By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

BACK DROP — Joe's Generals' Willard Gardiner gets a pitch in the back, from Grand Bahama's Chance's Panthers' pitcher Desmond "Big Country" Dean, which not only resulted in him hitting the ground, but a free pass to first base. Panthers' catcher Angelo "Slugger" Lockhart looks on in shock.

Opening day of The Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) Round robin in Grand Bahama was a difficult one for the local ladies team.

The Triple Play Pearls had a defeating performance but, throughout the weekend tournament at St. Paul's College Field their performance improved tremendously.

The men's team, Chances Panthers opened the tournament with a 10 - 6 win over the Truckers out of New Providence.

For the ladies fast pitch team, the Grand Bahama Amateur Softball Associa-tion (GBASA) champions, the Triple Play Pearls secured their spot during the final day of play Sunday afternoon.

The Pearls were scheduled to play the ladies from Andros, however, the Andros team was a no show and Triple Play won by default.

That set their appearance in the BSF National championship series.

Now the Pearls will go up against the Electro Wildcats and Mary "Cruise" Edgecombe, three time BSF title holders.

But, the big question will be whether or not the Pearls can get past the Wildcats and Edgecombe?

Can Nerissa "Pitching Machine" Lockhart settle down and pitch the Pearls to a BSF title win?

If her performance Saturday night against the Eleuthera Hurricanes is anything to go by, then the Pearls will have a good chance. The Pearls took that game 12 - 5.

However, when it comes to the Wildcats it appears that intimidation is the order of play for Grand Bahama ladies.

Mentally their game seems to be lost before they hit the diamond, but this year Lockhart said, "if we bring our offence, hitting the ball consistently then we have a chance in the championship."

The Pearls have their defence on lock, but the Wildcats are not on the Pearls "run" they are determined to shut them down offensively, particularly after their game Friday night.

Edgecombe and the Wildcats disposed of the Pearls 5 - 2. Lockhart was unable to get her balls in the zone against the Wildcats and the Pearls' bats were just not coming around.

"We have to connect offensively to stay in contention," added Lockhart.

For the men the process to a championship appearance was more difficult.

The men who were 1 - 2 up to final games on Sunday had to beat Exuma and Exuma had to defeat Abaco. This would have resulted in a three-way tie in the men's division and then the Panthers would have a better opportunity to contend for a championship spot.

Unfortunately, for the men their 3 - 0 loss Saturday against Joe's Generals out of Abaco put them at a disadvantage.

Generals' Freddy Cornish was centre diamond for the win. Desmond "Big Country" Dean held the mound for the Panthers, who gave up the easy runs to the Generals on errors at first base.

Panthers' Anthony Fowler commanded that spot. If Dean's first pitch was anything to go by, then the Panthers could predict their outcome.

Dean's first pitch struck Generals' Willard Gardiner in the back, sending him to the dirt in obvious pain and giving him a free pass to first. Of course Gardiner was the first run to go down in the books for the Generals.

In the end, after five innings, the dejected Panthers left the bull-pen hoping to win the remainder of their games in the tournament.

Weekend scores:

Eleuthera - 6, Exuma - 0 (men)

Nassau - 5, Grand Bahama - 2 (ladies)

Nassau - 6, Grand Bahama - 10 (men)

Saturday sessions:

Nassau - 12, Exuma - 1 (ladies)

Abaco - 0 Eleuthera - 3 (men)

Eleuthera - 9, Andros - 3 (ladies)

Grand Bahama - 0, Abaco - 3 (men)

Exuma - 0, Nassau - 13 (men)

Nassau - 14, Andros - 5 (ladies)

Grand Bahama - 5, Exuma - 6 (men)

Grand Bahama - 12, Eleuthera - 5 (ladies)

Eleuthera - 5, Nassau - 2 (men)

Sunday sessions:

Nassau - 4, Abaco - 5 (men)

Exuma - 6, Eleuthera - 9 (ladies)

Andros - lost by default; Grand Bahama - won by default

The games left to play Sunday were:

Andros and Exuma (men)

Eleuthera at Nassau (ladies)

Gramd Bahama and Exuma (ladies)

Eleuthera at Grand Bahama (men)