SPORTS SECTION E
BAHAMAS RUGBY
Season Schedule, Page 13
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016
Truckers in 2-0 hole but don’t count out the defending champs By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he defending champions Commando Security Truckers find themselves in a 2-0 deficit in the New Providence Softball Association’s best-of-five championship series against the pennant winning C&S Hitmen. But manager Perry Seymour said not to count out his Truckers just yet. Once they can score a run and win a game on Saturday in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, they will be back on a roll again. “When you find yourself in a hole like we are, you have to start doing things differently,” Seymour said. “I’m looking to score one run first and then I’m looking to win one game and then I will go from there. “To bounce back, we have to play better than what we have
been doing now.” In the first two games of the series, the Hitmen, behind the superb pitching from mainstay Alcott Forbes, have been shutout. Forbes has been stingy on the mound, giving up just two hits with 13 strike outs in their 8-0 and 5-0 victories. Seymour, the new manager of the men’s national team, said the game of softball is made up of hits, runs and errors and right now his Truckers are finding it difficult to deal with Forbes. “He’s pitching a hell of a series and they have been getting some timely hits and making less mistakes than we have,” Seymour said. “They have just been taking advantage of us over the first two games.” Those games were played over the weekend as the NPSA was forced to reduce their championship series to a best-of-five series because of the damage Hurricane Matthew left behind to the lights at the park.
The NPSA, according to president Henry Dean, made the changes so that they can get their series completed in time to crown their champions to participate in the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin that starts on November 4 at the stadium. So far, the Johnson’s Lady Truckers have stunned the pennant winning Sunshine Auto Wildcats, sweeping them in three straight games over the weekend to win the ladies’ title and to earn their trip to the nationals. On Saturday, the Truckers will attempt to stave off elimination when they take on the Hitmen at 1 pm. If necessary, game four will be played around 4pm. Should they go to a fifth and deciding game, they will play on Sunday. If they are not successful in coming back in the series, Seymour said they would have lost to a great organisation that is worthy of taking over their reigns.
“We will fight to the end,” Seymour said. “We have to show a way better showing for our people than what we have been doing for the last two games. “We have two players off the island. Hopefully they will be back for Saturday’s games. The schedule has been messing us up, but you can’t cry for softball. Whatever you get, you have to play with because everybody has the same problem.” The problem for the Truckers, according to Hitmen manager Darren Stevens, is the same that they have experienced in the first two games. “They’re going to see Alcott and more Alcott,” he predicted. “We’re not going to change anything, so they better get ready to see more Alcott Forbes. We’re not taking any chances. We have them down and we have to keep them under our feet.” Forbes’ battery mate Angelo Dillett said he doesn’t expect for Forbes to ease up against the
Truckers. “I would say he’s unbeatable right now the way he’s pitching,” Dillett said. “With the way we are working together, it’s going to be an awesome challenge for the Truckers. Ain’t nothing they can bring can beat us. We have to beat ourselves.” Dean said from the way he sees it, the Hitmen “are hot and their pitching is spectacular. The Truckers have to dig deep to overcome what seemingly looks like a sweep.” However, Dean said if they don’t get it together, they could end up like the Lady Wildcats, who were surprised by the threegame sweep from the Lady Truckers. “That was a surprise, but overall it went well,” said Dean in reference to their decision to shorten the series and play during the day. “I want to say that softball is alive and it should be even better next year.”
Klay vs Buddy tonight By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – One of the highlights of the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors matchup will be the first NBA meeting and celebrated Bahamian connection between Buddy Hield and Klay Thompson. Both teams come in looking for their first win after losses in their respective debuts and both players look to improve individually. Thompson, son of Bahamian basketball icon Mychal Thompson (former No.1 overall pick and two time NBA champion), vowed to be better than his uncharacteristic 11-point performance in a 29-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on Tuesday. “It was pretty bad, myself, I was unusually bad. I didn’t bring the energy I should but I’m going to make up for it Friday (tonight). It’s weird because we’ve only had two regular season losses at home each year the last two years. We’ve been very spoilt so it’s an unfamiliar feeling when you lose. That’s a great thing. It was a weird feeling, no one really enjoyed it but we got some good work and I made a positive light out of it. “There were times I was too lazy and not getting after those loose balls like I should have. Regardless if it was October 25th I have to play with more edge. I will. I know I will.” Thompson, the two-time AllStar, shot just 5-13 from the field and 1-6 from three-point range. “I had like four open threes which were short which means I have to get my legs into it, which I will do Friday,” he said. “That was a good wake up call for us. We realise it’s a long season and we don’t want to peak in Novem-
CLASH OF THE BAHAMIANS: Buddy Hield and the New Orleans Pelicans face Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors tonight. (AP) ber-December we want to peak in May-June but it’s time to take every game serious, it doesn’t matter if it’s the regular season. It’s a matter of pride.” Hield also struggled in his season debut with four points and three assists on 2-8 shooting, 0-3 from three. Always a strong presence in the Bahamas, both Mychal and Klay are frequent participants in the annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp, while Klay’s brother Mychel was a member of the Bahamas’ national team at the 2014 Centrobasket tournament.
Prior to the draft, Thompson said he was proud of Hield for furthering the legacy of elite basketball in the Bahamas. “He’ll be a great scorer. He works so hard. He’ll be a tenacious defender. He’s physically gifted. He’s going to help somebody. He’s going to make a big impact,” he told CSNbayarea.com. “I’ve tried to tell people that he’s the next big thing. He makes me proud to see a guy coming from a little island in the Bahamas doing what he’s doing.” Many pundits have projected Hield’s NBA game to be compar-
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, goes up for a basket against the Denver Nuggets. (AP) ative to Thompson’s due to their outside shooting and movement without the ball. The Pelicans and Warriors face
off 9:30pm tonight local time at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Pelicans head coach: ‘He’s a rookie, he’s going to be fine’ By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - Despite the slow start from Buddy Hield in the Pelicans’ season opener, head coach Alvin Gentry insists that he expects his highly touted lottery pick to have better performances. “He’s a rookie, he’s going to be fine. He’s going to come out here some nights and you will ask me about how great he is, so I’m not worried about that part of it. He’s a great kid, he’s going to work his butt off but he’s going to have ups and downs like everybody has that comes into this league not named Lebron James,” Gentry said. “He’s going to be in a po-
NBA DEBUT: Buddy Hield, of the Bahamas, finished with four points and three assists in the Pelicans’ 107-102 loss to the Denver Nuggets. SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 14 sition where he’s going to have good nights and bad nights, as long as he has the confidence he has he’s go-
ing to be fine.” Hield finished with four points and three assists in the Pelicans’ 107-102 loss to
the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hield came off the bench
and in just under 17 minutes, shot 2-8 from the field and 0-3 from three point range. “I don’t read anything into this game at all for the long term. Anthony [Davis] is not going to average 50 and 16, I can pretty much guarantee you that. Buddy’s not going to go 1-7 every game. It was one game and he’ll be fine, I’m not worried about Buddy,” Gentry said. The Pelicans focus now shifts to tonight when they face the defending Western Conference champions Golden State Warriors at home in the Smoothie King Center. Hield said, in preparation to improve, it’s back to the film room and maintaining his confidence moving for-
ward. “It’s very disappointing,” Hield said. “Sucks to lose, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. But it’s the NBA, they tell me you have to forget about it and move on to the next one but I’m a sore loser so I have to worry about this one too. All I can do is watch film, get used to the game. Whenever coach calls my number, I get the opportunity, I just have to make the most of it.” Hield was productive during the preseason where he averaged 12.5 points per game on 43.2 per cent shooting from the field and 29 per cent shooting from three. He also added 3.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 three-pointers made in a team high 27.3 minutes per game.