Bulldogs take game one of hoop playoffs
Sports correspondent James Adderley is out of the country this week, but we convinced Janelle Chanona to try her hand at reporting the athletic action this weekend, courtesy of Berger Paints.
In sporting news from the diamond, a small but diehard group of softball fans showed up in Sand Hill on Sunday afternoon to witness the showdown between the Rancho Dolores Village Gals and the Crooked Tree Stars.
Both these teams are in it to win it and we get the first bit of action when Village Gal Grace Pook tries to steal second but she winds up stealing the base itself and she’s not happy with the umpire’s call.
It’s trouble for Stars Pitcher Linda Conorquie when the Gals load up the bases. Colleen Joseph drives a hard left right into the third base mitt but the move is good enough to give the Rancho residents their first run.
The Stars try to rebound but Village Gal Herlette Clarke forces the pop up and it’s an easy out.
The second at bat has better results as Ivy Wade’s hit to the right is too much for the infield and she slides into the second.
The Stars have a chance to tie but Clarke produces a fly that takes the blue team off the bench.
The Stars would eventually bring in Ivy Wade to relieve starting pitcher Linda Conorquie but the gal deh gat momentum. A home run from Shannon Pook with two on base seals the deal and gives Village Gal Herlette Clarke the win in seven innings.
In other softball action the Burrell Boom Survivors dominated the Crooked Tree Fly Catchers with a blow out twenty to one final score. Thelma Escobar was winning pitcher over Crooked Tree’s Kim Crawford.
Turning to centre court, the Belize Bank Bulldogs faced off with the San Pedro Tigersharks for the first game in the best of three finals on Saturday night at the Belize City Centre. And fans are expecting nothing less than a match-up as hot as the venue.
The boys start out trading pot shots but the big guns come out in the second quarter.
It’s Edwards versus Edwards in this play but a shifty pass send the ball down court into Tigershark territory. A hard foul by Darwin Leslie puts Gregory Rudon on the free throw line. Gregory lands one but bricks number two. Belize Bank strikes back with this Earl Johnson strip that’s good for two.
It’s Johnson again getting the goods after Seroki’s pass is intercepted and bank is up four, 37-33.
Market square racks up another two with shot from way outside by Ronnal Rivers.
But this Keith Acosta fast break leaves Rivers with another feeling altogether…can you feel the love?! After the haad talk and some long lip, Rudon goes to the line to hit and miss yet again. At the half, it’s 45-38 in favour of Belize Bank.
And just to prove how seriously these players are taking every possession check this fight between Edward Broaster and Ty Bradley. Just under a minute left in the third, points are tied at 57.
Sparring would continue in the fourth. Gregory Rudon goes for glory but Darwin Leslie stops him cold. Ouch. Belize Bank would go on to take game one 85-73 with Ty Bradley posting 20 points. But top scorer was Tigersharks Damion Staples. Tip off for game two is set for nine this Saturday night in San Pedro.
In the west, the Chotos claimed cycling victory in the Benque Viejo Fiesta elite race. Geovanni took first in solo style. About two minutes later, brother Peter pulled in second beating out Mexican Donsetti Vasquez of Team Typhoon and second sibling Rafael Choto. Jeffrey Zelaya of Benny’s Megabytes rounded out the top five.
In the female competition, Sagitun’s Shalini Zabaneh rode in alone for the win. Teammate Jamie Lee Usher sprint past Shantia Morrison and Karen Turner for second and Gina Lovell finished fifth.
In the junior race an unmanned junction translated into disaster as a truck knocked down four of the riders leaving them with damaged bicycles and plenty of road rash. Darren Williams was the most serious and was forced to abandon the event. Daniel Choto survived to finish first, Adrian Williams who was also involved in the chaos took second, Adrian Gardiner, third, Kenny Lamb was fourth and Deezan Spence took fifth.
Rounding out the weekend highlights, Guinness 9 Ball tournament results put Cardinal Pharmacy ahead of the Sharp Shooters 3 to 2. And Magnificent Seven up one over the Salvapan Shattaz.
Don’t worry; James will be back with your regular scheduled programming next week. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
