The BVI All-Stars men’s and women’s teams both retained the championship in their respective divisions of the 2023 Kings and Queens of the Virgin Islands Softball Tournament due to forfeitures.
During the first of the two championship games between BVI All-Stars and Feds, the St. Croix team got off to a good start, managing two runs at the top of the first inning.
The Feds extended that lead to 5 at the top of the third inning and looked well in control of the game at that stage.
All was not lost for the local All-Stars team, who thanks to Marisa Malone at the bottom of the fourth, managed an inside-the-park home run to reduce their deficit to 4, breathing some life back into their dugout and the supporting crowd.
With the championship on the line, the All-Stars delivered at the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 5 runs apiece.
The game was brought to a standstill at the top of the sixth inning after the Feds had managed a run to go 1 up. This was due to a query by the All-Stars Coach, Neville Smith, about an illegal entry that was made by the Feds.
It involved the Feds having a Designated Player who batted without informing the plate or chief umpire of the change.
Following a brief investigation by the chief umpire, the run was disallowed and the score returned to a tied 5-5 game. This decision did not sit well with the Feds coaches who were visibly upset and as a result, instructed their team to forfeit the game.
The finals between the BVI All-Stars Men and Los LLacos also ended in forfeiture, as the St. Croix team of which the two coaches from the Feds are a part, took the stance as a sign of unity with the women’s decision to forfeit.
