The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE US Virgin Islands softball team took home bragging rights early in October when they won the inaugural One Caribbean Invitational Women’s Fast-Pitch tournament.

The four-day event was considered a success by event organisers and included a total of six teams - three local and three visiting clubs.

The remaining visiting competitors included two teams from Jamaica called Club Fusion and the Warrior Queens.

The home teams were the RAB Operators, who came in second, and the Sunshine Auto Wildcats who earned bronze in the competition.

Thomas Sears, event organiser, talked about the level of competition he saw on display from the women’s softball teams.

“It was good to see competition among our neighbours and friends in the region and it allowed the various countries to get an understanding of which level they are at or where efforts need to be placed to improve the level of play for countries that end up on the bottom end,” Sears said.

The US Virgin Islands emerged as victors after defeating the Operators 9-0 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The visitors were the only team to remain undefeated in the competition and ended with a 5-0 win/loss record.

Dontaysha Godbourne earned the championship MVP honours with five innings pitched, eleven strikeouts and one hit.

Kenya Periera from the championship team was awarded the tournament’s best pitcher.

The Operators secured the silver medal for second place and came second in team standings with a 4-1 record.

Jeanette Hilton, of the Operators, notched the most runs batted-in (RBI) with 10 in the tourney.

The Wildcats collected the bronze from the UB Mingoes after dropping the team 17-2. The third ranked 3-2 team saw Thela Stevens come away with the tournament MVP award. She had a batting average of .750, scored 9 runs, pitched 21 innings, and earned 7 RBIs.

The Mingoes concluded the tournament with a 2-3 record. The team’s Syazfia Kelly had the most home runs with two.

Meanwhile, Club Fusion won one game and the Warrior Queens went winless in five games played.

Sears was impressed with the way the event went for its first time being hosted by Softball 242.

“The event was successful and went smooth with no hiccups and the participation was good. The idea was conceived to bring fast-pitch softball to the forefront in the Caribbean and allow countries to take advantage of it,” he said.

The event organisers of Softball 242 offered a special thanks to the Governor General of The Bahamas, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, for her remarks and the throwing of the ceremonial pitch.

Additionally, gratitude was extended to players, the local organising comittee, technical advisors and the tournament’s sponsors.

The inaugural event was sponsored by Sun Oil Bahamas Limited, Bommer G Trucking and Heavy Equipment, United Sanitation Services and Gaye Knowles.