Latest Bermuda Softball League Results
Rain put a damper on proceedings at the Michael Preece Softball Stadium causing 8 game postponements. Nevertheless, the games that were played were some of the most competitive and intriguing contests of the season!
In the C Division, Killawhat put the brakes on Mike’s Trucking and needed two extra innings to secure the victory. Brandon Ray’s 3-run shot in the bottom of the 5th inning erased a 2-run deficit to give Mike’s Trucking a 3 – 2 lead. They must have felt confident of victory when Mike Olivera blasted a 2-run shot in the 6th inning to extend Trucking’s lead to 5 – 3. However, Corey Boyce homered driving in 2 runs in the top of the 7th inning to tie the score and Killawhat pitcher, Dwayne Daniels, sat down the next 3 Trucking bats on fly ball outs to extend the game. In the top of the 9th innining, it was once again the hero, Cory Boyce, delivering a 3-run bomb that highlighted a 4-run power surge. Trucking scored one run in the bottom of the 9th inning and threatened with runners at first and third bases and the tying run at the plate [with 2 out] but Daniels was able to strike out the batter and secure the victory for Killawhat 10 – 7. In victory, Cory Boyce [2hr – 6Rbi], Troy Hall [3for4 -2Rbi] and Mike Olivera [2Rbi] were Killawhat’s top batters. Mike’s Trucking, although losing, were able to secure the C Division League Championship with a 9 – 3 record just ahead of second-placed team, Killawhat.
In A Division, although the divisional title game between Paraquet Flyers and Moongate Brewers was unable to be played, the sudden-death game, to determine which team would join the other 3 contestants in the playoffs, was played. Fully Loaded Allstars sent X-Bats on an early summer vacation with a 16 – 12 win. The closely contested affair was blown wide open by Allstars in the bottom of the 6th inning when they plated their last 10 runs highlighted by a Steve Simons grand slam, his second long ball of the game [3-run shot in the 1st inning]. X-Bats made a valiant effort in the bottom of the 7th inning scoring 4 runs including a 2-run dinger by Andrew Kuzma but Mark James grounded out to second baseman, Trevor Corday, to end the threat. Steve Simons [3for 4 – 2Hr, 7Rbi], Trevor Corday [3for4 – 3Rbi] and Jason Simons [3for4 – 2Rbi] did most of the damage for Allstars while Brett Farlow [3for5 – 1Hr, 5Rbi], Mark James [3for5 – 1Hr, 2Rbi] and Andrew Kuzma [2for4- 1Hr, 2Rbi] were top batters in a losing effort.
The Women’ Playoffs started with high drama as bottom-placed Hardknockz took a one game lead, in their best of 3 games series, verses the current league champions, Western Stars Angels, in a nail-bitter, 9 – 8. A 3-run homer by Keisha Eve in the bottom of the 3rd inning aided Angels in taking a 5 – 3 lead. Hardknockz’s Latisha Daniels drove in 2 runs in the 3rd inning and pitcher, Latreece Fray, singled in Jade Weaver from 3rd base to take a 6 – 5 lead. Debbie DeShields put Angels on level terms in the bottom of the 6th inning when she doubled, driving in Marissa Brangman from 3rd base. Hardknockz’s Tache King came to the plate in the top of the 7th inning, with 2 aboard and 2 out, and launched a 3-run out-of-park home run which proved to be the winning runs for Hardknockz. Angels scored 2 runs in the bottom of inning but with runners at 2nd and 3rd bases, pitcher, Latreece Fray, was able to sit them down in order and nullify the threat. Tache King [3for4 – 1Hr, 4Rbi] and Latisha Daniels [2for4 – 1D, 2Rbi] lead all Hardknockz batters while Debbie DeShields [3for3 – 1Rbi] and Keisha Eve [1for 3 – 1Hr, 3Rbi] were the standouts for Angels.
In B Division Playoffs, League Champs, Hakuna Matata Lions, played to form as they bested 4th placed finishers, FIU-Scared Hitless, in a high scoring contest 23 – 21. Lions scored 9 runs in the 1st inning including a 2-run double by Aaron Bloom and Scott Barnes hit a grand slam in the 3rd inning to take a commanding 17 – 9 lead and appeared to be in total control. However, Scared Hitless batted around in the order in the 4th inning plating 12 runs with Kendrick Richardson driving in 5 runs on a homer [3Rbi] and a triple [2Rbi]. He was ably assisted by Marcelos Thomas who singled [1Rbi] and doubled [2Rbi]. Unfortunately, their run production dried up like the Sahara and they tried desperately to hang on to their 21 – 17 lead. Lions scored 1 run in the 4th inning and 5 runs in the 5th inning including a pair of 2Rbi doubles by Troy Hall and Brian Hall to seal the victory. Scott Barnes [3for5 – 1Hr, 5Rbi], Troy Hall [4for5 – 4Rbi] and Brain Hall [4for5 - 4Rbi] did most of the damage for Lions. Marcellos Thomas [4for5 – 1Hr, 7Rbi], Kenrick Richardson [4for – 1Hr, 1T, 6Rbi] and Mike Smith [2for4 – 1Hr, 4Rbi] had outstanding stats in a losing cause.
