Key hitters for the Herd were Ken McPherson and Mark Kaplan, who each delivered three hits and three runs batted in. Both batters also hit home runs.

Nigel Godfrey was winning pitcher and Sanford Seepersad was tagged with the loss.

Despite the onslaught, AICO had a couple of things to smile about, the hitting performances of Austin John, who had three base hits in as many plate appearances including a round-tripper, and Terry Richardson, who connected with two hits of his own.

Pitcher Shirley Nusum gave up only five runs as PALMS topped ACT 14-5 while losing pitcher Scott Corday had mounds of trouble.

Derron Trott smacked a couple of hits for the winners, along with a home run and double to drive in five runs.

John Simons was three-for-four with a home run and two RBI.

ACT got some spark from Gordy Shaw and John Robbins.

In the other match, Snowballs romped over St. David's 10-3 behind the solid pitching performance of Mario Valcourt.

Valcourt helped his own cause with three hits, two of which were home runs and he then punched in a double. In total, he drove in three runs. Sylvain Fontaine delivered three clutch hits of his own -- a home run, double and two RBI.

Andre Manders and James Pace were key hitters for St. David's, but that was not enough to help losing pitcher Michael Glasford.

NETBALL NET The top three teams in the Bermuda Netball Association's Saturday League maintained a course towards a possible championship showdown with each winning handily.

7-Up Netts had the easiest path to victory when opponents Warwick Redbirds defaulted their scheduled 1 p.m. match.

Meanwhile, winning in a more conventional fashion were league leaders AICO, who pummelled North Village 54-13, with Debbie DeShields and Vernelle Flood scoring 34 and 20 respectively for the victors.

Enduring a more difficult time than expected were PCC as they found themselves tied at 18-18 at half-time with unfancied Hamilton Parish.

However, Parish rapidly ran out of gas in the second as PCC turned up the tempo, exploding for 22 points, while limiting the opposition to a mere nine in a 40-27 win.

Losing pace were Olympic Panthers who were subdued by Cardinals 32-22.

The loss dropped Panthers to fifth place -- on goal difference -- six points behind AICO and five adrift of the 7-Up Netts and PCC.

In Sunday League action 7-Up Nets dusted off the closest challengers Olympic Panthers 33-18 to give them a two-point edge at the top of the standings.

Wolves survived a torrid fourth-quarter fight-back by AICO to prevail 38-31.

The latter poured in 12 points while limiting Wolves to five, but still fell short of the required target.

Remaining matches had PCC blasting Cooper and Lines 48-14 and Running Rebels beating hapless Boulevard 30-17.

SQUASH SQU Top local junior squash player Nicholas Kyme successfully defended his Under 13 crown at the prestigious Baird E. Haney Junior Soft Ball Championships in New York over the weekend.

After being forced to fight his way through last year, the 12-year-old enjoyed a much smoother run this time out.

The final saw him greet American Ben Oniner, ranked third in the United States, with a powerful display in winning 9-0, 9-0, 9-3.

Kyme, the current Bermuda Under 14 and Under 16 champion, in fact lost a mere eight points the entire tournament that consisted of five rounds.

Following an opening round bye he sliced through the field, beating the likes of Nicholas Saint (9-0, 9-0, 9-0), Jeffe Fenwick (9-1, 9-1, 9-0) and Tony Morris (9-0, 9-3, 9-0) before facing Oniner.

Kyme's ability to volley into the nick from anywhere on the court was particularly troubling to opponents, who simply had no answer to the tactic employed.

Next up for the Bermudian is the Scottish Junior Open in late December, which is a part of the European Grand Prix.

DARTS DRT There were several high scores recorded on Friday night as action continued in the Women's Dart League.

Moonglow were in a particularly unforgiving mood as they trounced Police East 7-0, although the latter did manage to take the 1001.

Meanwhile, BAA encountered little difficulty in crushing Mariners 6-1 and also seized the 1001.

Continuing the trend of lopsided wins were RAA and St. George's, 6-1 victors over Hamilton Parish and BPSA respectively.

The lone close game had EEMYC squeezing past St. George's II 4-3.

GOLF GLF Barry DeCouto won the Belmont Bowl on Sunday when he defeated Andrew Bissell three and one.

The November monthly medal was won by Bobby McRonald with a 71 in the gross division and Eugene Sousa with a 66 in the net division.

Second in gross was Steven Perry on 74, by retrogression over DeCouto. The net runner-up was Morris Simons with a 67 while Sam Bezant was third on 68.

The Bermuda Golf Association's Monthly Medal competition has been moved forward to November 20 at Ocean View Golf Club.

Entries should be telephoned to secretary Tom Smith at 238-1367 no later than tomorrow at 6 p.m.

ROAD RUNNING RUN Bermuda's Harry Patchett completed Sunday's New York City Marathon in 2:54 and not 3:54 as previously reported.

Other corrected times are Simon Farmer (3:14), Angela Davies (4:32) and Samantha Miller (4:37).

SOCCER SOC The Jock Stein Celtic Supporters Club will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Flanagan's on Front Street.

Prospective new members are welcome to attend.