The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The defending champions Commando Security Truckers find themselves in a 2-0 deficit in the New Providence Softball Association’s best-of-five championship series against the pennant winning C&S Hitmen.

But manager Perry Seymour said not to count out his Truckers just yet. Once they can score a run and win a game on Saturday in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, they will be back on a roll again.

“When you find yourself in a hole like we are, you have to start doing things differently,” Seymour said. “I’m looking to score one run first and then I’m looking to win one game and then I will go from there.

“To bounce back, we have to play better than what we have been doing now.”

In the first two games of the series, the Hitmen, behind the superb pitching from mainstay Alcott Forbes, have been shutout. Forbes has been stingy on the mound, giving up just two hits with 13 strike outs in their 8-0 and 5-0 victories.

Seymour, the new manager of the men’s national team, said the game of softball is made up of hits, runs and errors and right now his Truckers are finding it difficult to deal with Forbes.

“He’s pitching a hell of a series and they have been getting some timely hits and making less mistakes than we have,” Seymour said. “They have just been taking advantage of us over the first two games.”

Those games were played over the weekend as the NPSA was forced to reduce their championship series to a best-of-five series because of the damage Hurricane Matthew left behind to the lights at the park.

The NPSA, according to president Henry Dean, made the changes so that they can get their series completed in time to crown their champions to participate in the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin that starts on November 4 at the stadium.

So far, the Johnson’s Lady Truckers have stunned the pennant winning Sunshine Auto Wildcats, sweeping them in three straight games over the weekend to win the ladies’ title and to earn their trip to the nationals.

On Saturday, the Truckers will attempt to stave off elimination when they take on the Hitmen at 1 pm.

If necessary, game four will be played around 4pm. Should they go to a fifth and deciding game, they will play on Sunday.

If they are not successful in coming back in the series, Seymour said they would have lost to a great organisation that is worthy of taking over their reigns.

“We will fight to the end,” Seymour said. “We have to show a way better showing for our people than what we have been doing for the last two games.

“We have two players off the island. Hopefully they will be back for Saturday’s games. The schedule has been messing us up, but you can’t cry for softball. Whatever you get, you have to play with because everybody has the same problem.”

The problem for the Truckers, according to Hitmen manager Darren Stevens, is the same that they have experienced in the first two games.

“They’re going to see Alcott and more Alcott,” he predicted. “We’re not going to change anything, so they better get ready to see more Alcott Forbes. We’re not taking any chances. We have them down and we have to keep them under our feet.”

Forbes’ battery mate Angelo Dillett said he doesn’t expect for Forbes to ease up against the Truckers.

“I would say he’s unbeatable right now the way he’s pitching,” Dillett said.

“With the way we are working together, it’s going to be an awesome challenge for the Truckers. Ain’t nothing they can bring can beat us. We have to beat ourselves.”

Dean said from the way he sees it, the Hitmen “are hot and their pitching is spectacular. The Truckers have to dig deep to overcome what seemingly looks like a sweep.”

However, Dean said if they don’t get it together, they could end up like the Lady Wildcats, who were surprised by the three-game sweep from the Lady Truckers.

“That was a surprise, but overall it went well,” said Dean in reference to their decision to shorten the series and play during the day. “I want to say that softball is alive and it should be even better next year.”