- Junior Dowie
Batter Marlon Thomas of the Cayman Islands returns to his box after hitting a foul.Jamaican catcher Mark Duncan looks on during yesterday's Texaco Independence Cup softball tournament at the University of the West Indies Bowl. The Caymanas won 15-9.
Merrick Andrews, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S males faltered, but the females starred at the Texaco Independence Cup softball tournament which started at the University of the West Indies Bowl yesterday.
In the first two matches in drizzly and windy conditions, the Jamaican A male team was beaten 15-9 by the Cayman Islands at diamond three, while the females clobbered Bermuda 10-0 at diamond one.
In the second segment of matches, the Caymans triumphed 18-17 over Jamaica Invitational in the men's section, while the females were commanding 12-3 winners over a team from the United States.
After Antonio LeRay hit a solo homer to level the scores at 1-1 in the first innings, Jamaica A were scoreless in the second while the Caymans scored seven times.
The Jamaicans were also scoreless in the fifth and penultimate inning where the score stood at 12-6 in favour of Cayman.
Laurence Taylor, the winning pitcher, allowed eight hits, struck out two and walked two, while Jamaica's Andrew Thomas allowed 11 hits, struck out two and walked eight.
Despite three solo home runs from Troy McCaw and Hugh Richards with one in the second, the Jamaican Invitational side just came up short in the second game against the Caymans.
The scores were tied at 5-5 after the second innings but the Jamaicans hit back in the third by scoring nine to the Caymans' five (14-10).
However, the Jamaicans succumbed to their determined counterparts in the final two innings (0-3 and 3-5).
"Our male team is personally growing, they need more experience like the females, but they are coming on gradually," said Frank Brown, coach of the Jamaican team.
Shouts and laughter signalled the Jamaican females were having a grand time at diamond one in their first game against the Bermudans.
Short stop Maxine Brown, of local club Invaders, highlighted proceedings with a grand slam homer in the second inning.
Pitcher Tanya Davis was also impressive. She allowed no hits, struck out five and walked four.
Losing pitcher Tracy Hill allowed two hits, struck out four and walked eight.
The Americans who lost 11-10 earlier to Cayman were expected to fare better in the second game, however they were surprised by the lively Jamaicans.
Shawna Gilbert hit the only homer of the game in the top of the fifth and final inning with one down.
"I believe that team could have done better, however winning your first two games is very good," said coach Brown.
"She is one of the top pitchers in the island and I hope the team will back her up," said Brown of Davis who allowed one hit, struck out an impressive nine and walked two in the second game against the Americans.
The tournament resumes today at 10:00 a.m. with St. Maarten opposing the US and Jamaica taking on Caymans in the female section.
