Softball, cycling and basketball stats on Sports Monday
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
We begin with the Belize City Senior Female Softball playoffs as B.T.L. faced Beacon in a must win situation Friday night after losing game 1 of the semi-final series in a 13 to 11 decision Wednesday night at the Rogers Stadium. We pick up the action in the top of the 4th with Beacon pitcher Kimani Smith facing Barbara Cadle who punches this single through the middle allowing Norecia Frazier to stroll home. With 2 out Smith tries the fast ball on Christine Jacobs only to see the batter smack it to right field as Cadle scores easily from 3rd base. Folks this game was called at the end of the 4th inning after Martha Rhys comes up and jumps on Smith for an in the park home run, using her speed to comfortably beat the throw to the plate for 2 RBI’s. Smith then faces Lydia Cacho with Kimani Williams on the 1st and poor fielding at leftfield off the hit from Cacho allows Williams to tag on another run. A frustrated Smith unleashes this high ball and should have been rescued by the catcher, unfortunately it was not to be and Lydia Cacho score the 5th run of the inning before the side is retired. In the bottom of the 4th, Martha Rhys pitching for B.T.L. has loaded the bases when she serves up this hit to Clarencia Jones that brings home the runner at 3rd base and Tamara Robinson scores all the way from 2nd. B.T.L. routes Beacon in a 23 to 5 score under the mercy rule. The series is now tied at 1 apiece and on Wednesday inside Rogers Stadium these 2 teams battle again to determine who faces the mighty Belize Bank waiting in the wings.
Turning to the basketball scene we caught up with Saturdays BDBA Firms competition as Complex battled B.T.L. in a hotly contested affair. We pick up the action in the 4th quarter with Complex sporting a 48 to 41 lead when Wilfred Richards hits this triple and would put up 15 points. When Linsworth Graham comes up with this rebound he finds Edward Thompson who lays it off the glass for 2 of his 11 points for B.T.L. Credit Chaka X for forcing this turnover, its Graham again with possession and this time he dishes to Devon Lozano who would post the game high of 23 points. Somehow Lozano retains possession of this ball and he deals to Chaka X who hits to complete the 9 – 1 run in money time to make it a 2 point game with 3 ½ minutes to go.
Now let’s check in on the Weekend Warriors race that travelled from La Democracia to the Sibun Bridge on the Hummingbird Highway swing back to finish at Armenia for A&B rider and it drew quite a crowd. It’s the first time this group of veteran cyclist would race without the presence of Ernest Meighan. The Category A race begins in earnest at Cheers. 2 hours 15 minutes and 30 seconds later the solitary figure of Robert Mariano riding for Digicell 4G take the top prize. Vallan Sims of Bennys rode in alone to claim 2nd place while James Frampton of Santino’s rounds out the top 3. Meanwhile the Category B also started at Cheers and covered the same distance. Matt Hughes easily beat out the pack to claim top honours in 2 hours 18 minutes 15 seconds and we say good show. While Ray Cattouse of Stationery House/Medina’s edged out Nehru Gilharry for 2nd place. Looking at C Class Manuel Esquiliano of Traders Posse beat Glen Sheppard and Dennis McKoy in that order to claim top honours.
Finally folks, Sports Monday mourns the passing of Ernest Meighan, the most accomplished cyclist in recent Belizean Cycling history. JawMeighan was gunned down on Saturday and we send out our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Ernest Meighan was the man to break the American grip on the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic when in 1997 he bested Bobby Lee in a head on collision for the 1997 Garland, JawMeighan then excelled again in 2001 when 3 riders entered the National Stadium and in a 1 o 1 with one of the greatest cyclist never to win a Cross Country he out peddled Andrew Smiling to claim his 2nd Cross Country title while the Mexican import Jose Robles finished 3rd. He was the last Belizean to win multiple Cross Country titles. JawMeighan is probably the only rider to win every major race presented in this country. He rode for Santino’s team owned by Santi Castillo although his 1st Cross Country win came in a Bel-Chi uniform. The recent years the Santino’s team, has suffered the loss of 4 riders. Elbert Pope was shot in 2010, Ariel Rosado died in a motor vehicle accident in 2011. Four months ago Ernest “Dangalang” Thurton was shot when a sole gunman tried to rob him and on Saturday the Golden One was taken from us. More than his championships and wins was his zest for life and a competitive spirit unparalleled in recent cycling history. He was truly one of the greatest ones. Yes he was a class act. Sleep on JawMeighan.
