The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HIGH school sensation Rochea Morley came up with the biggest hit of the game as her grand slam in-the-park fuelled a six-run surge in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Bommer G Lady Operators that eventually stopped the Johnson Lady Truckers in the ladies opener of the New Providence Softball Association double header in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex Saturday night.

While the teenager’s only hit of the game gave the Operators an 11-6 lead, Michelle Thompson ripped a shot to left field that resulted in two more runs scored on an error, but they only needed one more to pull off the 12-6 stoppage via the 10-run rule as they batted around the clock.

With the win, Bommer George’s sponsored Operators avenged their disappointing 19-8 lead to the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs in their last game on June 2 as they took a half game lead in first place in the standings at 4-1, handing the Sherwin Johnson’s sponsored Truckers their first loss in four games. Both George and Johnson are renewing their rivalry that has started in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association where the Johnson’s Lady Truckers hold the advantage as the current champions.

The game was played just before the Commando Security Truckers improved their front running record to 4-0 with an abbreviated 11-1 triumph over the previously unbeaten Sports Centre Dorsey Park Boys, who slipped to 2-1 for third place in the standings behind the BTC Elite Warriors, who are also perfect at 3-0.

Lady Operators 12,

Lady Truckers 6

After losing pitcher Mechelle Moss loaded the bases on free passes, either by a walk or hit by pitch, to Michelle Thompson, Tyrice Curry and Lathera Brown, Morley ripped a shot to right centre field as she chased her team-mates in cleaning the bases for her in-the-park grand slam to push their lead to 11-6.

Bommer Gee once again loaded the bases as Sophia Cartwright followed by getting on base on an error, Antonia Simmons singled and Averelia Russell walked. That prompted a change on the mound for the Lady Truckers as right field Valencia Gibson switched with Moss. Gibson got Shaquell Bain to strike out, but as the Lady Operators went around the cycle, Thompson produced a shot to newly wed Theota Williams-Ferguson in left field that she misjudged as both Cartwright’s pinch runner Kendra Humes and Simmons scampered home to end the game.

“I didn’t expect the home run, but after I got some instructions from my coach (manager Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows), I corrected my mistake and I got a nice solid hit,” said Morley about her grand slam.

“Our pitching came around and with a couple new players (like Cartwright), we played much better tonight. So I don’t expect any team to score that much runs off us anymore. We’re gelling right now.”

Morley, the 17-year-old graduating student of Kingsway Academy (Thursday night) said she’s that confident because “we have a very good team.”

Diva Burrows was working on a two-hit one run performance through the first four innings for the Lady operators until the Lady Truckers finally got to her, scoring five runs on five hits, highlighted by a RBI single from Mechelle Moss, a RBI fielder’s choice from Shavette Taylor, a two-run single from Ruthann Simms and a two-out RBI single from Theola Williams-Ferguson.

Diva Burrows was then replaced by veteran pitcher Alex Gabriel, who retired the side in the top of the sixth to set up their explosion in the bottom of the frame for the win.

While Burrows held on for the win and Gabriel got the save, Moss suffered the loss on the mound.

Truckers 11,

Dorsey Park Boys 1

In a game that only lasted to the fourth inning, Lamar Watkins went 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored a run and Myron Johnson was 1-for-3 with two runs scored for the Commando Security.

Eugene Pratt went the distance for the win, firing a two-hitter, striking out nine batters. Chris Curry suffered the loss before he was relieved by Garrett Strachan in the third.

Keanu Thompson was 1-for-2, scoring a run and Alfred Ferguson was 1-for-1 to produce the Sports Centre’s limited offensive attack.