The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Softball Association men’s champions Ira Dez Hitmen, with slugger Hosea Hilton back in the line-up after more than a year of inactivity, pulled off their first victory of the season with a 10-9 come-from-behind walk-off victory over the first year Jmel Panthers on Saturday.

The victory came after the Johnson Lady Truckers stopped the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs 12-5 in the ladies’ opener in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The double header followed Friday night’s make-up games in which the Lady Caribs opened their season by slugging the Black Scorpions 19-3 and the BTC Elite Warriors blasted the Chances Mighty Mitts 14-2.

• Here’s a summary of the

weekend action:

Hilton, playing first base instead of his usual spot at third, had just one hit in his three plate appearances, but it turned out to be the most effective of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh with Ira Dez trailing 9-6 and nobody out, after Rudy Fox had a RBI single to plate Addie Finley from second on his lead off double, Hilton ripped a shot to right field, driving in two runs to tie the score before offseason acquisition catcher Marco Lightbourne added a RBI ground out to send Edron Knowles home with the game-winning run.

“It was kind of strange playing defence and I felt kind of winded around the fourth inning,” said Hilton, who is coming back after undergoing surgery on his knees. “I think it will take some time to get back, but we are scrapping for some guys because we are short-handed, but it showed that we still have the fight and I was glad to be able to make a contribution to the victory.”

Finley finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Fox was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored, Martin Burrows Jr was also 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Rashad Seymour was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored and Philip Johnson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Panthers not only lost the game, but also Shavargo Wells. who had to be transported to the hospital on what appeared to be a broken right ankle in the second inning when he missed stepped the first base bag after he got struck out, but tried to beat out a passed ball after Lightbourne couldn’t hold onto the pitch from Martin Burrows.

Keiron Sands was 2-for-4 with a RBI, Prescott Wilson was 1-for-2 with three runs scored, Pedro Dean was 1-for-5 with two runs scored, Giovanni Willie 1-for-3 with a run scored and Raymond Larrimore 1-for-1 with a run scored.

Martin Burrows got the win despite giving up eight walks, five on five runs in the third. But he only gave up six hits and struck out 10 to make up. Duval Storr went the distance, giving up 11 hits with four strike outs for the loss.

Lady Truckers 12, Lady Caribs 5

Extending their winning streak to 2-0, Johnson’s got a balanced attack as everybody in the line-up contributed at least one hit. Shevette Taylor ignited the flame by going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, Shaquell Smith was just as effective going 2-for-4 with two RBI and as many runs scored, Ruthann Simms was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, Marissa Burrows was 1-for-3 with a RBI, Mechelle Moss was 1-for-3 with a RBI and her mother Rebecca Moss was 1-for-2 with three runs scored.

“We had a little scrappy line-up because as usual, a lot of players didn’t come out and some came late,” said Johnson’s coach Bobby ‘Baylor’ Fernander. “We did our best with what we had, but if we could come together as a team and do the right things, I don’t see them beating us. I’m not talking bout losing a game, but rather winning the series. I think we should win at least three out of all of the four game sets and four with some of the teams.”

Mechelle Moss, the teenage pitcher from St Augustine’s College, went the distance for her second win on the mound on four hits, as many strike outs and two walks. Ashanti Darville suffered the loss on nine hits with a walk and three strike outs.

The back-to-back games may have had an effect on the Lady Caribs, who didn’t have the intensity as the night before in their rout over the Black Scorpions.

Daria Cambridge was 1-for-2 with to RBI, Darville and Jodi Clarke were both 1-for-3 with a run scored and Helena Curry scored two runs.

Warriors 14, Mighty Mitts 2

Richard Bain went 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored to pace BTC in their abbreviated victory. Zhavargo Archer was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs and Eric Johnson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Jeffery Woodside was the winning pitcher and David Nathan was tagged with the loss.

Micah Bethel was 1-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored and Michael Ingraham was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored.

Lady Caribs 19, Scorpions 3

Atiya Deal went 4-for-5 with five RBI and four runs scored to lead COB in their season-opening win. Elricka Gibson was 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored and Helena Curry was 3-for-5 with three runs scored.

Ashanti Darville tossed a five-hitter with three strike outs for the victory on the mound over Marvell Miller, who gave up 12 hits with four strike outs.

Lachell Albury had a perfect 3-for-3 night with a run scored for the Black Scorpions, who also got a 1-for-3 production with a RBI from Miller and a 1-for-2 production from Natasha Paul.