The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Johnson Lady Truckers needed a lift and Theola Williams-Ferguson came in and was responsible for both the tying and winning runs as they rolled past the Sunshine Auto Wildcats 8-7 in a walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth inning last night.

It was the second night that the New Providence Softball Association played an earlier game in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex after the league discovered that thieves had stolen the copper wire in the lighting fixtures on the outfield.

Tied at 6-6 going into the extra eighth inning, LaShane Whylly, pinch running for catcher Dornette Edwards on second base via the International Softball Federation’s tie-breaking rule, got to third on a force out at first and scored on an error to put the Wildcats up 8-7. That was short lived as the Truckers came back in the bottom of the frame with Ruthann Simms avoiding second on the tie-breaking rule. Then came in Williams-Ferguson, who pinch hit for Jaquana Gibson.

Williams-Ferguson ripped a shot to right to plate Simms with the tying run. After getting on second, Williams-Ferguson stole second. Krystal Delancy then laid down a bunt and was able to beat out a throw at first on an error that saw Ferguson-Williams slide across home plate for the game-winning run.

“When I got the call to come in the game, I was excited and I just did what I had to do,” said Williams-Ferguson during the team’s celebrations after the game. “I was glad that I was able to help us pull off the win.”

With the victory, the Lady Truckers improved to 4-1, while the loss dropped the Wildcats to 2-3.

Mechelle Moss came in from left field to replace Gibson, the starting pitcher, in the seventh inning for the win on the mound. In her two innings, Moss gave up one hit and struck out a batter. Gibson gave up nine hits, four earned runs with three walks and two strike outs in six innings.

Mary ‘Cruise’ Sweeting went the distance for the loss. She tossed a five-hitter, giving up just one earned run with four walks and seven strike outs.

Ferguson-Williams led the offensive attack by going 1-for-1 with a RBI and a run scored and Simms was 1-for-5 with two runs scored for the Truckers, who scored one run in the second, one in the third, one in the sixth and three in the third to force the extra inning.

Maryann Ferguson was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored, Mary Sweeting 2-for-4 with a run scored, Dornette Edwards was 1-for-5 with a run scored and Renee ‘Sunshine’ Davis was 1-for-3 with two runs scored for the Wildcats, who had two runs in the second, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth before they went to the extra inning.