For the second consecutive game, the Commando Security Truckers got strong pitching from Thomas Davis, and backed it up with a grand slam home-run, to upend the BTC Elite Warriors and reclaim the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA) men's title.
The Truckers blasted the pennant-winning Warriors on Saturday night, winning easily 12-2, stopping the game in four innings via the 10-run mercy rule. Eugene Pratt scooted home with the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but it was a methodical performance by the Truckers straight through. They won the series three games to one.
In game four on Saturday night, Davis was strong on the mound, scattering three hits and striking out three; series most valuable player (MVP) Courtney Smith broke a close game open with a grand slam home run with no outs in the bottom of the third. Smith finished with that grand slam home run in three at-bats and scored twice in the game, and was 7-for-15, with two home-runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored for the series.
"Tonight I just wanted to be aggressive at the plate," said Smith. "On that home run, I was sitting on a fast ball, so when I got it, I just got on top of it and drove it over the fence. We knew what was at stake in this game - no one in our dugout wanted to go to a fifth game, so we just came out with the intention of ending it tonight. We just came out and play the way the Truckers play - good defense, timely hitting and rally behind our pitcher. That was the key tonight, and it was a good win for us."
Ramone Storr was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Garfield Bethel and Marlon Johnson both finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored for the Truckers. Davis picked up the win, while Jeffery Woodside suffered the loss.
The Truckers will now go on to represent New Providence at the Bahamas Softball Federation's (BSF) National Round-Robin Championships, set to get underway next weekend at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
The Warriors couldn't get anything going against the strong pitching of Davis and fundamental defense that the Truckers were playing. Greg Gardiner, Sherman Ferguson and Eugene Bain had the three hits for them. Bain, who ended the game on the mound, said that they just have to learn from their mistakes and come back even stronger next year.
"I came in to try and stop the bleeding and keep us in the game, but they had a sizable lead on us, and it was difficult to come back," said Bain. "It's very disappointing. We played to win a championship this year, but unfortunately, we came up a bit short. You know, tonight they just were the better team. They were determined to get the championship back this year, and they did it."
The Truckers re-claimed the NPSA men's title they last held in 2013. After giving up an abundance of runs in the first two games, they limited the Warriors to one run each in the final two games of the series.
"We have to get better," said Bain. "Anytime you lose, you look at what you did wrong and try to improve on it for next time. That's how we feel right now. We just have to go back to the drawing board, correct the mistakes that we made and come back even stronger next year. We're looking to be the champs next year."
In the clincher on Saturday night, the Truckers did their damage in the third inning. Batting fifth, Smith got ahold of a fast ball and drilled it over the fence in right center. Four runs came home to give the Truckers 7-1 lead. They went on to score three more times in that inning, and twice in the fourth to end the game early via the mercy rule. MVP Smith said that they are looking forward to the round-robin nationals.
"We know that there are going to be some tough teams in the round-robin, but we're prepared to go out there and win. We feel confident in our chances," he said.
In the round-robin nationals, the Truckers will have to face two of the country's top pitchers in Lyle Sawyer, out of Abaco, and Edney "The Heat" Bethel, out of Eleuthera. They say they are ready for the challenge.
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