Month: June 2022

Top squash players to hit the walls swinging

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

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SQUASH players Jon Hope, left, and Chadbourne Rolle.

#THIRTY local squash players are set to compete in the inaugural Four Walls Squash Open Championship tournament, starting Wednesday at Four Walls Squash and Social Club.

#Matches will be held daily, starting on Wednesday at 6pm at the Village Road facility, which has three regulation size squash courts.

#The public is welcome to watch matches from the indoor stadium on the Keith Parker Championship Court, or inside the member’s bar and lounge, which has glass window viewing galleries.

#The finals will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 26, followed by an awards and after-party.

#“Most of our members play the game to de-stress and exercise, but they are competitive people at heart. Whenever we have tournaments, it’s an opportunity to let that competitive spirit out, while winning prizes and having a lot of fun,” said tournament director Michael Fields, who thanked platinum sponsors Rubins, John Bull and Technical Adjusters Bahamas Limited.

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Four Walls squash player Adrian Burrows.

#“We had a very successful beginner’s tournament last year, and now we are hosting our first open championship, which will feature the top local players, in addition to beginner and intermediate levels. In the future, we expect to attract amateur players from the region to participate in the open championship,” said Mr Fields.

#Gold and silver tournament sponsors include Fortress Insurance, TCBY, Pump It All and International Private Banking Systems.

#“For friends of squash it will be an exciting week, so we invite the community to come out. For curious members of the public, who want a taste of what we have to offer, this week is a great time to take in some competitive play and discover the sport.

#“Every night, the kitchen will be open and guests can meet new people and socialise in our member’s bar and lounge,” he said.

#Under new ownership and management, Four Walls renovated and reopened the Village Road Squash Club during the pandemic, bringing fresh energy to a niche sport that is not widely known.

#Played indoors on a court with four walls, squash is known as the “chess of racket sports”, given the importance of strategy and mental fitness in addition to flexibility, strength and endurance. Unlike tennis where players rally across a net, squash players hit the ball off the walls as they rally to keep the ball away from their opponent.

#“Local interest in squash continues to soar, and we invite the public to take advantage of our affordable membership, learn-to-play programme for adults, and our summer camp for kids.

#“Guests can learn more and sign up for all of our sessions online at www. fourwallsbahamas.com,” said Mr Fields.

Top squash players to hit the walls swinging

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

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SQUASH players Jon Hope, left, and Chadbourne Rolle.

#THIRTY local squash players are set to compete in the inaugural Four Walls Squash Open Championship tournament, starting Wednesday at Four Walls Squash and Social Club.

#Matches will be held daily, starting on Wednesday at 6pm at the Village Road facility, which has three regulation size squash courts.

#The public is welcome to watch matches from the indoor stadium on the Keith Parker Championship Court, or inside the member’s bar and lounge, which has glass window viewing galleries.

#The finals will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 26, followed by an awards and after-party.

#“Most of our members play the game to de-stress and exercise, but they are competitive people at heart. Whenever we have tournaments, it’s an opportunity to let that competitive spirit out, while winning prizes and having a lot of fun,” said tournament director Michael Fields, who thanked platinum sponsors Rubins, John Bull and Technical Adjusters Bahamas Limited.

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Four Walls squash player Adrian Burrows.

#“We had a very successful beginner’s tournament last year, and now we are hosting our first open championship, which will feature the top local players, in addition to beginner and intermediate levels. In the future, we expect to attract amateur players from the region to participate in the open championship,” said Mr Fields.

#Gold and silver tournament sponsors include Fortress Insurance, TCBY, Pump It All and International Private Banking Systems.

#“For friends of squash it will be an exciting week, so we invite the community to come out. For curious members of the public, who want a taste of what we have to offer, this week is a great time to take in some competitive play and discover the sport.

#“Every night, the kitchen will be open and guests can meet new people and socialise in our member’s bar and lounge,” he said.

#Under new ownership and management, Four Walls renovated and reopened the Village Road Squash Club during the pandemic, bringing fresh energy to a niche sport that is not widely known.

#Played indoors on a court with four walls, squash is known as the “chess of racket sports”, given the importance of strategy and mental fitness in addition to flexibility, strength and endurance. Unlike tennis where players rally across a net, squash players hit the ball off the walls as they rally to keep the ball away from their opponent.

#“Local interest in squash continues to soar, and we invite the public to take advantage of our affordable membership, learn-to-play programme for adults, and our summer camp for kids.

#“Guests can learn more and sign up for all of our sessions online at www. fourwallsbahamas.com,” said Mr Fields.

Top squash players to hit the walls swinging

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

Four Walls owners Michael Fields and Noelle Nicolls prepping for the start of service.

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

photo

SQUASH players Jon Hope, left, and Chadbourne Rolle.

#THIRTY local squash players are set to compete in the inaugural Four Walls Squash Open Championship tournament, starting Wednesday at Four Walls Squash and Social Club.

#Matches will be held daily, starting on Wednesday at 6pm at the Village Road facility, which has three regulation size squash courts.

#The public is welcome to watch matches from the indoor stadium on the Keith Parker Championship Court, or inside the member’s bar and lounge, which has glass window viewing galleries.

#The finals will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 26, followed by an awards and after-party.

#“Most of our members play the game to de-stress and exercise, but they are competitive people at heart. Whenever we have tournaments, it’s an opportunity to let that competitive spirit out, while winning prizes and having a lot of fun,” said tournament director Michael Fields, who thanked platinum sponsors Rubins, John Bull and Technical Adjusters Bahamas Limited.

photo

Four Walls squash player Adrian Burrows.

#“We had a very successful beginner’s tournament last year, and now we are hosting our first open championship, which will feature the top local players, in addition to beginner and intermediate levels. In the future, we expect to attract amateur players from the region to participate in the open championship,” said Mr Fields.

#Gold and silver tournament sponsors include Fortress Insurance, TCBY, Pump It All and International Private Banking Systems.

#“For friends of squash it will be an exciting week, so we invite the community to come out. For curious members of the public, who want a taste of what we have to offer, this week is a great time to take in some competitive play and discover the sport.

#“Every night, the kitchen will be open and guests can meet new people and socialise in our member’s bar and lounge,” he said.

#Under new ownership and management, Four Walls renovated and reopened the Village Road Squash Club during the pandemic, bringing fresh energy to a niche sport that is not widely known.

#Played indoors on a court with four walls, squash is known as the “chess of racket sports”, given the importance of strategy and mental fitness in addition to flexibility, strength and endurance. Unlike tennis where players rally across a net, squash players hit the ball off the walls as they rally to keep the ball away from their opponent.

#“Local interest in squash continues to soar, and we invite the public to take advantage of our affordable membership, learn-to-play programme for adults, and our summer camp for kids.

#“Guests can learn more and sign up for all of our sessions online at www. fourwallsbahamas.com,” said Mr Fields.

Basketball Smiles is back

SAM Nichols shares a moment with his visiting instructors from the United States.

SAM Nichols shares a moment with his visiting instructors from the United States.

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

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BASKETBALL Smiles Sam Nichols, left, and coach Patty Johnson.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SAM Nichols and his cadre of American coaches from Basketball Smiles are back for its 23rd year, bringing a lot of smiles to the faces of Bahamian girls and boys basketball players during the camp that opened up yesterday at the HO Nash Junior High School.

#Unlike in the past where the instructors spent the entire week training the youngsters, this year’s camp, coordinated by coach Patricia ‘Pattie’ Johnson, will run through Wednesday, but Nichols said they are just delighted to be able to return to impact their knowledge. “I love the coaches and the friends we’ve made and the boys and girls, whose lives we have been able to impact,” Nichols said. “We had over 11,000 kids who have gone through our programme over the past 23 years. This is like our second home. That’s why we continue to come back.”

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A BASKETBALL Smiles instructor cheers on a young camper.

#Adopting the quote “if you want to live a full life, give yourself to the next generation,” Nichols said he’s thrilled to be able to assist in the development of the next generation of Bahamian citizens as he and his coaches try to point them into the right direction.

#“What I’ve found out is that 90 percent of these boys and girls want to be coached,” Nichols said. “They want somebody to care for them, they want somebody who will teach them the right specifics and that is why they are so coachable.”

#Nichols is back with a coaching staff that includes a seven-year returnee, one with six years, another with five, two with just two years experience under their belt and two more who are making their debut. “There’s a networking in the coaching profession and I told them that we just don’t take any coach to come to the Bahamas,” Nichols said. “We want them to represent Basketball Smiles in a positive way and they have to come for the right weekend, which is pour themselves into these kids for a week.”

#The coaches are focusing on the fundamental skills of the girls in the morning sessions and the boys in the afternoon. They also go through some 3-on-3, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 drills and group participation.

#“The kids really make it happen,” said Adam Young out of Lubbock, Texas, where he works for a television company as well as Texas Tech. “They really enjoy learning the game and they are so enthusiastic, which helps me in my drive to get back over here every year.”

#As for working with Nichols, Young said he has been a mentor, who helps him through the rough and the good times in and outside of basketball. He noted that he’s even been impressed with how Nichols has worked with an amazing woman in Johnson, who is now going through her challenges.

#And Xavier Jackson, a basketball coach at Ward High School in Houston, Texas, is back for his fifth year.

#“I love the people and the kids and the energy that everyone brings to the camp,” said Jackson, a good friend of Bahamian Olympic bronze medallist Frank Rutherford. “We are able to do something for kids who are less fortunate, so I get to remember that when I get back home.

#“Many of the campers I’ve seen every year since I came here. So just knowing that everything you do and say, they get to put it into action. So we’re just delighted to be able to make an impact on so many lives here.”

#Having met Nichols for the past nine years, Jackson said he could call him on any subject matter before, during and after the season and when he was introduced to Johnson, she inspired him a lot. But he noted that once he met Rutherford, he learned so much more about the Bahamas.

#Johnson said she’s so grateful for coach Nichols and his cadre of coaches returning to plant a seed in the lives of the young Bahamian people.

#“They are dropping the seeds, but we have to take it and put it in the soil and water it,” Johnson said. “What they learn, they can go home and do these drills, they can do them in their neighbourhood and when they go back to school, they can do these drills with their team-mates to help them to become better ball players.”

#Along with their attitude, their academics and their availability, she said it’s her hope that some of these players will be able to secure athletic scholarships and go on to become better basketball players but, more importantly, productive citizens of the Bahamas.

#At least two of the players noted the impact Basketball Smiles has had on their lives.

#Alencia Brice, a 16-year-old CI Gibson student, has been attending the camp for the past few years and she’s eager to see what the instructors have to offer this year.

#“A wise person once told me that once you give, you will receive, so I’m just happy to be able to give back some of the knowledge I’ve learned to helping some of the youngsters in the camp,” Brice said.

#“The camp has taught me how to be more aggressive and strong and coming here will only help me to be better when I go off to college on a basketball scholarship to become a veterinarian.”

#One of Brice’s “very good friends,” Terrell McCoy said it’s good to be back in the camp environment after they missed the past two years because of COVID- 19. “I really needed this again and I really wanted to see coach Nichols because I missed him,” McCoy said. “I get to hone my dribbling skills, my shooting skills and they give me new drills to do at home when I’m bored so that I can get better on my own.”

#McCoy, a 14-year-old student at Windsor Academy, has also been making her presence felt in track and field as one of the up and coming shot putters, but she’s not sure exactly which sport she will be leaning more towards yet.

#Nichols said Basketball Smiles has been able to grow by leaps and bounds in the Bahamas because “no child will never pay and no child will ever be turned away. But he said what Johnson did over the years and now that she is experiencing her own personal and medical challenges, they all just want to be here for her. “She’s my sister. We carry Patty in our heart all the time because people don’t really see or know what she’s done for this country,” Nichols said. “We are coaches. She is solid as gold and we will continue to support her in all that she’s going through in life.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/21/basketball-smiles-back/?news

Champions are crowned at the BLTA Junior Nationals

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

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#IT was a weekend of exciting and competitive tennis matches at The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) Junior Nationals.

#The event was held June 16-20 at the National Tennis Centre. Juniors participated in U10-U18 categories for the coveted junior national champion.

#On Sunday, the following national junior champions were crowned:

#Girls singles U-10

#Champion: Marina Bostwick.

#Runner Up: Victoria Sandi-Aguilar

#Boys singles U-10

#Champion: Kingston Rees.

#Runner Up: Harrison Van Onselen

#Girls singles U-12

#Champion: Kaylah Fox.

#Runner Up: Briana Houlgrave

#Boys’ singles U-12

#Champion: Patrick Mactaggart. Runner Up: Atharva Hombal

#Boys’ singles U-18

#Champion: Dentry Mortimer Jr.

#Runner Up: Sharano Hanna

#The event offers the highest ranking points on the BLTA’s calendar and based on the performance in this event and others national team representation in international team competitions is determined.

#Over 100 matches were played across the singles and doubles categories by the end of tournament play.

#The BLTA expresses appreciation to Equity Bank and Trust Bahamas Limited, Limeade Bahamas, St Global Markets Limited and The Trophy Case who sponsored this prestigious event. The tournament referee was Everette Munroe, tournament director Esther Newton and assistant tournament director Denise Mortimer.

#All tournament information results can be found on the BLTA’s website https:// www.blta.net/blta-junior-nationals-tournament/ .

#The tournament wrapped up with the girls and boys U-14 and U-16 singles finals and the doubles semis and finals.\

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/21/champions-are-crowned-blta-junior-nationals/?news

Kai Jones returns home

Kai Jones
(AP Photo)

Kai Jones (AP Photo)

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#KAI Jones returned home for the first time since he completed his rookie season in the NBA and already has his sights set on the offseason and improvement headed into year two.

#“It was a season of growth, I learned so much about myself and about the game of basketball. So much about my soul,” Jones said. “I grew so much as a person and a player and I made some great relationships.”

#At the NBA level with the Hornets, Jones appeared in 21 NBA games this past season but played sparingly in few moments off the bench. He excelled at the G-League level on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 16.5 points on 61.4 percent shooting from the field – 32 percent from three-point range – 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks in 32 total G League games. He also posted 15 total double-doubles.

#“I bought in out of the gate. I love basketball, so once I was told about the opportunity to play 30 minutes (in Greensboro) because I wasn’t playing up here (in the NBA), I was jumping. I was so excited and ready to go. It gives me extreme confidence. Coming in, I believed I could have an impact on this team on both ends.

#“Now, it’s just that I think I can have a greater impact. I know there’s no ceiling for me. Just continue to work,” Jones said in his postseason exit interview.

#“Coming into the season, I didn’t think I was going to be down there, but God had a plan and I’m glad that I did go. I learned so much about myself and grew so much.

#“It’s a blessing. The biggest thing for me was walking in gratitude. I think that’s huge. Learning how to be so grateful for playing the game every day and with the opportunity you have in front of you, making the most out of it.”

#The no.19 pick in last year’s draft, Jones and the other members of the Hornets’ rookie class have played sparingly as the Hornets have chased a spot in the NBA playoffs.

#Jones highlighted the season with a career high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 139-119 win over the Long Island Nets on March 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.

#“I got so much better just with my efficiency there, especially from 3-point range because I was taking the right shots and finding the balance. “Defensively, playing in the post, my positioning, being able to absorb contact and understanding it’s a battle, really. I just got so much stronger throughout the season, so I became more comfortable with boxing guys out, hitting guys and imposing my will on people. I got a lot stronger really, mentally and physically,” he said.

#“I think I’ve improved in every aspect of the game. From my overall feel for the game, my knowledge, my patience, my pace, my physicality and on the defensive end, learning how to play in coverages and in the post. I’ve just improved so much, just continuing to take steps in the right direction and build championship habits.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/21/kai-jones-returns-home/?news

Equestrian Kacy Lyn Smith makes history

BECOMES THE FIRST BAHAMIAN JUNIOR RIDER TO QUALIFY FOR FEI NORTH AMERICAN YOUTH JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

KACY Lyn Smith and Chicago M in action at the Upperville Horse Show in Middleburg, Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Maddie Valenzuela

KACY Lyn Smith and Chicago M in action at the Upperville Horse Show in Middleburg, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Maddie Valenzuela

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

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KACY Lyn Smith and Chicago M in action at the Upperville Horse Show in Middleburg, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Maddie Valenzuela

#KACY Lyn Smith and her horse Chicago M rode a double clear round at Loudoun County, Virginia, this weekend and, in doing so, made history as the first Bahamian junior rider to qualify for the FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships.

#The event is set to be held at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, in August.

#The prestigious FEI Youth Jumping Championships provides an exciting opportunity for young equestrians to compete against their peers, mirroring the format of senior championships such as the Olympic Games.

#Team and individual competitions in each age category are held over multiple days.

#Sixteen-year-old Smith, who lives in Virginia and trains with Kama Godek of Capital Area Premium Sporthorses, will compete for The Bahamas as an individual in the Pre-Junior Championship category.

#This category is for riders 14-16 years old and features courses at fence heights of 1.30 metres.

#Qualifying for the championships wasn’t even on Smith’s radar a month ago. When discussing qualification scenarios with federation officials back in mid-May, Smith was honest – it might not be an option.

#Qualification deadlines were fast approaching, but she had just started riding a new horse (Chicago M, a 17.1 hh, 12-year-old Holsteiner recently imported from Germany). As a team, they were just getting to know one another.

#“I’d only jumped him for the first time three days before,” said Smith. “I [was] still figuring him out.”

#Yet Smith and her trainer Kama Godek believed it could be done. They began campaigning to immediate success. After clear rounds at 1.15m, 1.20m and 1.25m at Swan Lake, the pair travelled to the prestigious Upperville Horse Show in Middleburg, VA. The weekend started inauspiciously when Smith suffered a fall: “He jumps extremely athletically and tends to jump me out of the tack,” she noted.

#Luckily neither horse nor rider were hurt, and the pair finished the weekend strong, going double clear and placing 9th in a competitive field in the $2,500 1.25m Classic. At that moment Smith and her trainer made the decision to move up to the 1.30m class at Loudoun. It was the right decision. Smith and Chicago jumped double clear, finishing 5th overall, winning a share of the prize money…and securing the coveted certificate of capability for qualification to the FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships.

#As the lone rider representing The Bahamas, Smith will ride in the Pre- Children’s Championship as an individual competitor. The prospect leaves her unfazed, declaring, “I will be proud to be the singular rider representing The Bahamas.”…

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/21/equestrian-kacy-lyn-smith-makes-history/?news

The Bahamas falls to Puerto Rico and Mexico

Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 20, 2022 208 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas’ under-15 (U15) boys junior national team emphatically lost two games over the weekend, playing at the FIBA Americas U15 Centrobasket Championships at the Coliseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

The Bahamas was scheduled to play Guyana on Saturday, but ended up facing the host nation Puerto Rico and lost drastically, 107-42. On Sunday, they fell to Mexico, 99-49.

The competition, which was set to feature eight teams from the Caribbean and Central America, ended up with just six teams. Guyana and Panama pulled out days before. It forced organizers to make one group for the competition. The remaining teams other than The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Mexico are the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Costa Rica. The Bahamas will play the Dominican Republic at 3 p.m. today.

In the game against Puerto Rico, Joshua Williams led The

Bahamas in scoring with 10 points in 21 minutes on the floor. He shot 4-for-13 from the field including 2-for-4 from deep.

It was not the start that head coach Quentin Hall and his coaching staff had hoped for. Williams scored the first basket of the game to put The Bahamas up 2-0 with 9.02 left in the first quarter, but Puerto Rico then put on a show for their fans with a 24-2 scoring run and never looked back.

It turned out that 2-0 lead was the only lead for The Bahamas in the game. Desmond Hall stopped the run with a layup, but the first quarter ended with the host nation leading 36-6.

In the second quarter, the Bahamian teenagers started playing with more fight in them but Puerto Rico was too much for them. The Bahamas scored 17 points in that quarter but Puerto Rico scored 31 to take a commanding 67-21 lead at the intermission.

The game was a foregone conclusion at the half as Puerto Rico was already ahead by 46 points. Puerto Rico was held to 15 points in the third quarter but The Bahamas countered with just 11 points.

Puerto Rico’s Felipe Garcia led all scorers with 19 points. Puerto Rico’s largest lead of the game was 65 points which turned out to be the final margin of victory.

The Bahamas shot the ball poorly, making just 26.9 percent of their shots from the field. Puerto Rico knocked down 45.8 percent of their shots from the field. It was a sloppy game from The Bahamas as the host country stole the ball 31 times, coming away with 53 points off turnovers.

Against Mexico, Noah Bain paced The Bahamas with 13 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Michael Munnings added nine on 4-for-9 shooting and Bradleon McDonald contributed eight points on 4-for-5 shooting.

Karim Lopez led Mexico with a game-high 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Angel Escarcega added 17 on 6-for-9 shooting and Augusto Carriedo contributed 13 points on 3-for-6 shooting.

The FIBA (International Basketball Federation)-sanctioned tournament is set to end on Wednesday.

Freedom Farm dominates baseball nationals

Sports

They won six out of the seven divisions that were up for grabs

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 20, 2022 208 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 A player from the Ed Armbrister Baseball League gets a hit during their 16U game against Freedom Farm on Saturday. Freedom Farm won the game, 3-0. photos: DANTE CARRER

The rain came down and prematurely ended the Bahamas Baseball Association’s (BBA) National Championships on Sunday but, fortunately, the final division that was in action, the 12-and-under (12U), had just completed the third inning of the gold medal which made the game official. The Freedom Farm Baseball League won, bagging its sixth division title with a 9-0 victory over the Grand Bahama Little League.

The competition that got underway on Friday, wrapped up with ‘Championship Sunday’ yesterday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Freedom Farm 12U team was dominant throughout the entire tournament, winning all four of its games. With the rain threatening to interrupt the game, Coach Marlon Bostwick set his team up to play a full three innings. By the third inning, they had a 7-0 lead, and added two more runs for the final result. Bostwick said he was hoping the rain didn’t come and they would have played out the full game.

“With the game not going to the full innings, we had some sort of doubt. We wanted to come out here, executed the game plan and leave with a ‘Mercy Rule’ victory to show our dominance,” Bostwick said. “Against Grand Bahama, the game was well-executed. We did not give up any runs. We had stellar hitting and pitching in our line-up and we came out victorious even though it did not go the full distance.”

One of the loudest and most watched games of the day was the 16U game between Freedom Farm and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN). This game was dominated by JBLN as they won 10-6. JBLN coach Warren Levarity Jr. said whenever these two teams face each other, there will be a lot of fireworks.

“Our job was to stay composed and come out and execute our plan. We did that in the beginning and fizzled in the end as we tried to hold on. We know that they are a good team and organization, so we expected them to come back. We got the lead early and we held them off,” he said.

JBLN led 8-0 and 9-1 in the game, but had to hold off a late comeback by Freedom Farm.

JBLN pitcher Ahmon Smith went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs in the victory. As a team, JBLN got six hits in the first two innings which produced eight runs – four per inning.

Freedom Farm did not get on the scoreboard until the fourth inning. They scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they could not keep the runs coming as the game ended 10-6.

The JBLN team avenged their earlier 2-0 loss to Freedom Farm who left the group stage with a 3-0 win/loss record.

It was a perfect run for Freedom Farm’s 10U team as they pulled off a 7-2 victory over JBLN in the gold medal game. They came into the championship game with a 4-0 record in the tournament, and allowed just two hits in the championship game in 19 at-bats. Freedom Farm had nine hits.

Freedom Farm 10U team coach William Seymour was confident that his team would prevail.

“We knew as a team, from early on in the tournament, that we were going to be victorious and win the championship. We felt that the level of competition in the group – our guys play above their level. We were sure of the victory. In preparing the guys for this tournament, we were second to none. They worked hard and deserved the victory,” Seymour said.

Freedom Farm came out on top with three wins in what turned out to be a best-of-five series against JBLN in the 18U division. In the final game, Freedom Farm won 10-2.

It was a dominating run by the Freedom Farm 14U team as they scored 22 runs and gave up just two runs in the group stage. They took down JBLN 13-0 in the gold medal game to secure the national title in that division. To get there, they took down the Abaco Youth Baseball League, 7-0, in the semifinals.

The 8U division (Coach Pitch) was won by Freedom Farm. They won 19-1 over JBLN in the gold medal game to cart off that trophy. They were unbeaten in group play with a 3-0 record and did not concede a run until the championship game. They scored 56 runs in the group stage.

In the 6U division (Tee Ball), Freedom Farm won a best-of-three series 2-0 over the Legacy Baseball League out of Grand Bahama. In the first game, Freedom Farm won 28-5. In the second game, Legacy put up a fight but Freedom Farm won 18-5.

The different local leagues will now look to travel to the United States for various tournaments in the summer as coaches look to give them more exposure and experience.

30 PHOTOS FIBA WORLD RANK

BahamasBAHAMASGROUP A

#https://www.fiba.basketball/centrobasket/u15/2022/team/Bahamas#tab=roster

Freedom Farm dominates baseball nationals

They won six out of the seven divisions that were up for grabs

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 20, 2022 208 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 A player from the Ed Armbrister Baseball League gets a hit during their 16U game against Freedom Farm on Saturday. Freedom Farm won the game, 3-0. photos: DANTE CARRER

The rain came down and prematurely ended the Bahamas Baseball Association’s (BBA) National Championships on Sunday but, fortunately, the final division that was in action, the 12-and-under (12U), had just completed the third inning of the gold medal which made the game official. The Freedom Farm Baseball League won, bagging its sixth division title with a 9-0 victory over the Grand Bahama Little League.

The competition that got underway on Friday, wrapped up with ‘Championship Sunday’ yesterday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Freedom Farm 12U team was dominant throughout the entire tournament, winning all four of its games. With the rain threatening to interrupt the game, Coach Marlon Bostwick set his team up to play a full three innings. By the third inning, they had a 7-0 lead, and added two more runs for the final result. Bostwick said he was hoping the rain didn’t come and they would have played out the full game.

“With the game not going to the full innings, we had some sort of doubt. We wanted to come out here, executed the game plan and leave with a ‘Mercy Rule’ victory to show our dominance,” Bostwick said. “Against Grand Bahama, the game was well-executed. We did not give up any runs. We had stellar hitting and pitching in our line-up and we came out victorious even though it did not go the full distance.”

One of the loudest and most watched games of the day was the 16U game between Freedom Farm and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN). This game was dominated by JBLN as they won 10-6. JBLN coach Warren Levarity Jr. said whenever these two teams face each other, there will be a lot of fireworks.

“Our job was to stay composed and come out and execute our plan. We did that in the beginning and fizzled in the end as we tried to hold on. We know that they are a good team and organization, so we expected them to come back. We got the lead early and we held them off,” he said.

JBLN led 8-0 and 9-1 in the game, but had to hold off a late comeback by Freedom Farm.

JBLN pitcher Ahmon Smith went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs in the victory. As a team, JBLN got six hits in the first two innings which produced eight runs – four per inning.

Freedom Farm did not get on the scoreboard until the fourth inning. They scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they could not keep the runs coming as the game ended 10-6.

The JBLN team avenged their earlier 2-0 loss to Freedom Farm who left the group stage with a 3-0 win/loss record.

It was a perfect run for Freedom Farm’s 10U team as they pulled off a 7-2 victory over JBLN in the gold medal game. They came into the championship game with a 4-0 record in the tournament, and allowed just two hits in the championship game in 19 at-bats. Freedom Farm had nine hits.

Freedom Farm 10U team coach William Seymour was confident that his team would prevail.

“We knew as a team, from early on in the tournament, that we were going to be victorious and win the championship. We felt that the level of competition in the group – our guys play above their level. We were sure of the victory. In preparing the guys for this tournament, we were second to none. They worked hard and deserved the victory,” Seymour said.

Freedom Farm came out on top with three wins in what turned out to be a best-of-five series against JBLN in the 18U division. In the final game, Freedom Farm won 10-2.

It was a dominating run by the Freedom Farm 14U team as they scored 22 runs and gave up just two runs in the group stage. They took down JBLN 13-0 in the gold medal game to secure the national title in that division. To get there, they took down the Abaco Youth Baseball League, 7-0, in the semifinals.

The 8U division (Coach Pitch) was won by Freedom Farm. They won 19-1 over JBLN in the gold medal game to cart off that trophy. They were unbeaten in group play with a 3-0 record and did not concede a run until the championship game. They scored 56 runs in the group stage.

In the 6U division (Tee Ball), Freedom Farm won a best-of-three series 2-0 over the Legacy Baseball League out of Grand Bahama. In the first game, Freedom Farm won 28-5. In the second game, Legacy put up a fight but Freedom Farm won 18-5.

The different local leagues will now look to travel to the United States for various tournaments in the summer as coaches look to give them more exposure and experience.

https://thenassauguardian.com/freedom-farm-dominates-baseball-nationals/

Junior rowers prepare for CanAmMex Regatta


Training is expected to intensify leading up to the international event

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 17, 2022 316 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 w Bahamian male rowers are shown at Lake Cunningham in New Providence during a training session. They are preparing for the 2022 CanAmMex International Regatta, to be held July 11-12 on Fanshawe Lake in London, Ontario, Canada. DANTE CARRER

Local junior rowers have been putting in the work on Lake Cunningham as they prepare for competition at the 2022 CanAmMex International Regatta to be held on Fanshawe Lake in London, Ontario, Canada. It is set for July 11-12.

The Bahamas’ participation in the regatta is via a collaboration of two clubs – the Nassau Rowing Club (NRC) and the Windsor Rowing Club (WRC). An 11-member team includes Jessica Proffitt, Poppy Proffitt, Breanna Gayle, Crachante Laing, Kenneth Hart, Kameron Taylor, Matthias Simms, Isaiah Ellis, William Watson, Harrison Schindel and the spare is Tasneem Karabas. They will be competing in four different races – the women’s quadruple sculls, the men’s quadruple sculls, the women’s double sculls and the men’s double sculls.

The head coach of the team is Canadian Olympian Andrea Proske. The team manager and assistant coach is Beatrise Bethel. WRC coach, Olympian Rob Gibson, is also supporting the team. 

CanAmMex is one of the biggest junior rowing national team events that has Canada, the United States of America and Mexico rowing against each other. It usually encompasses junior rowers who narrowly missed the world championships. This year, The Bahamas got an invitation to compete – the first time a fourth country was invited in its 15-plus years of competition.

Proske, 2020 Olympic Champion in the women’s eights for Canada, said now that school is closed for the summer, they will take training up a notch as they gear up for preparation camp.

“The training has been harder than anything that these athletes have ever done,” Proske said. “Up until now, they have fitted training around school, so it meant a lot of time not spent doing other things. The athletes are stepping up and gaining fitness that they have never had before. They are doing distance and speed that they have never had before.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for them because not only do they get an opportunity to represent The Bahamas internationally, for many of them this will be the biggest regatta they have ever been to. This is also a great stepping stone for those who want to go off for school.”

Collegiate scouts are expected to be in attendance. The rowers will get an opportunity to leave not only with medals but with new friendships as well.

President of NRC Kyle Chea said that he hopes the regatta helps the rowers develop their passion for the sport.

“The regatta has presented an incredible opportunity for rowers across New Providence to come together to represent the country through athletic excellence. We hope that this opportunity lights a fire in our athletes to start their own Olympic journey to represent The Bahamas at more competitive regattas in the future,” Chea said.

Proske believes in the rowers and believes that if they achieve their personal best they will return home with some hardware.

“I expect the athletes to be very clear about what our definition of success is. The definition of success is to cross the finish line knowing that we turned over every stone and that we had a personal best. I do believe that these rowers’ personal best will be enough to land us among the top two spots,” Proske said.

The team is sponsored by King’s College, Marlin Capital Partners, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, Isles of Knight, Agriculture and Energy Carriers, the New Providence Development Company and Biosteel.

https://thenassauguardian.com/junior-rowers-prepare-for-canammex-regatta/