Home|Home|‘Mother’ Pratt named new GGHomeNews

Appointment takes effect Sept. 1

Travis Cartwright-CarrollSend an emailAugust 16, 2023 85 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday that Cynthia “Mother” Pratt will serve as the country’s next governor general effective September 1.

Davis’ decision was anticipated for some time.

The prime minister said that Governor General Sir Cornelius A. Smith, who was appointed in June 2019, “indicated his intention to demit office on August 31, 2023”.

“In accordance with the provisions of Article 32 of the Constitution of The Bahamas, I requested on 11 August 2023 that His Majesty, King Charles, appoint Mrs. Cynthia Pratt, governor general, with effect from 1 September 2023,” Davis said in a statement.

He said, “I am confident that the appointment of Cynthia Pratt will be widely accepted as a representation of Bahamians everywhere due to the character and contributions which distinguish her as a nationalist of the highest order.

“I wish to thank the outgoing governor general Sir Cornelius A. Smith for his
distinguished service and wish him well.”

Pratt was born on November 5, 1945 and served in Parliament for 15 years as the MP for St. Cecilia. She left frontline politics in 2012 and later served as co-chair of the Urban Renewal Commission.

She is known for her contributions to nursing, education, politics, sports and religion, Davis noted.

She was the first woman to serve as deputy prime minister as well as the first woman to serve as minister of national security.

She has served as deputy to the governor general on several occasions.

Davis’ announcement comes after Parliament was prorogued last Saturday.

The new session begins on October 4, where Pratt will read the speech from the throne, outlining the Davis administration’s legislative agenda.

Pratt, 77, said yesterday that she is humbled by the appointment.

“I have the training,” she said.

“I know how it works. It’s still a learning process with some things, but I know that I will do well.

“I’ve been there before. I know what it is to lead this nation. I’m exited in a sense. I’m not afraid or worried that I can’t do it. I know I can do it because God is with me.

“I believe God has been preparing me since I entered Parliament.”

She added: “Whenever God calls me home, I want the people to say there was once a woman from the heart of the inner city who made a difference for her people.”

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard yesterday congratulated Pratt on the appointment noting that it is well deserved.

 Home|Home|Pratt: I’m humbled by appointmentHomeNews

Krystel BrownSend an emailAugust 16, 2023 48 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Reacting to the announcement that she will be sworn in as the country’s 12th governor general in an independent Bahamas, former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt said yesterday she is “humbled” by the opportunity to serve the Bahamian people once again and pledged to be a governor general for the people.

Prime Minister Philip Davis announced yesterday that Pratt will be sworn in as governor general on September 1.

“I’m humbled by it,” she told The Nassau Guardian.

“I’m grateful and thankful to God. I thank my prime minister and the Bahamian people for this opportunity. I aim to do one thing and that is to serve The Bahamian people, to help them and to bring them along with me.”

In a statement, Davis said Governor General Sir Cornelius Smith has indicated his intention to demit office on August 31. Sir Cornelius has been in the role since June 2019.

Pratt, 77, said she feels blessed that she is still able to make a meaningful contribution at her age.

“What it means to me is that I am blessed to be able to continue to help my people in a positive way. When you look at where I’ve come from and every level that I’ve come from, it was all about helping my people.

“My job is to make certain that all of the people are recognized.

“I want to be able to reach those that we have forgotten, special children, people that others have put aside. These are things I want to do. I want to reach people, particularly my young men.”

Pratt, who was the member of Parliament for St. Cecelia for 15 years, also served as the first female deputy prime minister and first female minister of national security.

Pratt has also served as deputy to the governor general multiple times.

She said her various roles over the years have prepared her for what’s to come.

“I have the training,” she said.

“I know how it works. It’s still a learning process with some things, but I know that I will do well.

“I’ve been there before, I know what it is to lead this nation. I’m excited in a sense. I’m not afraid or worried that I can’t do it. I know I can do it because God is with me.

“I believe God has been preparing me since I entered Parliament.”

She added: “Whenever God calls me home, I want the people to say there was once a woman from the heart of the inner city who made a difference for her people.”

Davis expressed confidence that Pratt’s appointment will be widely accepted as a “representation of Bahamians everywhere due to the character and contributions which distinguish her as a nationalist of the highest order”.

He thanked Sir Cornelius for his distinguished service and wished him well.

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas finishes 18th at Commonwealth Youth GamesSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 11, 2023 63 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas wrapped up action at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), finishing in 18th place out of 25 countries. The event concluded yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamas finished with four total medals – two silver and two bronze medals. The Bahamas competed in four events – athletics, swimming, road cycling and triathlon. There were 15 athletes altogether who made the trip to the Southern Caribbean.

Capturing a silver medal each was Marvin Johnson in the 50 meters (m) free in swimming (22.84 seconds) and Robert Deal in the shot put in athletics (15.99m – 52’ 5-1/2”). The bronze medals came from Johnson in the 100m free in swimming (50.41 seconds) and Nigel Forbes in the 50m back in swimming (26.32 seconds).

Forbes had four other top-eight finishes in individual races. In the 100m fly, he finished fourth in a time of 54.57 seconds. He was also fourth in the 200m fly, swimming 2:06.11. Forbes finished sixth in the 50m butterfly in a time of 24.73 seconds and was seventh in the 100m back, clocking 58.41 seconds.

Emmanuel Gadson was fifth in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:19.22. In the 50m breast, he swam a time of 29.70 seconds to place sixth. He was seventh in the 100m breast in 1:04.75.

Tumani Skinner made it to the semifinals of the 100m and 200m sprint races in athletics. He was seventh in his 100m semifinal in 11.19 seconds. Skinner missed out on a spot in the 200m final when he clocked 21.82 seconds to finish fourth in his semifinal heat.

Swimmers Ellie Gibson, Kyana Higgs, Keianna Moss, Seannia Norville Smith and Zoe Williamson were also on the 15-member team.

Australia finished with the most medals with 64 – 26 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze. England was second, bagging 16 gold, 23 silver and 10 bronze for a total of 49 medals. Scotland placed third after winning 28 medals that included 12 gold, 11 silver and five bronze.

Host nation Trinidad and Tobago was the top Caribbean country, finishing with 15 total medals – four gold, five silver and six bronze. Regional powerhouse in athletics Jamaica finished with just four medals – two gold and two bronze.

 Home|Sports|Entry lists released for BudapestSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 11, 2023 141 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The entry lists are out and The Bahamas will be well represented in a number of events at the 19th World Athletics Outdoor Championships, set for August 19-27 at the newly built National Athletics Centre, in Budapest, Hungary.

The Bahamas will compete in the sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws.

The 11-member squad is led by World and Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo who is back in action after having a baby in April. She qualified in two events, the women’s 200 and 400 meters (m), but will compete in just the latter in Budapest, returning to the event she dominated for much of the last decade, winning two Olympic titles, a world championships crown, a world indoor title, a Diamond League Championship and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Championship. She is the defending champion in that event.

She is a remarkable athlete, trying to record what would truly be a mammoth task. The Bahamian has her work cut out for her as American world record holder in the women’s 400m hurdles Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has risen to the forefront as the woman to beat. She has the world leading time of 48.74 seconds, which is actually the fastest time in the world since Miller-Uibo ran a NACAC record of 48.36 seconds for the Olympic title in 2021.

Also, former world champion Salwa Eid Naser, of Bahrain, is back after serving a three-year suspension, Marileidy Paulino, of the Dominican Republic, has been gradually on the rise over the last five years, and Sada Williams, of Barbados, is always a fierce competitor.

Miller-Uibo isn’t the only Bahamian who qualified in two events but would be competing in just one.

Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner has qualified in the men’s 200 and 400m, and like Miller-Uibo, will be competing in just the longer race. Gardiner missed last year’s world championships due to tendon inflammation but is back and running fast times heading into Budapest. He is the world leader at 43.73 seconds and is looking to reclaim the world title that he won in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.

Terrence Jones qualified for the world championships in both the 100 and 200m, but will run in just the 100m in Budapest. He is unquestionably the top male sprinter in the country, running sub-10 in the 10m and sub-20 in the 200m this year. Jones has run personal best times of 9.91 seconds in the 100m and 19.87 seconds in the 200m this year. The former ties a 16-year-old national record that Derrick Atkins did for the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Jones, through his coaching team, cites a heavy workload as the reason for contesting just the 100m at the worlds.

Anthonique Strachan has qualified for the world championships in the women’s 100 and 200m, and has been entered for both in Budapest. She is having the best season of her life, running personal best times in both the 100 and 200m this year. In the shorter race, Strachan goes into the event tied as the 11th fastest runner in the world for 2023 with a personal best clocking of 10.92 seconds at the Bislett Games Diamond League Meet in Oslo, Norway, in the middle of June. In the 200m, she ran a personal best time of 22.15 seconds at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme de Rabat, in Rabat, Morocco, in May.

Those are the only members of the team who have qualified in multiple events.

Charlton is the only Bahamian to run in the final of the short hurdles at both the world outdoor championships and the Olympics and will be a threat in that event again. She goes into that event as the 18th fastest in the world in 2023, having run a season’s best of 12.62 seconds at the Ed Murphey Classic, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the beginning of this month. She is rounding into form at exactly the right time and always step up at the major meets.

Alonzo Russell is having his best season, running the three fastest times of his career in the men’s 400m this year. He is tied for 23rd on the world’s top performance list with a season’s and personal best time of 44.73 seconds that he did at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, in April.

Donald Thomas is a former world champion, and despite having a subpar season, he is battling back to form and is known to rise to the occasion at major meets.

Also on the team are first-timers at this level Charisma Taylor, Rhema Otabor, LaQuan Nairn and Shakeem Hall-Smith. They will be competing in the women’s triple jump, women’s javelin, men’s long jump and men’s 400m hurdles respectively. All four are capable of turning in huge performances and advancing to the finals of their respective events.

There is no head coach named, but Leevan Sands will travel as the jumps coach and Corrington Maycock will coach Otabor in the women’s javelin. A number of personal coaches will travel with the team as well including Shaun Miller for Miller-Uibo, Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene for Charlton and Shawn Terry for Strachan.

The team leader is Laketah Charlton, Tito Moss is the assistant team leader, Dr. Keir Miller is the team doctor and Pharez Cooper will travel as the team’s physiotherapist.

The World Athletics Championships is the biggest competition for athletics this year and The Bahamas is primed for a fantastic showing.

 Home|Sports|BFA hosts beach soccer campSports

All-girls event wraps up today at the Beach Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 11, 2023 43 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Beach soccer is said to be one of the more exciting and entertaining sports to watch, and the Bahamas Football Association (BFA) is looking to grow the sport more. The governing body for beach and field soccer in the country hosted a two-week girls only beach soccer camp at the Beach Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge. The camp began on July 31 and ends today.

There were about 30 campers who braved the sun and sand to learn about the game as the BFA looks to carry out a FIFA (International Association Football Federation) mandate to ensure that there are some women’s development programs ongoing. The camp came on the heels of the BFA hosting its annual beach soccer camp, from July 17-21, at the same location.

Director of Women’s Soccer for the BFA Soraya Toppin-Herbert said it is a good way for the girls to start to learn the game.

“The Bahamas has been doing very well in beach and we want to expose the girls to another form of the game,” Toppin-Herbert said. “We think it’s a good way for them to develop their technical skills. A lot of them either play with clubs or they’re not playing with clubs. We hope that after this they’ll take some of these skills back to the clubs or they’ll think about joining clubs.”

The campers spent the first week learning the basic skills of the game such as how to dribble in the sand, pulling the ball in the sand, how to juggle the ball, shooting and even bicycle kicks.

“We’ve been trying to ensure they have fun,” Toppin-Herbert said. “That’s the most important thing, but besides that, we’ve been working on the technical skills of beach because it’s slightly different than on grass where you just kind of dribble along the ground. We want to just get them playing as much as possible so that they learn the game through playing. We’ve been teaching the rules so this week more so going through the rules and last week was more about the technical part of it, so they have a little bit of a grasp.”

The campers spent this week learning about the rules of the game such as the four-second rule, how to manoeuvre in the penalty area and getting the ball in and out of play.

“They’ve been enjoying having their own time and it’s just interesting because with the girls, you got a different feel than when you have the boys and the girls. The girls are social beings, so you get to see that part come out as well, in between the breaks between the sessions. So, I think they’ve been having an amazing time,” she said.

Toppin-Herbert added that they are looking to form a development program for beach soccer. They are looking to double the number of women’s beach soccer players, she said.

“We have a women’s program going which is like for 15-year-olds and up so we are looking to start something below there so that we can capture these girls where again they can develop the technical skills, where if they want to pursue it on grass they can also do that but if they want to do it in beach, they can do that as well. The goal is that we will start to build the number of girls playing in The Bahamas. We have a decent number now – probably one of a few Caribbean countries that actually has youth leagues for only girls, but we’re looking to build on that and not just be satisfied with saying we have the numbers,” Toppin-Herbert said.

The BFA will look to host another all-girls beach soccer camp next year and hopefully have a youth league in the calendar year.

 Home|Sports|Burrows Jr. suspended for 15 years; Greg Sr. gets five yearsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 14, 2023 4 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA) came down hard on Greg Burrows Jr. and Sr. over the weekend, handing out penalties for infractions it deemed inappropriate, damning and damaging to the image of baseball, and by extension sports, in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The governing body for baseball in the country handed down a 15-year suspension for Greg Jr. and a five-year suspension for Greg Sr., prohibiting them from national team duties and the representation of The Bahamas internationally, in baseball, for the foreseeable future.

For his role in the incident involving umpire Edaine Cannister, of Curaçao, Burrows Jr. is banned for 15 years from all local and international baseball competition in any capacity including and not limited to player, coach, manager, official, executive and organizer in The Bahamas. He can appeal to the BBA for reinstatement after, and not before, 10 years of his suspension.

Burrows Sr. is banned for five years from all local and international baseball competition in any capacity including and not limited to coach, manager, official, executive and organizer in The Bahamas. He, too, has the power of appeal.

During the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championship and Invitational at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium three weeks ago, on the final day of the 16-and-Under (16U) invitational, Burrows Jr. voiced his displeasure with a decision made by home plate umpire Cannister in a semifinal game between The Bahamas and Puerto Rico, which led to Burrows eventually being ejected from the game.

According to reports, Burrows questioned an article of clothing worn by the Puerto Rican pitcher under his hat. Cannister said he ruled that the garment was not white and not in violation of the rules of baseball for that particular tournament. He said he allowed the game to continue and after further disruptions in relation to the same issue, he threw Burrows out of the game.

Greg Jr., on the other hand, said that the article of clothing was a clear violation of the rules, and initially the umpire asked the pitcher to remove it, but in the following inning, he allowed the game to continue with the pitcher again wearing the garment.

Cannister went on to say that he was physically attacked by Greg Jr. in the locker room after the game, but Greg Jr. dispelled that notion, saying that all he did was throw some water on him. Cannister said it was much more than that. He said he filed a report to Babe Ruth League on the incident, and at the end of the day, he’s just relieved that no serious damage was done and that he didn’t suffer any major injury.

Greg Sr. is the commissioner of Babe Ruth Baseball Caribbean Region and was the head of the protest committee for the tournament. According to Cannister, Greg Sr. interrupted the umpire in the carrying out of his duties in an effort to protect and defend his son. It was also revealed that Greg Sr. demanded the replacement of the umpires in the game, overstepping his boundary as the commissioner of Babe Ruth Baseball Caribbean Region.

Cannister said he wasn’t backing down and by no means would have allowed Greg Jr. to re-enter the game as a coach. In the end, he filed legal action against Burrows Jr. in hopes of bringing the matter to a resolve.

Legal representative Tony Scriven, another legal representative Keith Seymour, Bahamian professional scout Brian Armbrister and former local player/administrator Tommy Stubbs made up the four-man committee charged with investigating and overseeing the matter. Scriven served as the chairman of the panel.

Cannister, an umpire for more than 40 years, filed a report to tournament organizers, the BBA, and to the Babe Ruth League on the incident, and is also pursuing the matter legally.

At the end of the day, The Bahamas lost the game to Puerto Rico 6-5 and ended up playing North Netherlands in the bronze medal game. They won that game, 8-0. The Bahamas’ 12-and-Under (12U) team finished fifth. The Bahamas won both divisions in 2022.

The 12U Division was a qualifier for the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series at Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri, and the invitational 16U Division featured a number of quality teams from the region, the United States (US) and as far away as Europe.

The BBA issued a statement, mentioning that it understands that this is a grave matter that can affect The Bahamas’ tourism product, and in particular, the game of baseball throughout The Bahamas when it comes to hosting any games or sporting events in the future.

It’s a situation that could have damaging effects on The Bahamas as a major sports tourism outlet, could stain relationships between local and international baseball officials, and could result in sanctions being passed down from a major international baseball organization to The Bahamas.

Over 200 athletes from countries from around the region, the US and as far away as Europe took part in the five-day tournament. Aruba emerged as the champion in both divisions and Puerto Rico was the runner-up both times. There was no bronze medal game in the 12U Division and The Bahamas won the bronze in the 16U Invitational.

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas is highly rankedSports

Team will face Cuba in their first game tonight

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 14, 2023 1 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Heading into the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments, The Bahamas is the top ranked team in this region, according to FIBA Americas, despite not being ranked high in the world rankings. The Bahamas’ team includes four National Basketball Association (NBA) players.

The Bahamas is in Argentina and has already hosted practice sessions and played in scrimmage games. They will get action underway in the pre-qualifying tournament tonight with a matchup against Cuba at 9:10 p.m. The game will be played at the Estadio Ciudad de Santiago del Estero in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

The Bahamas’ roster features NBA players DeAndre Ayton and Eric Gordon of the Phoenix Suns, Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield of the Indiana Pacers and Kai Jones of the Charlotte Hornets.

“Both Hield and Gordon can handle the ball and bomb three-pointers, while also holding up very well on defense, and in the interior, Ayton and Jones are athletic, dominant and capable of doing damage in the low post and in the midrange,” the FIBA Americas article stated. “Combining those with a slate of solid and experienced role players (Mychel Thompson, Travis Munnings, David Nesbitt) makes for an explosive recipe in what could end up being The Bahamas’ best performance ever.”

Ayton has not played for The Bahamas in seven years and Gordon is playing for The Bahamas for the first time ever. Apart from that, the team is familiar with playing with each other having done so in previous tournaments.

The other players on The Bahamas’ team are Dominick Bridgewater, Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows, Garvin Clarke, Kadeem Coleby, Radshad Davis, Sammy Hunter, Danrad Knowles, Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn, Willis Mackey Jr., Franco Miller, Kentwan Smith and AJ Storr.

Argentina is the second ranked team followed by Uruguay.

The Bahamas is in Group A with Cuba and host country Argentina. Panama, who was in Group A, pulled out from the tournament. Group B consists of Uruguay, the US Virgin Islands, Chile and Colombia. The top two teams from both groups will advance to the semifinals to be played on Saturday. The final is set for Sunday and the winner will get a berth in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, joining 19 FIBA Basketball World Cup teams, to compete for a spot in the Paris Olympic Games, from July 2-7, 2024.

The Bahamas played Argentina twice in 2022 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers – one away and one at home. The Bahamas lost both games. The first game which was played last year summer. Hield and Jones suited up, and The Bahamas fell, 95-77. The second game was played without the NBA players in November in The Bahamas and Argentina won, 80-76.

The last time The Bahamas played Cuba was in July 2021 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifiers in San Salvador, El Salvador. The Bahamas nipped Cuba, 89-88, in the opening game of that tournament.

In preparation for the tournament, The Bahamas played two scrimmage games against the University of Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team. They lost the first game, 92-87, on Saturday August 5 and won the second, 87-81, on Monday August 7.

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 Home|Sports|Jones, Liberty clinch playoff spotSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 14, 2023 9 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

There is no doubt that Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the new-look New York Liberty are on a mission this season. They clinched a playoff spot in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) before their two games this weekend as the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream both lost on Thursday, giving the Liberty the sporty in the postseason.

This is the third-straight season that the Liberty will be in the playoffs. For Jones, she will be in her sixth consecutive playoffs after missing the postseason in her rookie season in 2016. She took the 2020 bubble season off because of the threat of COVID-19. Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello continues her streak of coaching her team to the playoffs, reaching the postseason for an 11th consecutive time.

On Sunday, the Liberty won their sixth consecutive game and ninth of their last 10 with a 100-89 victory over the Indiana Fever at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. With that win, Liberty is off to a franchise best start 24-6 win/loss record.

Jones finished the game with a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the win. She finished shooting 5-for-10 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point territory.

Leading the way with a game-high 42 points was Liberty’s Breanna Stewart. Kelsey Mitchell scored 22 points to lead the Fever in the loss.

Jones got off to a hot start, scoring six points and going 2-for-2 from deep in the first quarter but they were down 31-29 after one. In the second quarter, Jones tied the game at 34, completing an and-one play with 8:52 left.

After going down 40-36, the Liberty went on a tear, going on a 13-2 scoring run to go up 49-42 with 3:32 left in the quarter. They ended the first half up 58-51. That second quarter was the turning point of the game as the Liberty never trailed again.

The Liberty shot 51.4 percent from the field in the game while the Fever shot 46.5 percent from the field. The game had 13 lead changes and was tied five times, all in the first half of play.

On Friday night, the Liberty took down Chicago Sky, 80-73, at home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Bahamian poured in 18 points and added seven rebounds in the win. She shot the ball well from the field, making seven of her 12 attempts which included 2-for-3 from deep, in 29 minutes on the court.

The Liberty are off to their best regular season start and have an important matchup against the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup final at 9 p.m. tomorrow. The game will be played at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season tournament during the WNBA regular season that begins at the start of the season and continues throughout the first half of the season. The final is played between the top teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. A total of 60 regular-season contests involving all 12 teams count toward the Cup standings.

JBLN standout considered to be ‘the next Jazz Chisholm’

Junior Baseball League of Nassau standout Sebastian Walcott, 17, is currently in the Arizona Complex League where in 147 at-bats, he’s averaging .265 with seven home runs, 21 runs batted in (RBI) and 11 stolen bases with the ACL Rangers.

As of Friday, August 11, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#From the time he started playing in the Junior Baseball League of Nassau, Sebastian Walcott had the notion that he would one day be a professional baseball player.

#Considered to be the crown jewel of the Texas Rangers organisation’s 2023 signing class and the “next Jazz Chisholm,” the 17-year-old Walcott is now in the Arizona Complex League where in 147 at-bats, he’s averaging .265 with seven home runs, 21 runs batted in (RBI) and 11 stolen bases with the ACL Rangers.

#His performance now has him ranked at number 94 with Baseball America Major League Baseball Pipeline as one of the Top 100 Prospects. He is also pegged at No.42 with The Athletic.

#Walcott, who was signed to a minor league contract, said he got his feet wet in the pro ranks at the Dominican Republic Summer League before he was called up to the Arizona League on June 17.

#“I’ve been playing well and just been having fun,” said Walcott, who stands at 6-feet, 4-inches and weighs 190 pounds. “I’ve just been enjoying Arizona so far.”

#At this point in the game, Walcott said he just wants to stay consistent with his play and he’s been pleased to see his progress.

#“When I hit my first home run in my first at-bat, I knew that I was heading towards something great here,” Walcott said.

#“It was a sigh of relief because I didn’t hit one in the Dominican Summer League. So it was a big relief.”

#Now that he’s established himself, Walcott said he will try to go out each and every day in every game and play the way he was taught from his introduction to the sport at JBLN and eventually the International Elite Academy where he got a hefty signing bonus under the guidance of Geron Sands in January.

#“They expect me to continue doing what I’m doing right now,” Walcott said. “They want me to keep on improving offensively and defensively and just stay the same.”

#With the league running through the end of August, Walcott said he just wants to finish off strong.

#“My disciplined play is something that I really need to focus more on,” he said. “I’ve been chasing a lot of pitches outside of the zone, but lately Î’ve gotten better. I’ve been able to draw a lot more walks, so it’s getting better.”

#While there’s not a large crowd of spectators on hand to watch the game, Walcott said the league is very competitive with a lot of polished players participating.

#“It’s much more difficult than playing in the Dominican Summer League for sure,” he insisted as he hopes to make an impact on the Texas Rangers’ front office for his future placement.

#If he had a choice, Walcott said he would prefer to end up in Class A or low A, at the end of the year.

#Wherever he goes, Walcott said he continues to hope to shine with his ultimate goal of becoming the next Bahamian to play in the Major League Baseball.

#So far, there’s only Chisholm Jr, who is battling it through a series of injuries with the Miami Marlins. While Chisholm Jr made his breakthrough in 2000, Lucius Fox followed briefly last year with the Washington Nationals.

#Prior to both of them getting to the big stage, Antoan Richardson was the last Bahamian to excel with the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees. He’s now a first base coach with the San Francisco Giants.

#They followed a list of Bahamians that included Andre Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Will Culmer, who all played in the MLB.

#Although he’s just one of the many young Bahamian players in the pipeline for MLB, Walcott had this advice for them.

#“Just keep working hard. don’t ever doubt yourself,” he stated. “If you doubt yourself, you won’t be able to achieve the success you were having, So just continue to believe in yourself. Stay positive, don’t ever get negative or down on yourself.”

#His father, Jeff Walcott, who has been a great source of inspiration, said he and his mother have been very proud of his accomplishment after getting a chance to watch him play in the Arizona League.

#“For a 17-year-old to be so composed in an environment where the majority of the players are 19 and 20 year old, For us, it’s just amazing,” said Jeff Walcott of their recent 12-day trip.

#“To see it first hand and watch him enjoy the game he loves, it’s all a testament to the hard work that he put in at JBLN. I remember when his older brother was playing and Sebastian was just three or four and he wanted to play and he cried the entire season.”

#As a former basketball player, whose parents never really pushed for sports over his educational pursuits, Jeff Walcott said they are providing all of the tools necessary to enable their children to succeed in what they enjoy the most.

#“We want to keep it balanced that whether he fails or succeeds, we still love him as parents because we know he loves what he’s doing,” he said. “So to be in the center row to see it all unfold is just amazing. We’re filled with pride and joy.”

#Based on what he’s seen, Jeff Walcott said everybody is fighting for their spot because there are a lot of high school, collegiate and top ranked players participating, including Wyatt Lanford, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft from the University of Florida.

#“Sebastian had an opportunity to play with him and to rub shoulders with him, so you see all types of ball players coming in from all parts of America, so it’s very competitive,” Jeff Walcott said.

#“So for him to experience that, it’s really top notch. It has helped him to improve his game and his maturity. He’s getting to see how the professional players carry themselves and the way they approach the game. For anybody to experience it, it’s a rewarding experience and if you put a lot into it, you can get a lot out of it.”

#Jeff Walcott said he remembers how he erected a basketball court in their backyard with the hopes of his sons following in his footsteps. But he noticed that they both gravitated to baseball and that was when they shifted their attention to the sport.

#More than a decade now, they begin volunteering their services and traveling to international competitions, although admitting that neither knew anything about the sport.

#But over the years, Walcott said they’ve been applying themselves and since 2018, he has been elected to serve as the president of JBLN and it’s all because of their sons’ participation.

#Hopefully, the younger Walcott said he will provide a lot more reasons for his parents to continue to stick around the sport that he has come to love, enjoy and excel in.

As of Friday, August 11, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#WITH six weeks remaining until the start of the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) is seeking funding for travel expenses.

#One week ago the federation ratified a 14-member team to field at the Aruba Marriott Resort Stellaris Casino in Palm Beach, Aruba, but have lacked the funding necessary to make the commute.

#The BBWFF and the 14-member team set to represent The Bahamas on September 21-25 are both prepared but will need external resources to make it happen.

#Joel Stubbs, president of the BBWFF, made an appeal to both corporate Bahamas and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC).

#“We are nowhere near the amount of money or funding that is needed to get the national team down to Aruba,” Stubbs said.

#Although the president is grateful for the yearly national grant that is supplied to all federations from the MOYSC, he does not believe it is enough to fund bodybuilding.

#Despite the sport not being allowed to partake in the Olympics, Stubbs believes the members should have the opportunity to represent the country.

#“We are still ambassadors in the sport of bodybuilding representing the country at large in many different platforms on the world stage,” he said.

#The president added that athletes are poised and prepared and they want to give them the opportunity.

#“We leave it in the hands of persons out there that can assist, support and come to our aid,” Stubbs stated.

#The 14-member team scheduled to compete among 41 countries includes national overall champion Godfrey Robinson, Reginald Delancy, and Orick Nesbitt in men’s bodybuilding. Briceton Anderson will compete in men’s fitness meanwhile, Kareem Brancaccio in the men’s fit model category. Ricardo Gibson will perform in men’s physique (Class C), Judah Forbes in men’s physique (Class D), Brandon Bastian in men’s physique (Class F), Anthon Moxey in men’s classic physique (Class B and C).

#The women’s competitors will feature Dorcas Cox in women’s body fitness (figure), Denica Thompson and Andrecka Dames in women’s wellness (Class B). Additionally, Ivanique Kemp will compete in the women’s wellness for Class D.

#The team was selected following the 50th National Bodybuilding Championships held at the University of The Bahamas last month.

#Individuals interested in sponsoring the 14-member team’s trip for the 50th CAC Bodybuilding Championships can contact 376-2121 or via email bbff.242@gmail.com