The A.F. Adderley Tigers junior girls are on a mission, and despite being short-handed, they feel this is their year to get it done. The Tigers improved to an unblemished 4-0 win/loss record in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) softball season, as they turned back the three-time champions, C.H. Reeves Raptors, 13-11, at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex yesterday. The lead switched hands a number a times in the five-inning affair, and at one point, it looked as if the team which batted last would come out on top.
However, in the end, it came down to the pitching of Tercel Rolle and the Tigers. Rolle struggled with her control for most of the game as she walked seven batters yesterday, but she settled down when it mattered the most and got the final three outs in the top of the fifth inning to seal the deal. "I knew that as long as she got the ball over the plate we would be okay," said Tigers' Head Coach Nicara Curtis. "She had problems throwing strikes early in the game, but she got it sorted out when she needed to.
Our pitching is going to be the key going forward. Once we can throw strikes consistently, we'll be okay," she added. The Tigers trailed 10-9 going into the bottom of the fourth inning yesterday, but they responded with four big runs to take a 13-10 lead going into the top of the fifth. The three-time GSSSA champions, the Raptors, could only muster one run in that inning, and consequently fell, 13-11, to fall to one win and three losses on the year. "Right now, we're at the rebuilding stage, so we didn't come into this season expecting much, but the girls are adjusting and making progress," said Raptors' Head Coach Varel Clarke-Davis.
"I'm very happy with their effort today. Most of these girls are just in grade seven. We still have a couple more games to go, so we're just going to give it our best shot and see what happens. I think that we have a good shot of making the playoffs. The girls are improving, and if they could win these last two games, then we would stand a very good chance of getting in. The girls are still learning the game so I'm just trying to be patient with them and help them to grow. We're getting there.
We just have to keep working hard and hope for the best." Clean-up batter Elijah Johnson led the Tigers' offensive attack yesterday, as she finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Winning pitcher Rolle added a 3-for-4 performance and scored twice. They are only playing with 10 players, but coach Curtis is confident that once they come ready to play, they will beat any team.
"We are playing a little short-handed because we have one player who broke her leg, and then there is another playing who is playing injured," said Curtis. "Given all of that, I'm very proud of how they are performing right now. As long as they stick together, the sky is the limit for them. They just have to believe in themselves and then go out there and execute. It's all about heart and determination," she added. In other GSSSA softball action yesterday, the S.C. McPherson Sharks junior girls stopped the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves in just two innings, 14-0, and the Raptors junior boys did the same to the L.W. Young Golden Eagles in three innings, 12-1.
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