The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

One of the most glaring sporting careers for a Bahamian athlete came to a close on Sunday night as veteran pitcher Mary 'Cruise' Sweeting officially retired from fastpitch softball.

"I'm done. That's it," said Sweeting on Sunday night as she helped the Sunshine Auto Wildcats to win the Bahamas Softball Federation's 2017 Rozina Taylor ladies' national championship title. With an 11-3 victory over the Diamond Dolls from Abaco in the Banker's Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Sweeting tossed a four-hitter with two strike outs in the five-inning affair.

"It feels great. It's fantastic. To go out in style, I couldn't ask for a better way to go out," insisted Sweeting, who was named the co-most valuable player with teammate Larikah Russell, who played an exceptional shortstop.

"I'm definitely going to miss this game. I love this game. It hasn't really sunk in yet."

For her part, Sweeting capped off the tournament with an earned run average (ERA) of .000 in posting her two victories in the round robin to share the MVP trophy with Russell, the offensive spark with a 4-for-5 plate appearance with two RBI and five runs scored.

In a career that spun almost two decades, Sweeting has won at least 16 titles and has been one of the marquee pitchers in the league. But she admitted that as they finally regained the New Providence Softball Association and the national titles that they last held four years ago, this would be one that she will cherish.

"This was really a sweet one, especially for those who were so negative towards most of the players on my team," said Sweeting of the insults hurled at them as being "old".

"No matter what you say, you have to have heart. Once you have heart and go out there and you give it your best, then you have to be thankful and that was what we did. We will not let anyone keep us down and 'Cruise' will never let anyone put her down. I will stand my grounds. I think we did a great job, but I'm going to miss this game."

With only two other teams to compete against, inclusive of the Diamond Dolls from Abaco and the Navigators from Andros, Sweeting said she was disappointed in what she saw.

"At one time we used to have all of the teams, but this year we only had three teams," she said. "Hats off to the teams that made it. Hopefully next year we will see more teams back in the round robin."

Sweeting suggested that the federation go into the schools and work with the teams to get more players involved in their respective island associations so that more teams will be represented in the nationals.

And while she is walking away from the playing field, Sweeting said she intent to stay around and assist the sport in some other capacity, especially considering the fact that it's now an Olympic sport.

"Whether it's as a pitching coach, a coach or a manager, I will be around in some capacity," she lamented. "I love softball. This is something that I love doing. So being around the younger players come easy for me. I love it."

Her manager Anthony Bullard said if there was any pitcher he would love to have on his team to go to war with, it's Mary Sweeting.

"She has been the best pitcher that we had around for a long time," he stated. "When she's on the mound, you don't have to worry about anything. She loves to get the ball and is willing to pitch until she can't pitch no more.

"She has been a remarkable pitcher for us and when she goes, it's going to hard to fulfill her shoes. But we are going top be back with or without her and we will make another run at the championship."

At the end of the Rothmans Wildcats era, a team that won a number of NPSA and BSF titles, Sweeting, then Edgecombe, had indicated that she was done.

But year after year, even if she comes out after the season started, Sweeting was on the Wildcats' line-up. This time, she said she's done for sure and won't be back for another campaign.

Like Bullard, Sweeting dedicated the season to their sponsor Deanza 'Sonny' Cox.