The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE St Augustine's College Big Red Machine's junior boys continued to roll along in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, routing the Kingsway Academy Saints 9-1.

In their return to action yesterday after the break for the holiday weekend, the defending champions St Augustine's College picked up where they left off extending their record to 3-0, while Kingsway Academy dropped to the other end of the spectrum at home with 0-3. "We didn't swing as well as I thought we could, but we got the win," said SAC's head coach Je'Vaughn Saunders.

"We still have a lot more to improve on as we continue to play."

But Saunders said he's confident that at the end of the season, the Big Red Machine will clinch their fourth consecutive title.

Tyler Munroe went the distance, firing a no-hitter but he issued five walks, one of which put Saints' first baseman Cameron Thompson on base to lead off the fourth as he went on to score Kingsway Academy's only run on third baseman Mazio Randall's RBI ground out. Munroe and the Big Red Machine put five runs on the scoreboard by the end of the third inning and Saunders went to the bench and substituted all but three of their starters as they held on for the win.

Sprinter Otto Laing, one of the substitutes, ripped a two-run single in the four-run fifth inning, stole second and used his speed to continue running to third, but was tagged out on the play.

While SAC had an unearned run from right fielder Justin Miller in the first, Tyler Wallace came through with a big RBI triple and scored one of their three runs in the second.

The Big Red Machine also had a chance for another explosive inning in the third when centre fielder Miguel Foster drilled a shot to centre, but instead of getting an in-the-parker, he was limited to a double.

Foster then tried to score on Munroe's triple but was tagged out at the plate as Saints' catcher Chad Cartwright held onto the ball despite being knocked to the ground.

Joshua Rolle eventually gave up seven hits with five walks in suffering the loss.

Rico Seymour, Kingsway Academy's head coach, said he wasn't at all disappointed in the loss as a result of the loss. "The score didn't indicate how they played. They came out prepared to play today," he said."This is a work in progress, so anything could happen."

He noted that they have had a rough schedule, playing all of the top tier teams so far. But they are licking their wounds and playing much better as they get ready for their final four games and hopefully a shot at making the playoffs.