High School softball champs crowned

Good evening. I?m James Adderley and welcome to this new portion of Sports Monday. League leading Acros of Belize City headed West to the Norman Broaster Stadium yesterday in an effort to confirm a birth in the B.F.L. 3 game Championship series while for Real Verdes yesterday?s match up was all about respect.

We join the action as Clifford Usher looks to open the scoreboard for Acros. And while the play looks suspect all around – Darren Hinds eventually comes away with the pill.

Acros goes up offensive with this push to Ortega but he fails to punch the ball home.

Verdes finally gets something going on this press – but take Errol Coleman and Smarto Osoboro seem to have no idea where the goal is located.

Meanwhile folks it?s 16 minutes deep when Julio Santos gives Clifford Usher this gift. Moss gets beaten; and Hinds can?t come up with the stop as Acros takes a 1-nill lead.

The Belize team tries here for a 2 goal punch but the launch by Ortega is like pinching cherries on a sunny day, at least for Darren Hinds.

Of course fans if you really like the power punch here?s a perfect example from Rene Montero who smashes this one past Eduardo Funes and were tied at one a piece.

It?s now a brand new ball game so Verdes looks for the lead from Errol Coleman but this left fool simply won?t cut it and at the half it?s a 1-1 showing.

After intermission Joe West goes for the tie breaker but puts no punch come firing time.

Now keep your eyes on this pot kick people – the ball goes into the net but the referee determines that an indirect kick cannot score without touching someone besides the keeper and its still a 1-1 ball game.

On this play, Darren Hinds gives his body for the greater glory of Real Verdes as Verdes dodges another bullet.

Ortega then ?monst individual effort off the right ring but again Darren Hinds shines. And when its long whistle sounds it brings the curtains down on a 1-1 finish.

Out at La Isla Bonita 2 teams legitimate title hopes battered to scoreless draw. The home team advantage just didn?t help San Pedro Dolphins over the defending champion, Juventus in a crucial ball game. Thus with one game to go in the schedule people, Acros leads with 19 points, Juventus shows 17, San Pedro Dolphins then show 15 coming out of the weekend and of course Real Verdes is stalled at 12. There?s a battle at the top for the final 2 birds. Of course Channel Five will keep you posted.

Meanwhile folks, the National Secondary Schools presented the National Softball Tournament at Capital City Belmopan over the weekend and the sports desk says congratulations to Mount Carmel High and Independence High but here?s Patrick Jones with the full details.

When the tournament opened Friday evening four boys and four girls teams were in the hunt for the 1998 National Secondary School Softball Championships. But by the time it all ended 24 hours later the underdogs were on top and the overly confident crumbled. Here in the championship game for the female title Belmopan Comprehensive’s Kenisha Sutherland went head to head with arch rival Shalini Zabaneh of Independence High. It was a pretty even match up and at the end of the regulation five innings the score was knotted at 4 a piece.

But things didn’t go very well for Sutherland when the tie breaker sixth inning started with a runner on second base. Sutherland tried to pitch her way through it but a sharp triple to right field was about all that was needed to deny her attempt at another national title. An insurance run came later in the inning. Here on the last out Zabaneh sacrifices her body but it’s all worth the championship.

Shalini Zabaneh, M.V.P., Independence High

“Well all of us worked together., we really practiced hard and we really wanted to show Kenisha that we could do it and we did right?”

Q: In terms of strategy, what special strategy was there to overcome Kenisha and Belmopan?

“Well, I think we were hitting the ball. We just had to watch the ball and time it and just get a level swing and we really worked hard.”

An obviously downhearted Kenisha Sutherland was almost reduced to tears as she watched the celebration she herself had become accustomed to.

Kenisha Sutherland, Pitcher, Belmopan Comprehensive

“Because I was hurt, the first game I got hurt in my back and my team let me down a little bit.”

Q: When you say, it let you down, what do you mean?

“Some stupid errors. That is what cost the game. Errors.”

For Zabaneh it was her last trip to the National Secondary School Softball Tournament as she graduates from Independence High this year. For Sutherland it’s back to the drawing board and while she knows it will be a tall time back to the top she vows she will do it again.

Over on the male side, Mount Carmel High of Benque Viejo del Carmen rode all over Wesley College of Belize City to take the championship out West. Erwin Tate almost single handedly pitched the team to the title, outlasting his rival Mariano Lino, who after the first inning and a half lost control of the strike zone. The only real threat came half way through the game when Wesley College made a valiant try at a combat. So it was time for a huddle. Whatever was said during the brief conference must have worked because state come back flaming and it was smooth sailing after that.

Erwin Tate, M.V.P., Male Division

“With the rest of the team and help and the practice of everyone, with their effort, putting in the game.”

Q: How hard was it for you getting the championship?

“With Belmopan it was not too hard, but we know we would have reached here.”

Q: Why?

“Because of me.”

Mariano Lino, Pitcher, Wesley College

“Well, I say my pitching wasn?t there for me. It?s just that was the problem, pitching.”

Q: If you had it to do all again, what would you do differently, would you remove yourself from the game?

“No, I said we, didn?t ready, they were more ready and our hitting wasn?t there for this game but we did our best.”

But their best wasn’t quite good enough and they will have a whole year to work on their strategy. Patrick Jones for Sports Monday.

Again, congratulations to the winners. That?s it for us today we invite you back same time, same place next week.

Jah over all. I’m James Adderley.