The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The stage has been set for the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin with the final pieces of the puzzle completed with the crowning of the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA) champions.

On Saturday night at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, it was the Commando Security Truckers who regained the men’s title after a two-year break. And on Monday night, the first year Lady Stingers earned the rights to represent the NPSA in the ladies’ division.

The Truckers and the Lady Stingers will join four other island affiliated associations, who will make up the package for the federation’s nationals this weekend in the Banker’s Field.

The other teams on the men’s side are the defending champions 5-Star AG & Tuff Bulldogs from Abaco, Brokell Construction from Andros, the Big Tuna Construction from Eleuthera and the Control Chemicals Sweepers from Grand Bahama.

With the defending champions Johnson’s Lady Truckers knocked out by the Lady Stingers, there will be a new champion crowned on the ladies’ side. The other teams vying for the title are the Abaco Groceries Diamond Dolls from Abaco, the Sagoma Navigators from Andros, the Tees R Us Stitchers from Eleuthera and the Lady Wolverines from Grand Bahama.

Tournament director Arthur ‘AJ’ Johnson said the newly elected executive team, headed by Ted Miller, is looking forward to putting on a show, displaying some of the top talent that the country has to offer in fast pitch softball in both the men and ladies’ divisions.

“Even though Abaco is bringing a small team in terms of numbers, they are the two-time defending men’s champions and they are basically coming back with the same team as last year,” Johnson said. “They tend to look good on paper and I think the big rivalry will be with the Truckers, who haven’t been there for the last two years, but they have picked up some very good young talented players to go along with their stellar pitching from Thomas Davis.

“So I think the big shootout in the men’s division will be between Eleuthera and New Providence. Eleuthera has Edney ‘the Heat’ Bethel, but I don’t know what they have offensively and defensively on their team. The same thing with Grand Bahama. But they are always tough to beat, so it should be very interesting this year.”

On the ladies’ side, Johnson said the Wolverines will again be the tream to watch outside of New Providence.

“They are going to be tough again coming out of Grand Bhama, but New Providence, with the mixture of young and seasoned players, we should have a very good match-up to look forward to,” he said. “Given the talent that will come from Abaco and of course the Sagoma Navigators from Andros, I think we will have some very exciting fast pitch games over the weekend.”

The tournament is scheduled to get started 5:30pm Thursday when the Truckers are slated to face the Brokell Construction. And at 7pm, the Lady Stingers face the Tees R Us Stitchers and then Bulldogs take on the Big Tuna in the men’s feature contest at 9 pm.

The action is scheduled to pick up at 5pm Friday and break at 8pm for the official opening ceremonies when the BSF is expected to host the Cancer Society of the Bahamas. Day three starts at 9am Saturday and the final day of competition will begin at 1:30pm on Sunday.

The top two teams in both divisions are expected to travel to Abaco the weekend of November 6-8 for the National Championship series.