Home|Sports|Jones, Liberty keep rollingSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 7, 2023 36 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After a rocky start to their season, Bahamian Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the New York Liberty have picked up steam and are still rolling as they recorded their seventh straight win on Tuesday, holding off a feisty Dallas Wings team, 94-93, at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Jones came away with seven points, eight rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes on the floor.

The night was a historic one for Jones’ teammate Breanna Stewart as she set a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) single season record for most points with 861. She reached that milestone with her 15th point of the night, and finished with 40 points and 10 rebounds. She finished the game with 885 total points in 38 games on the season. There are still two games remaining. Diana Taurasi set the mark of 860 points back in 2006 in 34 games. Stewart’s numbers also gave her the most games with 40 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in a single season at three.

The win was the Liberty’s seventh straight and ninth in their last 10 tries as they look to end the season strong. They have a 31-7 win/loss record, and pulled to within one game of the league-leading Las Vegas Aces (32-6). This was Liberty’s final road game. They finished with a 17-3 road record, recording the best road record in the league.

Jones finished the night shooting 3-for-7 from the field, 42.9 percent. She had five defensive boards and three offensive boards for her eight rebounds. The Grand Bahama native also had two blocked shots.

It was a tough game for the Liberty as the Wings put up a fight, but in the end, they fell short to a battle-tested team. The Wings went up 92-91 with 2:04 left in the game. Both teams were unable to score a point until Stewart sunk two free throws to put the Liberty up 93-92 with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Teaira McCowan split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 93 at the 59-second mark of the fourth quarter. Stewart was fouled with 42 seconds remaining in the game and stepped up and split a pair of free throws to give the Liberty a 94-93 edge. Both teams tried scoring down the stretch but did not find the bottom of the net as time expired and Liberty held on to the slim lead to win again.

Satou Sabally led the Wings with 27 points.

The Bahamian made most of her impact in the first half, coming away with four points, three rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.

It was a competitive game as it had 16 lead changes, 19 ties and both teams’ biggest lead was just eight points.

Jones’ offense was active last month but she slowed down at the end of the month heading into September. This season, she is averaging 11.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. She is shooting 52.4 percent from the field and has 1.3 blocked shots per game. She is shooting a career high 85.9 percent from the charity stripe. Her numbers took a dip this season.

The Liberty will return to action tonight when they take on the Los Angeles Sparks at home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. That game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be the first of a two-game homestand for the Liberty. It is a key game for the ninth-seeded Sparks as they are battling for a playoff spot with the Chicago Sky.

 Home|Sports|Stuart returns to Europe for pro volleyballSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 7, 2023 45 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian Eugene Stuart is returning to Europe to continue his professional volleyball career after a one-year hiatus. He heads to Portugal to play for the Vitória Sport Clube based in Guimarães, Portugal, for the 2023-2024 season.

Stuart will be playing in the Portuguese Volleyball League A1 – the premier volleyball league in Portugal. It was a tough year but he just kept working, and his agent was able to find him a good contract.

“I just want to go to Europe to do my best,” Stuart said. “Obviously, the team saw certain characteristics and certain qualities in me and they have expectations. I generally want to be able to maintain that standard that they are looking for. I know my caliber and strength of play, so I just want to be able to bring my level of play to them and give my best for the season.”

Vitória finished the season with a 6-7 win/loss record, placing seventh out of 14 teams. Stuart wants to take them to a higher finish this upcoming season. The season gets underway on October 7.

“I know that they’re looking for a stronger team to make it in the playoffs or maybe even to the championship. I’ve already spoken with some of the staff and that’s what they told me. They have bigger goals than they would normally have. Like I said, I want to go there and bring my strength and my expertise,” Stuart said.

Although he was inactive last season, Stuart had a busy year playing volleyball as he helped New Providence win the Bahamas Games title and also helped the Tour Daddy Defenders win the New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) men’s title. He also represented The Bahamas on the senior men’s national team at the 18th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Senior Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname, over the summer.

“It was a good experience this year. We had a good caliber team (national team) this year. We just fell short of our goals, but nonetheless, it’s still a learning experience. I’m always happy to play and travel with the national team. It’s always great to have your country on your back and represent the country because many people don’t get the opportunity. To be able to play and represent the country is always a great experience. We will come back firing on all cylinders the next time we play,” Stuart said.

In beach volleyball, Stuart teamed up with Jon Isaacs and the two played on two stops on the 2023 NORCECA (North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Beach Volleyball Tour.

“When I started in beach, I was a bit shaky on my feet, but it wasn’t like I was transitioning to a whole new sport – it was still volleyball,” Stuart said. “It’s just slower timing, smarter and more hard work, but nonetheless you get the hang of it. I think with the transition from beach to indoor, I’m able to still jump. I feel like my jump has gotten higher and I could pass better. It’s smarter in terms of blocking and in terms of attacking. I could be able to use those qualities that I learned from beach and transition them over into indoors.”

The middle attacker has played in Finland, Romania and more recently in Croatia. He said they take volleyball more seriously in Europe than on this side of the world.

“They (Europe) have more resources, more financing, more leagues and so there’s more ability and more availability to play. My teammates play in season, then the volleyball nationals, then the world championships and in Euro leagues, so they have different opportunities to play unlike us. When we go to these countries and we play, we play for eight months and then we come back home and then we possibly have national team play. My teammates continue playing. From this side of the world, we have to work harder to maintain our form, our ability, and our strength. It is put on a higher pedestal in Europe,” Stuart said.

It was a good year for Stuart at home, but he is excited to be heading back to Europe to play the sport he loves. He is looking forward to representing The Bahamas on the big stage again. For him, it is a blessing to continue to play the sport professionally.

 Home|Sports|‘Jazz’, Marlins continue torrid stretchSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 7, 2023 72 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian professional baseball player Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr. and the Miami Marlins continue to roll, now in sole possession of the final wild card spot in the National League of Major League Baseball (MLB).

They blasted the National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers, 11-4, last evening, picking up their sixth straight win and seventh in their last nine games. The Marlins have a 72-67 win/loss record, percentage points ahead of the Cincinnati Reds (73-69) and Arizona Diamondbacks (72-68) for the final wild card spot in the National League playoff race. The San Francisco Giants are two and a half games back at 70-70.

Chisholm himself has been on fire, slamming a home run for the second consecutive game on Wednesday. He had a solo upper deck shot that traveled 436 feet on Tuesday and then blasted a three-run shot to highlight a nine-run fifth inning for the Marlins on Wednesday, blowing the game open at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. It’s the fourth time this season and fifth time in his career that he has gone deep on consecutive days.

The Marlins will face the Dodgers again this evening, looking to complete a three-game sweep.

Batting clean-up on Wednesday, Chisholm finished 2-for-4 with the home run, three RBIs (runs batted in) and a run scored. On his home run ball, he went after the first pitch he saw from Dodgers’ starter Lance Lynn and carried it the opposite way over the left field wall. Chisholm got the barrel of the bat out front on a 91.9 miles per hour (mph) sinker and lifted it the other way for his 16th home run of the year. That shot gave the Marlins a 5-1 lead and they never looked back, going on to win comfortably.

The Marlins used five pitchers on Wednesday. Right handed pitcher Edward Cabrera hurled four innings of one hit ball and recorded the win. Lynn suffered the loss for the reeling Dodgers who have now lost five of their last six games.

Chisholm has now hit safely in six straight games and eight of his last nine. For the season, the Marlins’ center fielder is batting .260 with 16 home runs, 40 RBIs and 39 runs scored. He has 73 total hits and 19 stolen bases and is just four home runs and one steal short of what would be his first 20-20 season in his four-year career in the majors.

The Marlins poured it on in the fifth inning last night, drilling three home runs and scoring nine runs. On Tuesday, they doubled up the Dodgers, 6-3, and were in total control on Wednesday.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Marlins as they travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies this weekend. The Phillies (77-62) is one of the teams ahead of the Marlins in the standings. That three-game set against the Phillies starts on Friday and will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following that, Chisholm and the Marlins will go to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to play the National League Central leading Milwaukee Brewers (77-62) for four games before hosting the league-leading Atlanta Braves (90-48) in three games next weekend.

In his last six games, the 25-year-old Bahamian baseball star has 11 hits and is batting .407 (11-for-27) with three home runs, nine RBIs and seven runs scored. Going into the stretch run of the season, Chisholm and the Marlins intend to remain torrid in chase of a playoff spot in the National League.

The playoff race remains tight in the National League as a number of teams are battling for wild card spots and the Marlins are right in the mix. They are looking to advance to the postseason for the second time in four years, following up on their appearance in the bubble in 2020. It would also be just the fourth time in the playoffs in their 31-year existence.

Nashad Mackey joins the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks men’s basketball team as an assistant coach.

As of Thursday, September 7, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Bahamian Nashad Mackey will now join the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks men’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach. The former senior national team player will transition from his previous role as the assistant coach of the Daytona State Falcons.

#He will now be the newest Bahamian to join the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division one coaching ranks.

#Mackey was grateful for his newest opportunity to coach the division one basketball squad.

#“I am extremely thankful and excited to be in the great city of Martin and working with Coach Ridder and the rest of the staff. I look forward to representing such a proud programme and helping to elevate the Skyhawks,” Mackey said.

#Mackey got his first coaching gig in 2020 when he made his transition from playing basketball to coaching as a graduate assistant. He served on the coaching staff of the Embry-Riddle Eagles for the team’s NCAA Division ll Tournament debut at the time.

#After working two years as a graduate assistant he returned to his alma mater, the Falcons, as the men’s basketball assistant coach and worked alongside the team’s head coach Joey Cantens.

#Mackey has consistently proven himself not only on the court as a player but also on the sidelines as a coach which has led to this latest endeavour.

#“I am really grateful for the path I have journeyed to get this far,” he said. “I have an unbelievable support system in both The Bahamas and United States. I give all glory to God and I pray he continues to lead, guide and protect us as we continue on this journey,” he said.

#While a part of the Falcons coaching staff this year, the team finished with a 27-4 record in the Central Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The team also wrapped up as Central Conference Champions and were ranked eighth in the national polls. Cantens, who served as the head coach, came away with coach of the year honours.

#Mackey will now join the likes of Yolett McPhee-McCuin on the NCAA Division one basketball coaching scene.

#“I am honoured to be amongst the few and the many more that will follow. The Bahamas has a wealth of great athletes and coaches and I am grateful to have an opportunity to represent the 242,” he said.

#The former Eagles all-time programme leader is ready to make his mark and pledged to do whatever the Skyhawks men’s basketball programme needs him to get done.

#He expressed thanks to the Ridder family and UT Martin for granting him the opportunity to advance his career.

As of Thursday, September 7, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The 2023 Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) playoffs are scheduled to begin this Friday at the AF Adderley gymnasium.

#The regular season concluded with the eighth-seeded Police Royals defeating the Bahamas Department of Corrections Challengers in a 20-point blowout win. Additionally, the fourth-seeded Airport Authority Avengers ended their regular season on a two-game winning streak after dropping the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Rampage 82-77.

#With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, teams will now start their quest towards the 2023 BGDBA Finals. They will first have to get through the opening round of the playoffs where competition is expected to be stiff across all brackets.

#James Price, president of the BGDBA, believes that the playing field is even because there are no clear-cut favourites going into the 2023 postseason.

#“Right now we have no clear-cut team expected to go to the finals. I am expecting some upsets because some of the bottom teams have stepped up in the last few games and were playing pretty well,” Price said.

#In the spirit of competition, he warned top teams that regular season records are now out the window and in a best-of-three series on a bad night any of the lower-seeded teams can pull off an upset and get a win.

#Some of the league’s top teams will be in action this weekend, including the league leading Bain and Grants Town Cybots and the second-seeded Police Crimestoppers.

#The Cybots are no doubt on a mission with their sights set on the championships. The team’s head coach put the league on notice earlier in the 2023 BGDBA season claiming that his team will be in the finals. The Cybots backed up their lofty championship aspirations by ending the regular season as the only undefeated team – with a flawless 11-0 win/loss record.

#The team will face-off against the 5-6 Police Royals, who are riding a two-game win streak into the postseason. The latter will have their work cut out for them this Friday night at 7:30pm.

#The Police Crimestoppers ran teams off the court all season but were unable to stop the Cybots. The team dropped down to second seed in the regular season standings and are now matched up against the seventh-seeded RBDF Rampage. The RBDF team are going into the playoffs on a dismal four-game losing streak but will look to turn things around in the “second” season. The teams compete on Saturday at 7:30pm.

#Joining the league’s top teams in the playoffs are last year’s defending champions the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture (MOYSC) Panthers.

#The 2022 BGDBA champions have flown under the radar this season due to the dominance of the Cybots and Crimestoppers. However, the team is entering the 2023 playoffs riding five consecutive wins in their last five games right on par with the Cybots. The Panthers will battle against the 6-5 Real Deal Rangers on Saturday night.

#In Friday night’s action, the Avengers and Bamboo Shack Patrollers will compete in what might be the most tightly-contested match of the opening round. Both teams ended the regular season with identical 7-4 records and will look to take down each other in round one.

#Price urged the public to attend the 2023 BGDBA playoffs to witness competitive basketball across the various government departments.

#“It is going to be some exciting basketball and I know whichever teams are playing in the championship games it is going to be a fight to the end,” the president said.

#Games will be held on Friday and Saturday this weekend beginning at 7:30pm on both days.

#The event’s cost is $4 at the entrance

As of Thursday, September 7, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#With schools recently reopening for the new academic and sporting year, the CH Reeves Raptors are looking to keep last season’s momentum going.

#The Raptors had quite the year in the return of most Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) sporting events. The junior school emerged as champions in girls basketball, repeated as winners for the 30th GSSSA track and field championships, and the girls won the Noble Preparatory Academy (NPA) basketball tourney in the spring.

#The Raptors are well known for their sporting success that has expanded nearly two decades and their physical education department expects to continue that this sporting year.

#Varel Davis, Raptors’ physical education teacher, believes the junior school has attained and maintained a high standard in sports and this year is no different.

#“My expectations for the CH Reeves Raptors are always high. I always tell my kids that this is a winning school and we have continued with that name of being the top junior school when it comes to sports in the country,” Davis said.

#The sporting events are soon to get underway for the GSSSA and the Raptors have commenced practices and training for cross country.

#According to the physical education teacher, 40 students have shown up to practice in the early stages, which is great for their plan to start preparing for sports earlier.

#“Our plan this year is to start preparing our teams early, especially for the first sport so that they could train,” she said.

#Davis added that she wants the Raptors to be involved in more tournaments and track club meets in preparation for the various sporting disciplines throughout the year.

#“We are going to try to get involved in more tournaments and track club meets to prepare our kids for these events. Once we do that I think we should have a great season with our athletes,” she said.

#Despite being short-staffed with only two physical education teachers stationed at CH Reeves Junior High School, Davis maintains that adequate training along with confidence in the athletes goes a long way.

#The coaches at the junior school focus on training with the students from their entrance in grade 7 and consistently work with them in sports until their departure in grade 9 for senior school.

#“We try our best to get our children to believe in themselves and to believe that they can use their sporting abilities to get them somewhere,” she said.

#With expectations high for the 30th anniversary of GSSSA sports and sporting events returning to normal, Davis wants the junior school to accomplish much more.

#She said they hope to accomplish a lot this school year which includes winning more sporting activities in, not just track, but other disciplines.

#She added that once everybody works together and trains consistently there is no reason why the CH Reeves Raptors should not be on top for junior sports again.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

As of Wednesday, September 6, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg likes the direction sports is heading in the country, but he admitted that there’s still some more work for the federations and associations to do to get it to where it should be.

#Mr Bowleg’s comments came in the aftermath of Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis’ Cabinet shuffle on Sunday. Mr Bowleg, however, was one of the ministers who remained in the same office since the Progressive Liberal Party was elected in 2021.

#With a vote of confidence from Mr Davis in what he’s done so far, Mr Bowleg said he’s been given the mandate to continue what he started and he’s looking forward to the last half of their term in office.

#“The whole idea is to ensure our administration puts ourselves in a position to fulfill the promises that we made to the Bahamian people,” Mr Bowleg said. “He wants to make sure that every member is carrying out their mandate so that we can ensure that the promises we made are carried out.”

#Looking back at his tenure so far in office, Mr Bowleg said he’s pleased with what his ministry has accomplished, but he pointed out that there’s still a lot more to be done.

#“We have the return of the World Relays coming up next year and so we want to make this the greatest one ever held,” said Mr Bowleg of the sixth edition of the global event that was first held here in 2014, 2015 and 2017 before it was moved to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 and last staged in Chorzow, Poland in 2021.

#“We know that all of the countries affiliated with World Athletics are expected to come down here because this is a qualifier for relay teams for the Olympic Games in Paris, France. So we want to make sure that we do what is necessary to pull it off.”

#Additionally, Mr Bowleg said Bahamas Aquatics will be hosting the CARIFTA Swimming Championships over the Easter holiday weekend with the view of clinching their sixth straight title.

#As they’re doing now with the repairs to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in preparation for the World Relays, Mr Bowleg said they are also doing some renovations to the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex for CARIFTA.

#Off the playing arena, Mr Bowleg said his ministry is finalising plans to pass the Youth Policy as well as update the Sports Policy, which are on the books, but need to be revisited to provide a more vibrant programme in the country.

#Mr Bowleg, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, took the time out to congratulate Eugene Horton, who was returned as president with a full four-year mandate after taking over the last two years of Bowleg’s term in office.

#“I think they have done a tremendous job over the past few years in taking the federation to the level where it is right now,” said Mr Bowleg, who was on hand to watch as the men’s national basketball team advanced out of the Pre-Qualifying Tournament in August in Argentina to the Qualifying Tournament in July for the 2024 Olympic Games.

#“I hope that they can continue that upward progress in moving basketball to the next level.”

#However, Mr Bowleg said there are some federations and associations which still have some fine tuning to do to get their sporting disciplines to where it should be in the country.

#“We are expected to have a Sports Conclave before the end of the year,” said Mr Bowleg, who noted that Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson-Sills is working on the details.

#“We want to be able to give the various sporting federations and associations the necessary tools and skill sets to be able to manage as a business so that we can see the improvements from the grassroots to the elite level.”

#Without getting into their affairs, Mr Bowleg said he would like to see all federations and associations review their constitutions to make sure that they are covering all of the areas that they need to be successful. 

#“There are some things that these sporting bodies should have changed a long time ago, but we will make sure that when we meet with them, they all do what they have to, to be able to come on line with each other,” he insisted.

#“We want them to control their own destiny, but there is still some work that they all have to do and as the entity in the country to help facilitate that, we will provide the means to assist in whatever way we can.”

#There’s a lot of work to be done, but Mr Bowleg said he and his ministry are up to the task in getting the job done.

#He just encouraged all sporting bodies to join them on the ride to the finish line.

As of Wednesday, September 6, 2023
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By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Softball 242 is bringing some of the women’s teams in the region to compete in the One Caribbean Invitational Women Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament.

Softball 242, composed of some veteran former softball executives in the country, will host the tournament from October 5-8 at the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with four visiting teams and two local teams competing.

Thomas Sears, the organiser, revealed that the New Providence Softball Association’s perennial champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats, managed by Anthony Bullard, and the Unity Bahamas, managed by Shane Albury, are the two local teams participating.

The BVI Aces from the British Virgin Islands; the US Virgin Islands team and the Club Fusion and the Warriors Queens from Jamaica will make up the field of teams coming in.

“This is all in an effort to unite softball or use softball as a tool to unite the region,” Sears said.

“Softball is just one of those sports that can unify the region, so we’re coining it Softball in Paradise.”

The tournament is being sanctioned by the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF), the English Caribbean Amateur Softball Confederation (ECASC) and the World Baseball/Softball Confederation Americas (WBSC) and will be played under the World Baseball/Softball Confederation standards with a round robin format that will result in the top four seeds playing in a seed championship round.

All participants, according to Sears, will receive commemorative awards and the top three teams will also receive gold, silver and bronze medals in addition to team trophies.

“The fans can see softball at another level,” Sears said. “The US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are among the leaders in the region when it comes to softball.”

Assisting Sears are Burkett Dorsett, the local technical director; Sharon ‘the General’ Storr, Ted Miller, Rozina Taylor, Athama Bowe and Godfrey Burnside.

Sears, a WBSC certified official, said the plan is to incorporate both local and international umpires to ensure that the games are successfully staged.

As of Wednesday, September 6, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Varel Davis has served as president of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) since 2015 and is now seeking another two-year term at Thursday’s elections. The former senior women’s national basketball team point guard will run for her fifth consecutive term and members will make their decisions at CH Reeves Junior High School tomorrow at 4pm. Davis and her executive team are hoping to continue with the strides they made for 30th year of GSSSA sports as the respective disciplines made their returns from hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#Although Davis is in the running once again for president she acknowledged that the position comes with sacrifices to get the job done.

#“I always believe that your work speaks for you,” she said. “This is my tenth year going in to be re-elected as GSSSA president and everyone knows that this job is not easy and requires a lot of work, late nights and evenings.”

#Despite the endless sacrifices, Davis is motivated by her love for the children and their sporting successes.

#“It is a lot and does get tiresome but the reason why I am still a part of this is because of the children and because someone did it for me. I want these children to succeed in whatever they do in sports,” she said.

#The presidential candidate not only served as GSSSA president for years but also as a physical education teacher at CH Reeves.

#With most sports making their return this year, Davis is excited for the possibilities of the 30th year, if re-elected.

#“We do have plans for the 30th year of the GSSSA that I want to see happen but I do have a good team that will be along with me and hopefully the members will be the ones to decide whether we go back in but I am excited for this year,” she said.

#Davis was passionate as she talked about how it felt to see GSSSA sports make a comeback in the latter part of 2022 and earlier this year.

#“After that pandemic year I saw how great our season was in terms of all our sports since we started in September, just to see the kids participating and coming back was heartwarming,” she said.

#Although she had some minor concerns about what competition and coaching would be like ahead of last year’s sporting events, she believes it went well and the kids were excited to be back.

#Ultimately, Davis is looking forward to another successful and promising sporting year.

#The physical education teacher first started her reign as GSSSA president in 2015 taking over from the past president Kevin “KJ” Johnson.

#She is only the second woman to serve as president, with the first being Edna Forbes.

As of Wednesday, September 6, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#After celebrating their one-year anniversary this summer, the Reloaded Baseball programme is preparing to host their second baseball invitational. The baseball action is set to get underway from October 6-9 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The three-day invitational will feature competition from the Coach Pitch to 14-and under (14U) division. Young athletes from the capital will be joined by players from Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros, Exuma, Long Island, Bimini along with international teams from the USA.

#Peron Burnside, president of the Reloaded Baseball programme, has been adamant about the development of the Reloaded players in efforts to improve their skills to international standards and believes this invitational will be a continuation of the progress made.

#“We are continuing our pursuit of development to international standards for all Bahamian kids, even the ones who may not have had this opportunity afforded to them,” Burnside said.

#Coming off the heels of the programme’s “Bat 2 Base-ics” baseball and softball camp this summer and their inaugural invitational in April, the president is excited to host another one six months later.

#“As we have only completed our first year in existence it has been exciting to watch the kids in Reloaded develop and advance,” he said.

#He added that the programme never stops baseball and now with the collaboration alongside International Sports Academy (i-Elite) they have taken development to another level for the kids.

#The Reloaded Baseball Invitational is open to not only teams that play in New Providence but also Family Island teams that want to register.

#Baseball teams interested in the upcoming three-day event are asked to reach out via the website www.reloadedbaseball242.com or contact 826-7298 for more information.

#Following the programme’s camp in August, the Reloaded players will receive the opportunity to partake in Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr Little League set for September 23. The developmental league will be headed by Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright of I-Elite.

#Additionally, Reloaded Baseball are already planning their next events which include a pitching and catchers camp hosted by international coaches.

#Also, in the winter season they will host a “Stay at Home” baseball event where international teams will play competitive games against local teams as well as engage in training.

#“Reloaded will not be deterred in its pursuit to develop our kids to international standards and walk them into scholarships and possibly further,” he said.

#The second edition of the Reloaded Invitational will be priced at $10 for the general public.

#The programme offers a special thanks to the National Sports Authority for playing an integral role in its developmental journey.