---

Finally!

Women's softball is back - and with style. Carla Zuill blasted a homer out of the park in Wednesday night's first game, but it was the Café Cairo Sphinxes who prevailed over Zuill's P&M Electro-Cutes.

Women's softball has been dormant for about six years since the fast pitch league died, but Amy Renton and Stephanie Rego have helped spearhead a revival of sorts with a slow-pitch version.

Zuill, a former member of the women's national team fast-pitch team, hit the league's first out of the park homer with a third inning blast. She said: "I was very surprised. I wasn't trying to (hit a homer). Whenever I play co-ed with the men I always said "One day I want to hit it out of the park so it was indescribable to have done it on the first night of the inaugural women's softball co-ed league. It will be a great story to tell when I'm older."

Zuill is believed to be just the third woman to ever hit a homer out of Bernard Park. Duan Leverock was the last female to do it.

Zuill added to see that there is now a women's league. "I'm really, really happy that this has come about after so many years. It's been disheartening to see the lack of women involved since fast pitch died off. Although it's not fast pitch, I think it's great to see women playing in masses down at the park again. Hopefully it will stimulate and entice the younger generation to come and play as well so we can keep women's softball alive in Bermuda."

Team-mate Tiffany Dawson got the league's first hit and made it all the way to third.

"I was pretty nervous since it was my first softball game ever," Dawson said. "It was nerve-wracking, but it was pretty exciting to hit the ball and run three bases and to hear the crowd cheer and my team-mates cheers me on. It was very exciting."

Dawson doesn't play in the co-ed league and was glad the league has given her a chance to play ball without the added pressure of playing in front of men.

"Playing with women is empowering. Men are 'better at sports', but playing with women is fun and they are very supportive.

"I'm not too sure I'd have played co-ed. I feel more comfortable with all women to be honest with you."

Sarah Tufts Robinson, manager for the Café Cairo Sphinxes said: "This is a great idea. It was such a good atmosphere last night. Lots of people came out to support it - It was good fun."

She said the league has "brought out so many more women who weren't involved in the co-ed league.

"Generally, women might be intimidated by the men being there. I know when I teach at school, the girls don't want to play with the boys. For some, who aren't as strong players when it comes in playing in front of guys,...they don't want to mess up and deal with the pressure."

Café Cairo prevailed in the first game 15 to 14. with a come from behind win against the P&M Electro-Cutes. Tufts-Ribonson said: "It was an amazing win. We were down 14 -7. We came to the top of the order and we were able to get the runs in."

Ashley Lopes was the star for Cairo by going 4-4 (3 RBI) while Zuill added a triple and 5 RBI to go with her homer.

The nightcap saw Eacy Girlz down the Comets 21 to 14.[[In-content Ad]]

---