The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE youthful Bahamas women's national softball team suffered its second straight loss at the World Baseball Softball Confederation Softball Americas Qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games.

On Monday in a battle of two winless teams in Surrey, Canada, Cuba blanked the Bahamas 13-0 on day two of the week-long tournament, rebounding from a 17-0 whitewashing at the hands of host Canada.

The Bahamas, managed by Yvonne Lockhart and coached by Shane Albury, Anthony Bullard and pitching coach Nerissa Lockhart, was coming off a 9-4 defeat at the hands of Guatemala in their opener on Sunday. "We were dominated by the Cuban pitcher last night," Albury said. "One player was able to get on base. Despite efforts to adjust swing, bunt, slap etc, we were unable to be effective.

"On defence, too many errors, especially in the first inning, led to the onslaught. Unfortunately, our players missed many manageable and routine plays during the game. Our pitchers were also overworked due to the errors."

Cuba 13, Bahamas 0

In the featured game played late Monday night, the Cubans exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, added another in the second and three more in the third to stop the Bahamas via the mercy rule.

In total, Cuba racked up a total of 13 runs on 11 hits and left two runners stranded on base as they took advantage of three pitchers used by the Bahamas, who also committed four costly errors. Brendia Ferguson started and tossed 21 pitches, giving up five hits with a walk and eight runs, five earned. Ramona Hanna came in to finish the inning and worked through the second on three hits and two more runs, one earned on 21 pitches as well.

Valencia Gibson, wearing the mask protection over her face, closed out the third with 20 pitches, giving up three hits, a walk and three runs, two earned.

Cuba's starter Anisley Lopez worked the first two and a half-innings on a perfect appearance, striking out five. Yilian Tornes came in and closed the door in the final 1.2 innings on a one-hitter with three strikeouts in 16 pitches thrown.

Second sacker Eilyah Johnson was the lone Bahamian to get on base with a bunt single to lead off the top of the fourth. But she got called out trying to make things happen as she went to second.

Shortstop Mia Turner then struck out and first sacker Larikah Russell grounded out.

Unlike against Canada in their opening loss, Cuba's first seven batters had at least one hit and run scored in their lopsided affair. In fact, all but one of their batters scored a run.

Right fielder Yarianna Lopez was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored, third sacker Yilian Rondon and first sacker Leanneyi Gomez were both 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored and shortstop Diamela Puentes was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.