By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter, dahalia@nasguard.com

Former D's Truckers' closer Terrance Culmer and his brother, catcher Phillip Culmer, now play for the newest men's team in the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA), the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodores. So, the bleachers were packed with fans waiting with anticipation to see the Culmer brothers go up against their former teammates on Saturday night at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

In the end, however, it was ace pitcher Leroy Thompson and the defending champs who handed the Commodores a tough 16-4 loss. Thompson picked up the win while Culmer suffered the loss. According to the NPSA's new president, Bobby 'Baylor' Fernander, all of the teams will be aiming to bury the Truckers.

"It will be hard for the teams in the men's division to beat the Truckers. Nonetheless, it is good to have the RBDF team in the league because they are seasoned players, a pretty good squad, and we are looking for good things from them. We are also expecting for the other teams in the league to step up to the plate," noted the new president.

Those other men's teams include the Mighty Mitts, the King's Real Estate Pros, New Breed, Pricewaterhouse Stingrays and the Thompson Heavy Equipment Outlaws. The other NPSA executives who will be assisting Fernander include Vice Presidents Martin 'Pork' Burrows, Lawrence Smith, Vernie 'Sunshine' Curry, Arthur Johnson, Secretary Stephen 'Bishop' Beneby, Assistant Secretary Cyril Smith, Treasurer Muller Turnquest and Assistant Treasurer Stephanie Goodrich.

"We plan to do the best that we can," explained the new NPSA president. "The new body plans on the upgrading the park, enforcing all of the rules so that everybody gets fair opportunities but most importantly we want to revive the sport of softball. We are also impressed with the five women's teams that registered this year."

Those women's teams are the defending champions, the Pineapple Air Wildcats, the Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks, the Bommer George Swingers, the BTC Connectors and the Sigma Brackettes. When the NPSA season commences its second week of action tonight, two games will be played.

The Brackettes will take on the defending champs Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. The men's feature, the Commodores and New Breed, will follow at 8:30 p.m. This Thursday night, the Connectors will face the Lady Sharks at 7:00 p.m. and the Mitts will take on the Stingrays at 8:30 p.m.

A men's double header is set for Friday night. The Commodores will take on the Outlaws at 7:00 p.m. and in the second half of the double header, the Pros will play the Truckers. Then on Saturday, the Pros and Outlaws will go at it at 7:00 p.m. and the Sharks will face the Swingers at 8:30 p.m.

In related news, a NPSA management and coaches meeting is set for this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.