#By RENALDO DORSETT
#Sports Reporter
#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
#TO highlight “Softball Week” in the Bahamas, the local governing body of the sport will host the English Caribbean Amateur Softball Confederation (ECASC) Men’s Championship in the capital.
#The Bahamas Softball Federation will again host a championship for the ECASC with the first men’s championship to be played in Nassau, March 25-29, 2015.
#In 2013 the Bahamas hosted the ECASC Women’s Championship in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Aruba emerged as the winners in the tournament.
#Six countries from the region have confirmed their participation in the ECASC Men’s Championship along with the hosts, including Aruba, Belize, The British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
#The championship will take the format of a round robin, using the page system where the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.
#BSF president Burket Dorsett also serves as the president of ECASC.
#“It is anticipated that over four hundred fans and players from around the English Caribbean Confederation will travel to the first ever men’s championship, providing yet another benefit to the country’s sports tourism product,” he said.
#“The ECASC is pleased to enjoy the support of the Government of the Bahamas through the ministries of tourism and sports for this tournament and appeal to the business community for their support in making this event a success. This effort is being coordinated by Paul Fernander, the tournament’s special project officer and public relations director.”
#The tournament is one of three major events scheduled for the week, which will be celebrated March 21-29.
#“During this tournament, the fourth general assembly of ECASC will also be held in Nassau and it is anticipated that the presidents of the International Softball Federation, Softball Canada, the World Baseball/Softball Federation, the Confederation of Pan American Softball Associations, and the Confederation of Central American and Caribbean Associations of Softball will be in attendance. “With the visit of the president of Softball Canada, we will link a pact to have that organisation provide the expertise to conduct programmes in the region in the areas of pitching, coaching, officiating, development and administration for the member bodies of ECASC during the 2015 year.
#“The assembly will be held prior to the start of the tournament, March 25, and play will commence that evening until March 29.” Dorsett said.
#“The BSF is also pleased to announce that during a reception to be held under the patronage of the Governor General, Dame Marguerite Pindling and planned for Government House, Wednesday, March 25 to welcome out guests, the induction ceremony for the 2015 inductees to the BSF Hall of Fame will take place. The name of these inductees will be made public at a later date.”
#Stephen Coakley, president of the New Providence Softball Association, will serve as the tournament director, Endy Croes of Aruba will serve as the technical director, Patrick Henry of Belize as the disciplinary director, and Hellio Hillburg of Curacao as the chief umpire.
#Member bodies of the ECASC include Aruba, the Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Curacao, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.