Fryers derail St. Croix All Stars 12-3 in softball encounter

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The Fryers derailed the St. Croix All Stars 12-3 on Saturday, after the All Stars crushed the St. John Ambassadors 22-2, on Friday night, during an inter-island softball series at the Old Recreation Grounds.

Head of the Fryers Rennie ‘Panchie’ Jeffers who coordinated the event, said things did not go as planned. He expected to play more games but the St. John Ambassadors arrived late on Friday evening and missed their scheduled game with the Latinos. His Fryers were rescheduled to play the Latinos instead, but they failed to show. The Latinos had confirmed their participation in the series after a team from St. Thomas did not give a positive response to the invitation.

Jeffers said the games weren’t all that well supported either as there were so many events going on at the same time. “There was a show at the Cultural Center, Christmas on Main Street and basketball, so the turnout was small,” Jeffers noted.

The mini tournament was being used as a tune up for the January 19-23, AAU men’s international fast pitch softball tournament scheduled for Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Elroy Bates scattered six hits as the St. Croix All Stars sealed a 22-2, four inning victory by capitalizing on 18 walks in Friday’s game. The All Stars’ 22 runs were on 12 hits, 0 errors and 6 left on base. The Ambassadors 2 runs came from 6 hits, 2 errors and 6 stranded. Terry Chinnery who had relief help from Reynold ‘Bushman’ Corum, took the loss.

The All Stars Leroy Simmonds was 2 for 4 including a solo homer in the fourth, scored twice and had 3 RBIs. Keithly Millington was 2 for 3 with one scored and 3 runs batted in. Mackred Rogers finished 2 for 2 with 3 scored and drove in two.

On Saturday, Raymond Mercer fanned five in five innings, to lead the Fryers to a 12-3 victory over the St. Croix All Stars. Aubrey ‘Kong’ Frett pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Enrique Soto who got relief help from Bates, suffered the loss.

Cedric Smith went 4 for 4 for the Fryers including a 2-run homer in the fourth. He scored three times and had 2 runs batted in. Mercer was 3 for 4, scored one with 3 RBIs. Kyel Rhymer also went 3 for 4, scored two and drove in two. Clarence Fahie had a 2-run homer in three at bats. He scored once with three runs batted in. The All Stars’ Jose Reviera was 2 for 4. Eric Ruiz went 1 for 4 and scored once.