As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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Antoan Richardson

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#ACCORDING to Bahamian baseball pioneer Antoan Richardson, the continued success of Bahamian players with the Great Britain Baseball programme should intensify efforts for The Bahamas to field its own independent senior national team.

#Richardson, the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants, said that watching Bahamian players lead the charge for Great Britain to its first World Baseball Classic appearance last month, should prompt stakeholders to take decisive action.

#“It’s like mixed emotions, I’m excited for all of the players that got a chance to play on that stage and now get a chance to potentially play in the WBC but on the other side of it, it’s heart wrecking to know that we as a country don’t have a team. It’s just really important now to figure out how to make that happen,” Richardson said.

#“It’s just been way too long, I think since I was a teenager we have been talking about being better at the politics around baseball and 20 years later we are still having some of the same conversations. I just think we have to do a better job of getting together, and figuring this thing out so that the next time we have this conversation we are excited about the Bahamian team and not necessarily the Great Britain team. But I’m definitely excited for all the young players who got a chance to experience that and now get to go to the classic.”

#It was the third time Bahamians have been a part of a Great Britain roster at the WBC Qualifiers. Richardson and Albert Cartwright were the first to join the roster when Great Britain made its debut at the 2013 Qualifiers in Regensburg, Germany. The team finished 1-2.

#At the 2017 Qualifiers in Brooklyn, New York, Richardson and Cartwright were joined by Ali Knowles, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr, Kyle Simmons, Todd Isaacs, Reshard Munroe, Byron Murray and Champ Stuart. That team finished just one game shy of WBC qualification when they suffered a 9-1 loss in the final.

#This year at the 2022 Qualifiers, it was Anfernee Seymour, D’Shawn Knowles, Tahnaj Thomas, Chavez Fernander, Ural Forbes and Cartwright making the transition to first base coach that led Great Britain to an undefeated record in Regensburg, Germany.

#Bahamian players are eligible to compete for Great Britain once their parents were born in the Bahamas while it was still a British colony, prior to Independence.

#Great Britain is currently ranked no.23 in the world by the World Baseball/Softball Confederation (WBSC) while The Bahamas is ranked at no.80. To achieve a higher ranking and gain eligibility for international events, The Bahamas is required to gain points by competing in regional Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE) events. COPABE is the governing body for baseball in the Americas.

#The path toward gaining those points begins in earnest when The Bahamas hosts the Caribbean Cup December 4-11 at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. The Caribbean Cup will feature The Bahamas joining visiting teams from the US Virgin Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Colombia, Aruba, Peru, and Cuba, all vying for a spot at the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for next year in El Salvador.

#According to the WBSC, the last international tournament for The Bahamas was the 2018 U18 men’s baseball World Cup Qualifier for the Americas in Panama. The last senior men’s national team to compete was at the 2009 World Baseball Challenge in British Colombia, Canada.

#Richardson also said the country’s continued influx of talent available for these tournaments and headed into the professional ranks, warrants continued support and infrastructure to help transition those players along their respective career paths.

#“My personal hope is that we just get a little bit more guys into the major leagues and then we get a little bit more players developing at a higher level,” Richardson said.

#“It’s how we invest into the futures of these young players and giving them all the resources they need to get to the major leagues.”

#Sebastian Walcott and Janero Miller were recently listed among the top 20 International Prospects for the class of 2023 by MLB Pipeline. The Bahamas is one of only three countries with multiple players listed in the top 50. Walcott was ranked no.8 while Miller, was ranked at no.16. It was also the second consecutive year a Bahamian was ranked in the top 10. San Francisco Giants infielder Ryan Reckley was ranked no.9 in the class of 2022.

#“Every year we seem to be pushing out new talent and that’s exciting. Baseball has come a long way in the last 15 years in The Bahamas. To be able to witness it, to see the genesis of where it is now and think to where it can be is really exciting,” Richardson said.

#“I really want to encourage the federations and the people in charge to kind of get behind this thing and get the right people in the room and start talking about how we can be better for our baseball community because there’s a lot of talent that we need to support.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/richardson-talks-national-team-baseball-youth-move/?news

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/charlton-wilson-inducted-howard-hall-fame/?news

DAVID Charlton and Kenneth Wilson in action for Howard University.

As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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DAVID CHARLTON, standing third from left, with some of the other inductees into Howard University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemeddia.net

#It’s very rare that you hear or see two Bahamians competing in the same sport and excelling at the same time in college.

#For Grand Bahamian arch-rivals and close friends, David Charlton and Kenneth Wilson shared that bond together again as they were inducted in Howard University’s 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame class with other members of the Bison men’s 4 x 400 metre teams that won NCAA All-American honours in 1982 and captured the Penn Relays in 1983.

David Charlton with his award flanked by his wife and his daughter, Laura and Devynne Charlton.

#Their team also joined the list of Bison inductees that included the 1961 CIAA Men’s Golf championship team as well as the 1995 wrestling team in a ceremony on Friday at Howard University in Greenbelt, Maryland.

#A total of 24 athletes, an administrator and two coaches, along with nine other persons receiving the Buffalo Soldier award, were also inducted during the ceremony at the Martin’s Crosswinds.

#While Charlton was the pop off man for the relay team, Wilson came out on the first exchange on the second leg.

#Together, they helped to push the Bison team out front and during their tenure at Howard University, they only lost one relay.

#For Charlton, who returned to Howard University for the ceremony, he said it’s always good when one could be recognised for their accomplishments while they are still alive.

#“I appreciate Howard Athletic Department for recognising us,” Charlton said.

#“I believe going to Howard was the correct choice. I got a degree in engineering and coach Moultrie made sure that all of the athletes he coached graduated.

#“He went beyond the call of duty to ensure that we stayed in school and was eligible both academically and athletically because of the small setting of the university’s track and field team.”

#Although he didn’t get to attend the ceremony, Wilson said he was very humble to receive the award. “All we as Bahamians want to do is set the stage for other Bahamians who follow in our footsteps,” Wilson said. “We want to be good examples for the schools that we attended.”

#Calling it a “fantastic” tenure at Howard, Wilson said he enjoyed competing with Charlton.

#“David was my homeboy from Freeport. We both came up through coach Errol Bodie, so I would like to give thanks to him. He chose this school for us,” said Wilson.

#“At the time, we had so many schools that came to Grand Bahama to recruit us, but coach Bodie wanted us to go to Howard University. We were very grateful for that. Having David there as my homeboy was an honour. We were friends from childhood and we are still friends up to this day.”

#Charlton is now a coach of the Star Trackers Club, which has produced a number of star athletes, including his own daughter, Olympic 100m hurdler Devynne Charlton, who is coming off a sensational season winning the silver medal at both the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games as well as a bronze at the NACAC Championships.

#Charlton, who is in partnership with his wife Laura at Prescription Parlour, said he’s honoured to have been inducted with Wilson, a public servant employee who also assists T-Bird Flyers Track Club’s coach Foster Dorsett in coaching his sons, Ken Wilson III, a 10-year-old at St Cecilia’s and Joshua Wilson, who attends Galilee Academy.

#“With him being there was a great asset,” said Charlton of teaming up with Wilson.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/charlton-wilson-inducted-howard-hall-fame/?news

 Home|Business|Heat wrap up training camp in The BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 3, 2022 424 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Miami Heat completed a five-day training camp with an open practice in front of local basketball fans on Saturday in the Grand Ballroom at Baha Mar.

The five-day camp began on Tuesday with closed practices through Friday. The team also got the youth involved with its Jr. Heat clinic.

For team captain and veteran Udonis Haslem, this is his final year as a player in the NBA. He said it was a dream come to The Bahamas to start off his final year in The Bahamas.

“It was a great week,” Haslem said. “We got some work in. There was a little bit of rain. It held up pretty good. The young guys went out on the water slides while the older ones were able to get in some golf. It was a good balance of hard work and a mental break. There was a little solitude where you can go to your room and be by yourself, and tap in, or whatever. We had everything here that we needed to be successful and get a good start to the season.”

FTX Digital Markets, a partner of the Heat, facilitated the trip. The Heat also held training camps in The Bahamas in 2013 and 2016. Making the trip to The Bahamas this year were star players Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, among others.

Haslem, who was at the first two training camps here, came suited up for the open practice session but did not go through the drills. However, he was vocal. At 42 years old and entering his 20th season, he said that some small injuries come with the age. As local fans watched and cheered them on as they went through fast break drills, half-court set plays and a full-court mini game, Haslem said that the atmosphere felt like a home game.

“When we come to The Bahamas it is so much love. They know our backgrounds, our history, my history with the Heat. They know my history of coming to The Bahamas and just spending time with the locals and hanging out under the dock (bridge). Also, doing the local things and enjoying the city and being a regular person, not separate myself, and always being able to be touched by the people, is something I embrace. They embraced me and I embraced them – its a match made in Heaven for both of us,” Haslem said.

Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for FTX Digital Markets Valdez Russell spoke about the community efforts by the Heat.

“Young people experienced an incredible opportunity as they participated in the Jr. Heat clinics,” Russell said. “The clinic’s coaching staff spoke highly of the talent they saw and expressed optimism about future collaborations in The Bahamas. At FTX, we recognize and commend individuals who give of their time and talent to harness and nurture Bahamian student-athletes.”

Haslem said their main goal this season is to win an NBA title. They lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals last season – one game away from advancing to the NBA Championship.

“We always have championship expectations. We do not come into a season thinking about anything else. We understand there is a long way to go before we get there. There are steps we have to take, and we have continued to bank that equity to stay healthy. Championship is always the goal for us. We don’t come with any other expectation – we don’t like to waste our time,” Haslem stated.

Russell stated that FTX Digital Markets will continue to do their part in collaborating with international partners and local stakeholders in developing sports in The Bahamas.

In the 2021-2022 season, the Heat finished with a 53-29 win/loss record. The team, which is coached by Erik Spoelstra, secured the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, but lost to the number two seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Heat left The Bahamas on Saturday afternoon after its open practice session. They returned to Miami to get their preseason underway. They will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 p.m. at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/heat-wrap-up-training-camp-in-the-bahamas/

 Home|Sports|Quartet of young Bahamians to sail in BrazilSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailOctober 4, 2022 124 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The 2022 Optimist South American Championships gets underway on Saturday October 8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and four Bahamians will be traveling there this week to compete.

The Fidelity Bahamas Optimist National Championships wrapped up this past weekend in Montagu Bay, and a quartet of the same sailors who competed at that event will represent The Bahamas in Rio de Janeiro.

Team Bahamas comprises 14-year-old Eliza Denning, 15-year-old Zane Munro and 12-year-old Patrick Tomlinson who all train with the Lyford Cay Sailing Club, and 14-year-old Norman Cartwright who sails with the Bahamas National Sailing School. Tomlinson won the national title, finishing first among the local sailors at the optimist nationals this past weekend.

These extremely accomplished young sailors are all ranked high in the junior national sailing rankings and have all recently taken part in other international sailing events including the Optimist World Championships in Bodrum, Turkey and the Optimist European Championships in Sønderborg, Denmark.

The week-long major international junior sailing event is held annually at different venues around the South American continent, and this year the young participants will experience sailing out of the waters surrounding the spectacular Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club. The event is open to the top optimist sailors from around the world with an age restriction of 8-15 years old.

There will be 21 nations represented at the South American Championships with 165 sailors currently registered on the entry list. Competition is expected to be stiff, but Team Bahamas is an incredible group of sailors who are extremely dedicated and passionate about their sport. All four are extremely proud to be representing The Bahamas in the international arena again this year.

The Optimist National Championships wrapped up this past weekend and was sponsored by Fidelity Bank. The Nassau Yacht Club hosted the event and is also hosting the Optimist North American Championships (OPTINAMs) in November which is expected to bring hundreds of young sailors from all over the world to The Bahamas. It is set to be the largest sailing event ever hosted in The Bahamas.

https://thenassauguardian.com/quartet-of-young-bahamians-to-sail-in-brazil/

 Home|Sports|Joseph wins open division at UB InvitationalSports

Inaugural cross country event for UB deemed a complete success

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 3, 2022 326 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

University of The Bahamas (UB) had 700-plus athletes participate in its inaugural UB Cross Country Invitational at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre on Saturday.

The meet featured races between one to four kilometers with the courses starting and ending at the sports center. The open division encompassed a four-kilometer course. The under-17 division featured a three-kilometer course. The under-15 and under-13 athletes had to push through a two-kilometer course and the under-11 athletes ran a one-kilometer course.

Head coach at UB Ednal Rolle was happy with the great showing from the high schools, primary schools and the clubs.

“Cross country is the new thing, and we are trying to develop distance runners here in The Bahamas. I have a cross country team and I am looking for new recruits and looking for the best just like other colleges. This is a great showing,” Rolle said.

The open men’s division title was won by UB’s Lhevinne Joseph in a time of 13:59. The freshman won over decathlon national record holderKen Mullings, and Ramon Miller – a member of The Bahamas’ ‘Golden Knights’ from 2012.

“My goal was to win. Coach told me that I should win this race, so I came out with the mindset of winning. I came here mostly to have fun but on the other hand, it is competitive, so I had to keep that competitive aspect. The whole plan of the race was to get out as comfortable as possible. As the race go on, you pick up the pace until time to finish,” Joseph said.

Miller from Unique Athletics was second in a time of 14:36. Joseph’s teammate Kenold Jean was third in a time of 14:59.

Joseph had previously run cross country in the United States this season but, this time, he got to run in front of family and friends.

“It was fun to run at home because you get family support – my mom was here. When you are abroad, you only have one or two people cheering you on. I also had other persons cheering me on because they like what they see. I like the environment and the energy. I would do this next year and as much as I could,” Joseph sad.

UB also secured a victory in the open women’s category as freshman Lakeicia Lewis crossed the finish line first in 18:49.

“I’m happy with the victory,” Lewis said. “This morning, I started to get a little down because of the slight late start. All I kept telling myself was not to pick the pace up too much and stay in it. Coming around the first kilometer, I started to slip and fall behind. I had to motivate myself and push through.” Lewis’ teammate Nancy Joseph was the only other competitor in that division, finishing in a time of 22:13.

The event started with the open runners, so the younger athletes could observe them and hopefully gain motivation.

“I allowed my team to run first, so the kids could see the collegiate athletes run. We won the open men and women, so that is a good showing for my team. They are used to running eight kilometers and they are running four kilometers here, so it was like a walk in the park for them,” said Rolle.

Lewis said running abroad prepared her for the meet on Saturday.

Red-Line Athletics’ Daveigh Farrington ran a brilliant race, jumping ahead of the pack in the under-13 girls division. She never relinquished the lead, and won in 8:31.

“I was very surprised because it was my first cross country race and I placed first. I got out first at the beginning of the race and I just kept the same pace. I am very happy, and it is an accomplishment that I will remember,” she said.

Neveah Mackey from 3PA Stallions was second in 8:31. Shakinah Lewis from A.F. Adderley Junior High School was third with a time of 9:07.

Farrington, a seventh-grade student at St. Augustine’s College (SAC), said she is looking forward to running more cross country races.

Assistant Athletics Director at UB Sean Bastian said the meet was in the making for quite a while.

“This is our first cross country meet, but this is something that we have been planning for the last five years,” said Bastian. “Coach Rolle put on a well-organized meet. We are happy and pleased to have over 700 entries who participated in this meet. It is an awesome start.”

Bastian added, “It was a good support from what I saw and from what I heard from the other physical education instructors, they are excited to have this because they use these cross country meets as a mean of conditioning for their athletes for the remainder of the track and field season. This is something very positive for UB Athletics Department.”

Ezthza Maycock from Red-Line Athletics won the under-20 girls division with a time of 13 minutes flat. Swift Athletics’ Chris Salaslis convincingly won the under-20 boys division in 14:50.

The under-13 boys winner was Velocity Track Club’s Cordell Munroe, clocking 7:28. C.R. Walker Senior High School’s Aden Taylor won the under-17 boys title in a time of 5:55. It was 3PA Stallions’ Jasmine Mackey who finished first in the under-17 girls division when she crossed the finish line in 13:21.

Rolle is already looking at expanding the meet for next year as he looks to give athletes more exposure.

“I am looking for this to grow. Next year, we intend to bring in some colleges to be able to come in and compete against us as well as watch the high school athletes compete. It’s an opportunity for them to get scholarships as well,” he said.

UB’s cross country season is just about over, and they will gradually turn their attention to the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

https://thenassauguardian.com/joseph-wins-open-division-at-ub-invitational/

 Home|Sports|Bahamians compete in Berlin MarathonSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailOctober 4, 2022 143 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The country’s premier long distance running club, Bahamas Roadmasters (BRRC), is extending congratulations to eight of its members who recently traveled to Germany and successfully completed the Berlin Marathon (26.2 miles/42.16 Kilometers).

The team comprised veteran marathoners Shavaughn Blades, Eva Etienne, Michael Cunningham, Anthony Longley, Charles and Eunice Johnson, and Ted and Dr. Ebbie Jackson. Each of the members has a reason to be exceedingly proud of their respective accomplishments in Berlin.

According to RunRepeat, approximately 0.05 percent of the United States population has completed a marathon, and worldwide, only about 1.1 million runners finish a marathon each year. That equates to approximately 0.01 percent of the world’s population. Each of the eight members of the Bahamas Roadmasters completed the Berlin Marathon.

The Berlin Marathon is one of the Abbott World Majors (the six most prestigious marathons in the world) and is considered as the one with the fastest course of all of the leading races. With temperatures between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit on race morning, conditions were perfect for the performances from the Bahamian team.

At age 65, Cunningham clocked a personal best (PB) of 4:03:19 and qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Longley, 61, clocked a PB of 5:11:00. Blades celebrated her 50th birthday by racing in her 50th marathon. She ran the London Marathon a week after competing in Berlin in her quest to complete all six of the Abbot World Majors. She accomplished that and joined fellow BRRC member Charles Johnson who earned this 

distinction earlier this year.

Known for record-breaking performances, history was made once again in Berlin as Eliud Kipchoge, of Kenya, established a new world record of 2:01:19, shaving 30 seconds off his previous world record. He broke his own world record which he set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. The women’s race was won by reigning Olympic Champion Tigist Assefa, of Ethiopia, in 2:15:37.

The BRRC was formed in 1990 with a mission to advance the sport of long distance running in The Bahamas. Members travel several times each year to compete in international marathons. BRRC hosts two major events locally – its ‘Midnight Madness Fun Run/Walk’ in June, featuring 10 kilometer (k) and 5k races, and its signature event the Bahamas Half Race Series, set for November 20 this year. The Bahamas Half Race Series features a half marathon, a half marathon relay and 10 and 5k races.

Registration is ongoing via the website www.bahamashalf242.com

Through the support of major sponsors, The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Colina Insurance, Caribbean Bottling Co., Bahamas Welding & Fire, Nassau Agencies Ltd. and Lignum Advisors, attractive cash prizes are once again being offered for the Bahamas Half Race Series

Male and female winners will receive cash prizes – $2500 for first place, $1500 for second place, $500 for third place, and there will be a special prize for the first male and female Bahamian resident, $250.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-compete-in-berlin-marathon/

 Home|Sports|Jones plays against the CelticsSports

Jones plays against the Celtics

Bahamian pro player scores five points and pulls down five rebounds

Sheldon LongleySend an emailOctober 4, 2022 177 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian Kai Jones is certainly making his case for inclusion in the Charlotte Hornets’ opening day roster, turning in a strong contribution off the bench in the team’s preseason debut for the 2022-2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) season.

Jones converted both of his shot attempts, both dunks, in the Hornets’ 134-93 loss to the defending Eastern Conference Champions Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

Jones, a 6’10” 221-pound power forward with the Hornets, didn’t play until the fourth quarter on Sunday, but when he did, he reminded everyone just how agile and athletic he was and how impactful he could be. Jones rose up over Celtics’ forward Luka Samanic on both occasions on thunderous dunks just 30 seconds apart in the fourth quarter.

The 21-year-old Bahamian finished with five points, five rebounds and a block in nine and half minutes of play. Jones was 2-for-2 from the floor and 1-for-3 from the charity stripe. He is hoping to have his playing time increased as the preseason goes along, and make enough of an impression to new Head Coach Steve Clifford to possibly be added to the regular rotation of the Hornets for the 2022-2023 season.

Clifford is making his second stint with the team, replacing the fired James Borrego in June.

Jordan Surenkamp, who coached Jones with the Greensboro Swarm, an affiliate of the Hornets, in the NBA G League a season ago, and who also coached the Hornets Summer League team, said he likes what he sees from the Bahamian but his playing time this year will depend on what direction the organization is going in.

“I think it kind of depends on what we’re looking at from an organization standpoint in terms of rotations and things like that,” he said. “In terms of how many minutes and how often, those are still things that are up in the air.”

Second-year forward Jones, the 19th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is looking for a bigger role with the team this season. Jones spent most of his rookie campaign with the Swarm, averaging 18 points and 10.5 rebounds in 26 games while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three-point range. In 21 games with the Hornets, he averaged one point and 0.5 rebounds per game in just three minutes per game on the floor. He shot 64.3 percent from the field and hit one of his two three-point attempts.

Jones remains optimistic.

“We’ve talked about the potential of the team,” Jones said about a conversation with other younger players on the Hornets. “The biggest thing for us is always just being workers. We talk about that all the time, 

getting your extra in, coming in whenever you can – early morning, late at night – to be the player that you can be. Fulfill your potential.”

On his first dunk against the Celtics on Sunday, Jones rolled to the basket, tapped the ball out on a missed shot attempt, received the ball in the post and then rose up over Samanic for a two-handed dunk. The Hornets were significantly out of the game at that point, trailing 132-88 with 2:52 remaining in the game. About 30 seconds later, Jones rolled to the basket again, got an offensive rebound off another missed shot, and after a pump fake, rose up for another two-handed jam over Samanic.

Jaylen Brown had 24 points and five rebounds to lead the Celtics over the Hornets. Jayson Tatum added 16 points and six rebounds.

The Hornets were led by Kelly Oubre Jr. with 17 points. LaMelo Ball added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Jones and the Hornets will welcome fellow Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield and the Indiana Pacers to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday. That game will get underway at 7 p.m. The only other Bahamian in the NBA, DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns, will get his preseason underway when the Suns take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday. That game will get underway at 10 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-plays-against-the-celtics/

A VIEW of the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium over the weekend.

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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ARCHITECT Mike Foster gives BBA and COCABE executives a tour of the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium over the weekend.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With the assurance that the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium will be completed by November, the Bahamas Baseball Association is moving full steam ahead with the hosting of the fourth Caribbean Cup.

#Scheduled for December 4-11, the Caribbean Cup will feature teams from the US Virgin Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, defending champions Curacao, Colombia, Aruba, Peru and Cuba, all vying for a spot at the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for next year in El Salvador.

#Cuba, by the way, has already qualified for the games and so the remaining teams will be joining them either by winning the tournament if Cuba is not successful or, if they do, by being the runners-up.

#In attendance at the press conference to officially launch the tournament were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, BBA president Sam Rodgers, chairman of the Local Organising Committee Teddy Sweeting and his deputy chairman Lyrone Burrows and the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE) president George De Lira and his executive chairman Ramsey Betorina.

#In preparation for the tournament, the BBA and the Bahamas Government are working feverishly on having the new stadium completed.

#Architect and project manager Mike Foster, before taking the media and the COCABE executives on a tour of the facilities, assured everyone that it will be ready in time for the tournament.

#The stadium, according to Foster, will have a price tag of $55 million when completed, but everybody will love the synthetic surface that will be laid down this month, while the remaining cosmetic and infrastructural work is done.

#Foster said at present, the stadium lights also have to be installed, along with the LED scoreboard, the corporate boxes and the concession stands will be completed, while the pond and the roads around the stadium are being done simultaneously.

#Bowleg, before leaving to attend the funeral services of the late sprinter Shavez Hart in Abaco, said with the majority of players coming from the Great Britain team that recently qualified for the World Cup, this will be the first step towards the Bahamas having its own team assembled for the international competition.

#“This is the beginning of the road for us qualifying for a higher level tournament,” said Bowleg, as the Bahamas Basketball Federation is in the process of doing so in the Americas region.

#“I want to thank the organisers, along with the president and his assistants and COCABE for being here and hosting this event at the end of the year.

#“Baseball is on the move. This is just the beginning of what is to come,” Bowleg said. “This is one of those initiatives that go with the opening of the new stadium, but we look forward to many more events to come in the future.”

#Sweeting, the secretary general of the BBA, said they are delighted to host the event, which is an historic venture for the Bahamas, but one that they hope to take advantage of by producing one of the best teams ever assembled to represent the island nation.

#However, he noted that Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm and Lucius Fox will both be in attendance, but will not be able to participate for the Bahamas in the qualifier because they are on Major League 40-man rosters.

#Should the Bahamas qualify, Sweeting said they will then be eligible to compete for the Bahamas at the CAC Games.

#“We will have all of our other minor league players on the team,” said Sweeting, who noted that the coaching staff will be announced very shortly.

#“We are going to be very competitive and we’re looking forward to showcasing the talent that is available in what is called “the show.”

#“Our expectations is that we will have a very good chance to qualify for the CAC Games. With the competition of the stadium, we will have all of our minor league players available to compete for the Bahamas because it’s their offseason.”

#Sweeting noted that once the team is assembled, they will get to travel to Grand Bahama for a mini training camp as the final touches are put on the completion of the stadium.

#But he noted that there probably won’t be any opportunity for the team to participate in any scrimmages before the tournament.

#De Lira thanked Bowleg, whom he called his “best” friend for keeping his word on allowing the tournament to be staged in the Bahamas and the LOC, headed by Sweeting and president Rodgers for their leadership in making sure that the tournament comes off. “The Bahamas is coming up in baseball,” De Lira said.

#“The tournament will give the Bahamas a chance to showcase the young players coming up.”

#And Rodgers said it’s a great time for baseball in the Bahamas and the BBA is ready to push the sport to higher heights.

#“There are a lot of other qualifying tournaments and we will try to push it as high as we could,” Rogers said. “The sky is the limit.”

#With just one 90-foot international baseball diamond available in the country, Sweeting said they have to limit the amount of teams participating in the tournament.

#The visiting teams will use Super Club Breezes as the Games Village.

#The tournament is expected to cost about $250,000.

#Once the tournament is completed, Sweeting said there are plans to reintroduce night league baseball and also to introduce a professional baseball league for the Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/bba-full-steam-ahead-caribbean-cup/?news

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemeddia.net

#THE hard work is certainly paying off for talented Bahamian national team point guard Domnick ‘Nardo’ Bridgewater.

#The 22-year-old Bridgewater, who stands at 5-feet, 11-inches, inked his name on a contract last week to play for the US Avignon/ Pontet Basket, the top division II team in the France Basketball League.

#“I feel pretty good about it. It’s a great opportunity,” Bridgewater told The Tribune Sports before he left for France over the weekend.

#This is Bridgewater’s second year since professional basketball player Jaruan ‘Kino’ burrows, also an agent, completed the recruitment process through his organisation called Raw Talent Sports to head to France to further his basketball skills.

#“I’ve had some ups and downs, but it was a solid experience. It’s been nice so far,” said Bridgewater about his transformation to playing at the professional level overseas.

#“It’s also nice to get to experience the different culture.”

#Since he went to France, Bridgewater said his game has improved tremendously and he’s now seen a vast improvement in his personal commitment to being a young man. “It’s been a big change for me,” Bridgewater said.

#“I only hope that I can learn from the performance as I attempt to become a better individual on and off the basketball court.”

#If there’s any disappointment so far for Bridgewater, it would have been the fact that the team he played for last year didn’t get to advance to the league’s championship.

#“I got hurt in my last four games of the regular season and I couldn’t play to help my team,” Bridgewater said.

#“I think that was my biggest downfall.”

#With his new team this year, Bridgewater said he’s excited to move to the next level in France.

#“I’m excited about what’s going on,” he said.

#“I believe the hard work that I put in over the summer is finally paying off. So I’m pretty pleased about it.”

#Just like he did when he stepped in to play on the men’s national team, Bridgewater said he’s looking to step in and make a contribution to US Avignon/Pontet Basket.

#“It was an awesome experience,” said Bridgewater about wearing the national colours as a member of the men’s national basketball team this summer. “Anytime you can represent your country, it’s an awesome experience. It was a lot of fun for me. I’m looking forward now to helping my team win the championship.

#“I know I have a lot of them to improve on like my jump shot, but in time, I know I will get them. I see myself improving every day. Playing with the national team will definitely help me as well.”

#While he would like to be one of the Bahamians playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bridgewater said he’s still pleased to be in the position that he is in right now.

#“God has placed me in this route, so I’m pretty pleased about it,” he said. “I’m enjoying it because my ultimate goal is to get to the highest level that I can get, whether it’s here in France or wherever I end up playing.”

#Bridgewater expressed his gratitude to God for giving him the ability to play, his mother Natalie Roker for instilling in him the virtues of being a young man and Burrows for opening the door for him to play in France.

#Despite his height, Bridgewater said he makes the most of his ability to move around the court, which has been the strength of his game. He hopes to start playing with US Avignon/Pontet Basket as soon as he arrives in France.

#“That’s one of the many challenges that I’m faced with,” Bridgewater said. “I have to learn the plays and get used to the guys on the team. I’m confident that I will be able to step right in and make my presence felt.”

#Just as he did with the men’s national team this summer.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/nardo-looking-forward-new-team/?news

CELTICS’ BRODRIC THOMAS, left, and Hornets’ Kai Jones, right, pursue the ball in their preseason game yesterday in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#KAI Jones and the Charlotte Hornets officially began their 2022-23 campaign as the NBA preseason got underway yesterday.

#Jones played sparingly late in the fourth quarter but finished with five points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in just nine minutes of the Hornets’ 134-93 loss to the Boston Celtics yesterday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

#Jones powered home a pair of dunks over Celtics centre Luka Samanic that went viral postgame.

#The Hornets are now under coach Steve Clifford, in his second run with Charlotte after James Borrego was fired following the season.

#Charlotte connected on 35 percent of its overall shots and made only five of 33 shots from 3-point range. Boston led 68-46 at halftime and stretched the lead to as many as 46 in the second half.

#Clifford called Jones “an exceptional athlete” and “phenomenal worker” when asked about his role in the frontcourt at training camp. “Kai [Jones] to me, right now, is more of a centre. He can play some four. Even for our league he’s an exceptional athlete and physical.

#“How quickly he puts himself in a place where he can legitimately play night in and night out in NBA games is just purpose of play,” Clifford said.

#“For all young players, especially inside guys, that’s the hardest thing. Playing to your strengths, helping your teammates play to their strengths, so we’ll see.”

#The Hornets return veteran centre Mason Plumlee, third year player Nick Richards and rookie Mark Williams all at the five spot.

#Plumlee got the start and played 15 minutes while Richards played 18 and Williams received 11 minutes in the rotation ahead of Jones.

#Forwards Jalen McDaniels and JT Thor were also ahead of Jones in the rotation at 19 and 15 minutes respectively.

#Jones called his rookie season “a beautiful experience” at Hornets media day but looks forward to making a bigger impact.

#“With my athleticism, I can have a two-way impact,” he said. “Lob threat, blocking shots, just being versatile.”

#In 2021, 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.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/kai-jones-preseason-debut-5-points-5-rebounds-and-/?news