The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a pitcher's delight for Mechelle Moss and a batter's dream for Larikah Russell as they combined to help the Sunshine Auto Wildcats pull off a 12-7 victory over the Platinum Pool Sharks in the Banker's Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex last night.

With the win, the Wildcats improved their New Providence Softball Association women's win-loss record to 2-1, rebounding from losing their first game to secure two straight, while the Lady Sharks suffered their first loss in two games.

Moss, the workhorse in the absence of former mainstay Mary 'Cruise' Edgecombe, tossed a seven hitter with six strike outs and two walks, giving up two earned runs and batting clean up in their line-up, went 1-for-5 with a run batted in (RBI) and scored on another.

"It was good to get the win like this," said Moss, the talented teenager who pitched all three games so far this season. "We went out there and were able to take care of business."

Russell, batting just ahead of Moss, went 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Her only hit came in a five-run top of the fifth inning and it was a big plate appearance. With one out and third sacker Shakenah Sweeting sitting on third with a run-producing double and second sacker Rebecca Moss on a RBI single, Russell ripped a pitch from Lady Sharks' Sari Albury to left-centre field for a three-run in-the-park homer.

"With two runners on, I was just looking for a good pitch to hit," said Russell, who was walked intentionally twice. "I didn't think I would hit it that hard, but I'm glad that I did."

Russell, the versatile tennis player/coach, said she was glad that they were able to bounce back and win after getting off to a sluggish start. She commended the Lady Sharks, a youthful team managed by Stephen 'Bishop' Beneby, whom she felt put up a very good fight.

After taking a 5-0 lead at the end of their half of the third, the Lady Sharks responded as they batted around the clock in the bottom of the frame, plating six runs to snatch a 1-run lead. Their rally was sparked by a two-run triple from Sari Albury, who batted third in their line-up.

Sunshine Auto got an unearned run in the fourth and five more runs on as many hits in the fifth to push their lead to 11-6. The Lady Sharks added one more in the sixth as they greeted Alex Gabriel, who came in to relief Albury, who finished up at first base. But the Lady Wildcats put the icing on the cake in the seventh.

Sweeting finished with a 2-for-5 night with a RBI and two runs scored; Rebecca Moss was 3-for-5 with a RBI and four runs scored and Chryshan Percentie was 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.

For the Lady Sharks, Albury ended up with a 1-for-4 outing with two RBI and a run scored. She also gave up 11 hits with two strike outs and four walks before Gabriel relieved her in the sixth. Eliyah Johnson and Mia Turner were both 1-for-3 with a run scored and Shawney Whylly and Dorneisha Woodside were 1-for-3.

The NPSA will be back in action on Thursday night with another double header, but will take a break for th Labour Bay holiday weekend and will resume play on Tuesday, June 6.