10102017 sports

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SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017

Lady Truckers take commanding 2-0 lead By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

he Johnson’s Lady Truckers survived a scare, pulling off a marathon 19-11 slugfest over the Lady Hitters to move into the driver’s seat in their New Providence Softball Association ladies’ best-of-five semi-final playoff series. The Lady Truckers, an easy 14-2 winner in game one of the series last week, needed three hours yesterday in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex to take a commanding 2-0 lead. The winner of the series will go on to play the Sunshine Auto Wildcats, who made it look so easy in game three of their series against the Platinum Lady Pool Sharks with an 11-0 victory and a 3-0 sweep to clinch their berth into the final. Also yesterday, the BTC Elite Warriors didn’t waste any time with the Chances Mighty Mitts, stopping them 15-0 in three innings. The defending champions C&S Hitmen played the Commando Security Truckers in the late game. The NPSA will continue its playoff action with another double header tonight and hope to get its best-of-seven championship series, named in honour of immediate past president Godfrey ‘Gully’ Burnside, started on the weekend. Lady Truckers 19, Lady Hitters 11: It was a close game until the fourth inning when the defending champions rolled past their opponents, who had taken an 11-8 lead. Johnson’s put on the gas as they erupted for five runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and four more in the seventh as they held the Lady Hitters scoreless to breeze through the latter half of the seemingly endless game. “The first part of the game we were flat and I noticed that the pitcher wasn’t on her game,” said Lady Truckers’ manager Mario Ford. “We made some defensive mistakes, but luckily we were able to come back. “They hit the ball very well tonight. I have give them credit. But I just think we need to put our defence together. I’m not concerned about the offence because I know we can hit the ball. Once we do that, we will do the things we need to do to win ball games.” In ripping out 15 hits off two Lady Hitters’ pitchers, shortstop Melinda Bastian led the Lady

‘I’VE NEVER COACHED A PLAYER LIKE DEANDRE’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Sunshine Auto Wildcats rout Platinum Pool Lady Sharks 11-0, clinch berth into final

ARIZONA Wildcats head coach Sean Miller is focusing on the expectations for the 2017-18 season and the immediate impact of a talented recruiting class highlighted by Bahamian prep superstar – DeAndre Ayton. “I’ve never coached a player like DeAndre and I don’t think [our players] have seen anybody like him,” Miller said. “He’s 7 feet, 260, his body fat is probably close to six per cent and he had a max vertical jump a couple of weeks ago of 43.5 inches. To put that in perspective with his size, that means he touches the top of the backboard.

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CAREY JR SIGNS UP IN FRANCE By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Sunshine Auto Wildcats made it look so easy in game three of their series against the Platinum Lady Pool Sharks with an 11-0 victory and a 3-0 sweep to clinch their berth into the final. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff Truckers by going a perfect 5-for-5 with six runs batted in (RBI) and scored four times. Centre fielder Tyrese Curry was 2-for-5 with five runs scored, second sacker Shaquell Bain was 3-for-4 with two RBI and four runs scored, catcher Shevette Taylor, intentionally walked twice, was

1-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored, third sacker Ruthann Simms was also 1-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored, pitcher Marvel Miller was also 1-for-3 with a RBI and left fielder Keisha Pratt was 1-for-5 with two RBI. Miller went the distance for the win, while Thela Johnson switched

from shortstop as she came in for starter Amaraige Taylor in the first inning to suffer the loss. Lady Truckers led the Lady Hitters’ attack by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, centre fielder Nadia Thompson

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THE next step on the pro basketball journey for Michael Carey Jr will be in France. Carey signed with Étoile Charleville-Mézières of French Basketball’s Pro B Division, the second tier level league in the country. He joins a club that, last year, achieved one of his best performances by finishing fifth in Pro B. He becomes the second Bahamian to compete in the league this season, following Jaraun “Kino” Burrows who plays with FOS Provence Basket. The top two placed teams from each season’s Pro B are promoted to the top-tier level, LNB Pro A. Carey’s first first pro assignment came last season with Soles de Santo Domingo of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (LNB) in the Dominican Republic.

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AXEMEN WIN TWO STRAIGHT GRANT POWERS THUNDERWOLVES TO CHAMPIONSHIP By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net EUGENE McMinns had another efficient all-around game and helped the Acadia Axemen to their second straight win and fourth in their last five games. The Axemen improved to 4-2 and swept the season series with a 27-24 come from behind win over Bishop’s Gaithers. McMinns finished with 211 all purpose yards on the afternoon. He finished with six receptions for 80 yards, four kick returns for 96 yards and three punt returns for 35 yards. Fellow Bahamians Arrien McDonald had one pass breakup in the defensive backfield and Shelton Williams

played a reserve role on the offensive line. The Axemen converted two field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the win and complete a deficit that was once 24-12 in the third quarter. Through six games, McMinns leads all of Atlantic University Sport with 1143 all-purpose yards and is second at 190.5 yards per game. Acadia won the first matchup against Bishop’s 27-10 for their first win of the season back on September 2. The Axemen will look to complete the season sweep over the St.FX X-Men on Homecoming Weekend, Saturday October 14. The regular season finale takes place the following weekend, Saturday October 21.

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LEASHJA GRANT in action.

2017 BAHAMAS BOWL

DECEMBER 22, 2017 | 12:30 P.M. ET THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM LIVE ON

THE Lakehead University Thunderwolves were excited about the possibility of adding Leashja Grant to its frontcourt and the Bahamian forward has paid immediate dividends in their first few games of the season. Grant powered the Thunderwolves to an undefeated record and tournament championship at the BOB FM Shooutout. They claimed the tournament title with an 82-62 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves Sunday in Winnipeg, Canada. Grant led the Thunderwolves with a double double - 25 points and 19 rebounds. She was named the Tournament MVP for her dominance over the course of the three game stretch.

In game one, the Thunderwolves escaped with a 64-63 victory over Winnipeg 76-56 over Manitoba in game two. Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner said: “Proud of this group that has battled through some tough adversity to come out on top as BOB FM tourney champs. We are a tight group that plays hard but it was nice to see some outside shots fall this weekend.” Grant was named to the AllTournament team along with teammate Bridget O’Reilly. The Thunderwolves continue their schedule this weekend with a back to back against Algoma, October 13 and 14. Grant came to Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada, after playing at both the JuCo and NCAA Division I levels in the United States.

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NOV. 1

TICKETS ON SALE

AT THE THOMAS A. ROBINSON STADIUM BOX OFFICE ONLINE AT NSA-BAHAMAS.COM FOR MORE INFO, CALL 325-0376


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