 11 hits, including three home runs, two of which went in the swimming pool, as they put the game out of reach.

Left fielder Dwayne Murray got the parade started when he belted the first shot over the left field wall off the pool for a one-out solo homer to put SAC on the scoreboard with a 2-1 deficit.

“It’s a good feeling to come in and hit one in the pool,” said Murray, an 11th grader who hopes to make an impact on the Big Red Machine this year. “I surprised myself because I really didn’t think that it would go out. But I’m really excited because we were able to get the win.”

Right fielder Ellison Hanna followed with a triple and after he scored on an error that placed shortstop Miguel Bowe on first, winning pitcher Denzel Pratt walked, making way for first baseman Anthon Lightbourne to come through with a RBI double to score Pratt.

The run came after Bowe had scored on a wild pitch and before centre fielder Alex Ariza then drilled a shot to centre field as he raced home behind Lightbourne for a two-run in-the-parker.

Catcher Shane Moncur singled and got all the way to third on an error and caught a ride home on third baseman Brian Gibson’s run-producing single.

As they went on to bat around the clock, Hanna got a RBI single before Bowe added a two-run double to force St Anne’s to make a pitching change.

Schamal Forbes came in from third to switch with losing pitcher Dentry Richards and was greeted by Pratt, who cracked a two-run homer over into the pool.

“I think we did good for our first game,” Pratt said. “We were nervous because it’s the beginning of the season, but our coaches got us settled and we just started to play like we are capable of playing.”

St Augustine’s College would go on to load the bases and score six more runs as the game was stopped via the 15-run mercy rule, all with still only one out.

The Blue Waves, who got the first hit of the game on a single from Brent Johnson to lead off the top of the first, also scored the first two runs in the third as second baseman Kelteron Ferguson and Schamal Forbes had back-to-back walks and centre fielder Jeremy King reached first on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.

First baseman Rashad Ritchie then walked and was credited with a RBI as Ferguson scored the first run. The second run came on catcher Orry Pyfrom’s RBI sacrifice fly that plated Forbes.

After that, St Anne’s coach Rico Seymour said they could only watch as SAC opened the floodgate. “We knew we were on a mission, but we bucked up to the defending champions in the first one,” Seymour said. “We got one loss, but we have nine more to go.

“I’m sure the next nine, it will be a different Bluewaves team you will see. But hats off to the Big Red Machine. They came out, they were a little sluggish, but they beat the rust off us. We still have nine more games to get back on top.

Big Red Machine 28, Bluewaves 0

While Shawnte Curtis was on her game on the mound, her SAC teammates were clicking on all cylinders offensively as the defending junior girls champions went on to shutout St Anne’s.

As they went on to score 13 runs in the first and 15 more in the second, the Big Red Machine got four runs apiece from Dachye Stubbs, Shakanah Sweeting and Taylor Walters as they made their second opener look so easy.

“I felt pretty good about the first game out,” said SAC’s coach Vernice Cargill. “I see that we still have some work to do, however, I know the girls are capable. They are committed and they are driven, so we are looking forward to repeating this year.”

Christina Scott was the losing pitcher.