Scott gets Kadena on title path

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — What's Kadena third baseman Shannon Scott to do when she's not getting it done with the bat? Break out that glove. And limber up that arm. Both were lifesavers in Wednesday's opener of the best-of-three Okinawa Activities Council softball championship series. Scott threw out a runner at home and tagged out one in the first inning and gunned down another trying to stretch a single into a double in the second as six-time champ Kadena beat Kubasaki 14-1 in a game shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. "She's the MOP for a reason," Kadena coach Jesse Costa said of Scott, who was named most outstanding player in last month's DODDS-Japan tournament, which Kadena won. Kubasaki had runners at second and third with none out in the first, but Scott erased Leena Seamans at the plate trying to steal home. One out later with the bases full, Carrie Thompson-Davis singled in Kubasaki's only run, but Bri Davis was tagged out by Scott in a rundown to end the inning. Kristal Merritt led off the next inning with a bloop single over Scott, who hesitated before chasing the ball, then juggled it momentarily before firing to second baseman Mary Schweers, who tagged out Merritt. "I wish I had her for a couple more seasons," Costa said of Scott. Defensive heroics weren't limited to Scott. Kubasaki had runners at first and second with none out in the third, but catcher Karol Whitfield caught a foul pop, then fired to second to double off Kararina Singson, who had strayed nearly all the way to third. "Karol caught and played a great game," Costa said. Kadena also took advantage of four wild pitches, five walks, a hit batsman and six Kubasaki errors. Melanie Moore's two-run third-inning single broke it open. Desiree Seals worked out of two jams and overcame five walks and two wild pitches for the victory. "We got out of the gate late," Dragons coach Gerald McKeown said. "It's all about momentum. They had the momentum. We didn't. We can play a lot better. That's what it's about, coming ready to play." The Panthers needed to win only Thursday's Game 2 at Chibana Recreation Area to clinch the title. Game 3 is 5 p.m. Friday at Foster Athletics Complex's Field 2, if necessary. "We haven't won anything yet," Costa said. "There's a couple of things to work on by tomorrow, but overall, I'm happy with their performance."