As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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#ANTHONY Saunders, Holly Ferguson, Earl Bethel and Alicia Williams emerged as the overall winners of the men and women run and walk races in the Macedonia Baptist Church Men’s Anniversary 2023 Family Fun Run/Walk Race held on Saturday.

#While Saunders and Ferguson were the respective male and female winners of the run, Bethel and Williams took the titles for the men and women in the walk.

#The runners left Macedonia Baptist Church on Bernard Road and headed west on Bernard Road to Village Road. They traversed south on Soldier Road to Prince Charles Drive. They then turned left on Prince Charles Drive and travelled east to Fox Hill Road. After turning onto Fox Hill Road, they headed north to Bernard Road and west back to the church grounds.

#“This was an awesome race, an awesome event. I was glad to see more churches getting involved in feeding the spiritual man as well as the body,” Saunders said. “We feed the spiritual man a lot in church, but we also have to develop the body and so I look forward to doing many more with Macedonia Baptist and any other churches.”

#As the lone female competitor in the run, Ferguson said she enjoyed herself.

#“It was really good, nice and cool. The route was very nice,” she said. “The prize was good, so I enjoyed it. If it’s put on again, I would certainly like to come back and compete in it.”

#The walkers left Macedonia and headed west on Bernard Road to Village Road, turned around and headed east back to the church grounds.

#“I want to give God thanks for a wonderful day. The race was an awesome one,” Bethel said. “It was nice and easy, so I would like to continue to participate in it once you guys continue to host it. I really enjoyed myself.”

#Williams, the female winner and the 31-40 divisional champion, was just as thrilled by her performance. “It was a wonderful race. I really enjoyed it and the prizes were nice. It’s probably one of the best I’ve seen, so I hope it’s definitely on again next year because I would like to come back and compete again.”

#Among the divisional winners in the run were Lucas Miller in the under-20 boys division, Simeon Farquharson in the men’s 21-30 and Gary Brathwaite in the men’s 61-and-over division.

#For the walk, Brittany Stubbs won the women’s 21-30 category, Yvonne Andrews won the women’s 51-60 and Joycelyn Duncombe took the women’s 61-and-over category.

#Labron Minnis won the under-20 men’s title and Rev Albert Porter emerged as the champion of the men’s 61-and-over division.

#BTC provided phone cards for all of the winners and a cell phone that was won by Lucas Miller.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/01/overall-winners-macedonia-baptist-church-mens-anni/?news

As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BLYTHE Rolle and Kyle Rolle, of no direct relation, emerged as the upper and lower champions of the Hoops for Homes initiative that was hosted by Xavier’s Lower School Student of the Year Adrian Dean.

#The pair were crowned after a series of shooting competitions yesterday at the school’s basketball court where Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg joined Dean in shooting a few basketballs for the faculty, staff, students and parents in attendance.

#Bowleg commended Dean for having the vision to assist those in need through their home affairs.

#“I’m just proud to see that a young man is willing to go out there and assist the needy,” he said. “And the fact that he has the entire staff and Xavier’s School behind him, we decided to come on board and help him in this endeavour.

#“We understand that sporting disciplines is used to help people to develop lifelong characters, but we can also use it as a vehicle to help those that are in need in our community.”

#In presenting a cheque to Dean to assist in his venture, Bowleg said he’s encouraging his political collegiates and others in the community to assist in events such as this or to form their own initiatives.

#“I am very proud of him, and I will continue to monitor this programme and I will assist him as much as I can possibly do so,” Bowleg stated.

#Dean, a 10-year-old sixth grader, said although he only swims, he wanted to do something different. “I love basketball. Even though I may not play it, I enjoy it,” he said.

#“I just want to help those people who can’t help themselves.

#“I just think that we need to help those who we can. I am trying to help an 80-year-old in our community, so if there are persons who want to help, they can contact our school and get on board.”

#His mother, Antonya Toote, said when her son decided to start this initiative, she supported him wholeheartedly. “I think it’s very good that he wants to give back to the community. It’s always important when a youth can get involved in lending a helping hand to those who are unable to help themselves, especially the elderly in our community,” she stressed. So, I’m very proud of him.”

#Toote said while they are trying to raise funds to secure the building materials for the home, they will stretch the donations received as far as they can in getting more homes completed, if possible.

#Jacintha Goffe, the school’s principal, said they are proud of Dean and his parents, who are assisting him because while they are very proud of his initiative, he has always been an exemplary student at Xavier’s Lower School.

#“When Adrian put his portfolio forth to us, along with other students of grade six, we just thought that his portfolio was an excellent one,” she stated.

#“Yes, he made the grades, which is very important, but when we looked at what he did in community service, working with his father to earn funds to help others in need, we just thought it was an awesome initiative for such a young child.

#“So, we agreed with his mom that we will partner with him and make this event even greater so that we can help more persons in the community. So, this is just the beginning of what we are hoping that persons who view this and see his TikTok video would also help those who are less fortunate in their communities and let’s make this Bahamas an even greater one as we are on our way to our 50th anniversary.”

#Also on hand to give her support was Claudette Rolle, the director of education in the Catholic Board of Education.

#“It really means a lot and it makes me very proud when we can encourage our children to give back,” Rolle said. “We are supposed to take care of those who are less fortunate, so to see him come up with this initiative that is so fundamental, which is a home.

#“All of us need a roof over our heads to be protected, so I am very proud of him for doing this. We have to start developing this spirit of giving back while they are young, so I am very proud of him.”

#Kyle Rolle, an eight-year-old second grader, said he was waiting for this day to come.

#“I was practicing home and I prepared myself for this day and I just won,” Rolle said. “I just feel good.”

#Fourth grader Blythe Rolle said he was happy to be a winner as well.

#“I feel very good about winning the award. I am happy with my performance,” said the nine-year-old.

#“I think what Adrian is doing is good. I am happy I won it to support him,” he added.

#Persons wishing to donate to the cause are urged to visit the office of Xavier’s Lower School or call 322-3077 and state their desire to support Adrian in “Hoops for Homes.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/01/hoops-homes-champions-emerge/?news

As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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#OSWALD Simmons, better known as “Ossie the Sports Insider,” released his latest standings for the senior boys and girls High School Basketball Top 10 Rankings.

#The list is as follows:

#Boys Top 10 Ranking

#1 Sunland Baptist Academy

#2 CI Gibson

#3 Tabernacle Baptist

#4 St Augustine’s College

#5 Doris Johnson

#6 Anatol

#7 Jordan Prince Williams

#8 St Georgie’s

#9 CW Saunders

#10 Agape (Abaco)

#Girls Top 10 Ranking

#1 St. Augustine’s College

#2 CV Bethel

#3 CR Walker

#4 Bishop Michael Eldon

#5 CI Gibson

#6 Tabernacle Baptist

#7 St John’s

#8 RM Bailey

#9 Kingsway Academy

#10 St George’s

As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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Tonique Williams

#THE Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the CARIFTA Games Bahamas 2023 is set and ready to host an exciting championship April 8-10.

#The event is expected to be highly viewed globally. The LOC is inviting local and international media partners onboard to lend coverage.

#Although the CARIFTA track and field championships is a junior level competition, media covering this event will be treated to similar facilities and services as accustomed to at professional competitions like the World Athletics Relays.

#Tonique Williams, director of event media services, has indicated that four of the seven media areas offered during the World Athletics Relays will be at the media’s disposal during the three days of activity.

#These areas include:

#The Media Press Center, which will be a co-shared space with the Copy Centre.

#This space will be available for the media to work their news stories and receive results.

#The Center will be equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, concierge check-in service and timely results.

#The media tribune or press boxes located in the spectator’s stands, with direct view of the finish line, offers the best seats in the house for journalists.

#Trackside, just near the finish line, the mixed zone allows journalists first contact with athletes at the end of their competition and the press conference room allows journalists to conduct interviews of the top finishers and performers.

#“We are preparing to host well over 100 journalists, photographers and broadcasters. “There is a lot of interest from the regional CARIFTA community because these 2023 championships are the second CARIFTA championship since the opening of many Caribbean countries post pandemic.

#Additionally, this is the 50th anniversary of CARIFTA Games and the Bahamas – it is important that the significance of this very important time in history is captured in all its splendor and colour.”

#Williams and her team are well capable of delivering a high-quality experience for the media.

#Williams has served as the senior director of event media services for the World Athletics Relays 2014, 2015, 2017 and CARIFTA 2018.

#Her assistant Rudina Miller, who has gained experience from serving in this area for the Relays 2015, 2017 and CARIFTA 2018 joins her.

#Media wishing to cover this event are asked to complete the registration process as soon as possible.

#To make an application, the online media application form located at https:// www.carifta50.com/ mediaapplication on the media page of the CARIFTA website, must be completed. All applications must be submitted with an official letter of employment from the media outlet stamped by the national track and field federation where the media outlet is domiciled.

#Completion of the application process does not automatically guarantee accreditation.

#Once the application has been reviewed and approved by the LOC, the applicant will receive a link to apply for media accreditation.

#The online accreditation process opens February 6, 2023.

#The deadline to make application for media accreditation is Tuesday March 30, 2023.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/01/loc-set-and-ready-host-carifta-games-april-8-10/?news

SWIFT Athletics’ coach Andrew Tynes, left, with sprinter Carlos Brown Jr.

As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Over the past few years, Swift Athletics’ coach Andrew Tynes has been grooming sprinter Carlos Brown Jr for his major breakthrough. He’s hoping that this will be the year for him to shine.

#Brown Jr opened his season on Saturday with an impressive 10.19 seconds wind-aided win at the Red-Line Athletics’ 2023 Oaktree Medical Center Sonja Knowles Track Classic at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

#The 17-year-old Brown Jr said he’s pleased with his performance, which indicates that he’s right on track to surpassing the qualifying standard of 10.60.

#“I felt really good going into the race, but I felt my hamstring going into the latter part of the race so I just wanted to finish strong,” Brown Jr said. “I felt good about the time. I felt I could have gone even faster if I didn’t tweak my hamstring.”

#With a little bit of therapy, Brown Jr said he hopes to be ready for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled for April 7-11 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. He said he has something in store for the track world. “I want to get to the level where I suppose to be,” he charged. “I want to run a really fast time and shock the world.”

#In preparation for the road ahead of him, Brown Jr said he has devoted himself to the training from coach Tynes. “In order to stay on top, you have to work hard at it,” Brown said. “The competition is there for me, so I have to stay competitive to be on top. I’m not looking forward to any specific time, but I just want to run as fast as I could and with the competition, I know I can do it.”

#Brown is looking forward to his first individual medal at CARIFTA, although he picked up a silver in the 4 x 100m relay at last year’s games in Kingston, Jamaica. With the games coming back to the Bahamas, he would like nothing better than to accomplish the feat in front of the home crowd.

#“Coach has been preparing me with a lot of speed work and strength,” Brown Jr said. “So I really want to thank him for all that he’s been pouring into me.”

#Tynes, a former CARIFTA standout who went on to become an Olympic sprinter, said he’s been carefully preparing Brown Jr for the journey to his path of greatness, starting like he did at the CARIFTA Games.

#“With him being so young, I decided that I would not push him too quickly,” Tynes said. “He had a few injuries here and there, so I didn’t want to burn him out. I rested him a little bit in 2022 because I know this year will be a phenomenal year for him.

#“So after last season, I knew he will do very well this year. I expect for him to run under 10 seconds once he gets healthy again.”

#Tynes said the goal for Brown, a 12th grade student at CR Walker Secondary High, is to medal here at CARIFTA before he heads off to the Junior Pan American Championships, scheduled for April 10-18, with hopes for another medal.

#If he qualifies for the World Championships, it would be gravy on his plate. “He’s the best sprinter in my camp right now, so he knows that there is a lot of expectations for him,” Mackey said. “But we have some other sprinters right behind him like Ishmael Rolle, who is also expected to be on this year’s CARIFTA team, and hopefully win a medal.”

#At present, Tynes feels he is the “sprint capital” of the Bahamas and Brown Jr will lead the way for th

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/01/carlos-brown-jr-real-deal/?news

EXECUTIVES of the Movi Group and Local Organising Committee for the CARIFTA Games at the cheque presentation.

As of Thursday, February 2, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Movi Group, having produced some top notch local and international events in the past, became the latest media company to become a partner with the 50th CARIFTA Games, making sure that the best production is secured for the regional’s greatest track and field competition in April.

#Movi Group of Companies President Burton Wallace said they are delighted to venture with the Local Organising Committee for the hosting of the games, scheduled for April 7-11 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#Before his team of accountant Chenisha Stubbs and videographer Edwina Maynard made a cheque presentation to the LOC yesterday in the foyer of the stadium, Wallace said last year when he learned about the games coming to the Bahamas, the reels started to roll to get their production in motion.

#“Sports has a huge role to play when it comes to nation building,” Wallace said. “It helps in elevating qualities like discipline, determination, team work and a passion for fitness in the physique of a nation,” Wallace said.

#“The Movi Group has been involved in the broadcast of sports for many international sporting events, some of which includes COMCAFA and FIFA, the Carifta Swimming Championships in 2017, Beach Soccer worldwide in 2018, ESPN PGA golf and most recently the Bahama Hoops, Battle 4 Atlantis and the Bahamas Bowl.”

#In collaboration with its other media partners, including REV TV, Wallace said the Movi Group will deliver the best production that has ever been experienced in the Bahamas. He said this year, they will definitely set the bar for all sporting events they have covered in the past.

#Pauline Davis, the Dame of the Games, said the LOC is excited to invite the Movi Group on board.

#“As a former athlete back in the day, being able to help someone like this amazing company to give back to the CARIFTA Games and by extension the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, it means so, so much,” Davis said. “We just want you to know how appreciative we are.”

#Lynden Maycock, the chief executive officer of the LOC, said it’s now time for “lights, camera and action.”

#“It’s time to put on the best CARIFTA Games, the CARIFTA show that this world has seen today,” Maycock said. “We’re bringing to the Bahamas the best junior athletes in the world at CARIFTA Games.

#“This year for the 50th anniversary of the CARIFTA Games, we are getting ready to put on the greatest sports production that has been seen in the 50 years of the games. In order to do this, we need the best team, a team that is capable and is skilled and is passionate and desirous to put on a desirable show.”

#The CARIFTA Games is a stage, according to Maycock, that will enable the young athletes to perform and shine against their peers throughout the region ands he’s looking forward to seeing them perform in this spectacular show.

#“The Movi Group will oversee the filming and recording of all of the wonderful action, the highlights and triumphs of these wonderful CARIFTA Games,” Maycock said.

#“Today, it is my pleasure to welcome our newest media partners to these 50th CARIFTA Games, the Movi Group.”

#While Movi Group and REV TV will be collaborating with the broadcasting of the games, Wallace encouraged all Bahamians to come out and show their support to the home team by packing the stadium during the games.

#And Maycock said the games is for everyone to participate and he encouraged persons to log onto Arawak X website and make their financial contributions to the games, no matter the size of the donation as they make the games the best ever.

#“All of the contributions that we receive, every dollar will be accounted for,” he stated. “So we welcome everyone in the Bahamas, everyone in the region, everyone fromanywhere in the world, to make their contributions to assist to these games.”

PLAY ACTION ON DIAMOND CONTINUES THROUGH TO APRIL

THE ED Armbrister Baseball League was officially opened on Saturday and will continue through April.

As of Thursday, February 2, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER hosting their developmental training programme at Flamingo Park in Carmichael Road, organiser Michael Butler said it was time for them to expose the players to a full-fledged league with games being played at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#The Ed Armbrister Baseball League was officially opened on Saturday and will continue through April. Among those present were Bahamas Baseball Association’s secretary general Teddy Sweeting, Gomez, marketing manager at CBS Bahamas, Garth Moncur of Urban Renewal, Rose Armbrister, widow of the late Ed Armbrister and several of his relatives.

#After Rose Armbrister threw out the first pitch, Martin Burrows, president of the Local Umpires Association, officiated the opening game.

#“I’m quite pleased because I see the enthusiasm in the kids, which means that they are ready to play,” Butler said. “That’s the first step in trying to help these kids in their development. “It’s a developmental league.

#“But at the same time, we are hoping that we can place as many of these kids into high school and college programmes in the United States wherever it is possible and eventually help in getting them to the pro ranks.”

#Butler, who was assisted by a number of coaches including his brother Nat Butler and Wellie Stubbs, said he liked what he’s seen from the first day of competition and, if that is any indication, they should have some exciting action over the next few weeks.

#Stubbs said he really wanted to get involved with flag football into the school system, but after there was some resistance, he decided to join up with his good friend Mike Butler in his Community Baseball League.

#“It’s a good way to keep them from being idle,” said Stubbs, who serves as one of the coaches.

#“I just hope that this can go far and we can see some of these players getting the opportunity like Ed Armbrister to play professional baseball.”

#Orlando Knowles, who just joined the programme, has been playing baseball in Grand Bahama for the past 15 years. Having just recently moved to New Providence, he said he’s glad that the league gives him an opportunity to get his groove back on.

#“I want to stay focused and get back into playing competitive baseball again,” he said.

#“It was fun playing with my team-mates, even though we lost the game. Mistakes are made, but you have to learn from this one and come back bigger and better the next time you play.”

#The 17-year-old former St George’s High student, now in the 12th grade at CC Sweeting, is encouraging all of the players in the league to come out and put their best foot forward and help to make it a vibrant one.

#Among the sponsors for the league are:

#Brands Auto Parts, Soldier Road; Bahamas Christian Fellowship Center; CBS Bahamas; Bahamas Waste Management; Bahamas Leisure Impact Company and Ivan ‘Showtime’ Francis.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/02/ed-armbrister-baseball-league-officially-open/?news

JAZZ Chisholm talks to the media at Fusion Superplex yesterday. Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

As of Thursday, February 2, 2023

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BIRTHDAY boy Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm spent time with his family, friends and the media at Fusion Superplex yesterday where he talked about a little of everything from being selected to returning to action after he got injured last season.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Birthday boy Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm said he’s thrilled to have been selected as the face of the Major League Baseball (MLB) The Show video game. But he’s even more excited about returning to the Miami Marlins line-up in a new role in a bid to win the Most Valuable Player award this year.

#While he’s usually home for a “low key” celebrations, Chisholm’s 25th birthday yesterday was a little more appreciated as he spent time with his family, friends and the media at Fusion Superplex where he talked about a little of everything from being selected to returning to action after he got injured last season.

#In the first of a two-part series today, Chisholm will talk about his rise to become the seventh Bahamian to play in the Major League of Baseball to be sidelined and returning from the mid-season ending injury.

#First of all, happy birthday Jazz.

Twitter

Jazz Chisholm Tweet

#“It’s kind of funny that every year I come home and celebrate my birthday low keyed,” he said. “It’s like nobody knows, except my family and my close friends know I am home. It might look like I’m in the States training on my birthday, but probably every year, I celebrate my birthday at home.”

#And home to celebrate this year with his latest achievement as the face of The Show, Chisholm said it’s even crazier because this is something that he only dreamed about and now it has finally come to reality.

#He said they just called him and told him he was going to be the cover athlete and after they told them that they will have him on the cover, he signed the seal and sure enough everything else fell into place.

#“A lot of parents who have been out at Freedom Farm and see me play when I was younger and hear me yelling around the field how I want to be a big leaguer, how I want to be a Hall of Famer, how I want to be on the cover of the magazine of the video game, these are some things I was saying from I was a kid,” he said.

#“So to see it live now and to see it happen right before my 25th birthday is the best gift I can get. It made me live out my dream. I could remember seeing Albert (Cartwright) and Antoan (Richardson) do it and that made me want to do it.”

#And even though he’s living it out, Chisholm ran into a snag last year when he was sidelined on July 22 with a stress reaction in his lower back.

#On September 10, the Marlins announced that he would be out for the rest of the season.

#Now fully recovered, Chisholm said he’s looking forward to the start of the 2023 season with the Marlins.

#“My body feels great. Every day it feels like it’s getting stronger and stronger and I feel like I am ready to play 160 games. My plan is just to stay on the field,” he said. “That’s the only thing I feel I have to work on is staying available.”

#Chisholm, however, will be moved from second base to centre field because of an off-season trade that Miami made bringing in Luis Arraez. But he said his grandmother Pat Coakley always told him he could do what he put his mind to.

#“New position it doesn’t matter to me. I will just go out there and play baseball,” he said. “I’m a second baseman, but I’m sure a lot of people saw me run down fly balls in centre field that a centre fielder should catch, so I feel I can go out there and catch the balls in centre field that the centre fielders should catch.”

#The only difference in the change in position will force Chisholm to run a lot more than he would as a shortstop or second baseman.

#“Every day I am on the field. Even when I’m home, I’m on the field training,” Chisholm said. “I’m working out every day, getting my reps in, getting my workout done. No matter what, if I fly here for one day I get my reps in and when I fly back, the next day I get my reps done. I never stop working. I’m always ready.”

#It’s good, however, Chisholm said, to come home and be able to train in the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.

#“I always wanted to play in the baseball stadium, so to get the opportunity to work out there and stuff like that, I honestly can’t wait to see how it will turn out in the end,” he said. “I’m just glad to get the chance to work out.”

#Looking back at his season, Chisholm said it hurt that he didn’t get to play in the All-Star game for the National League after being selected as a starter. He went to the game at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, but couldn’t watch the entire game.

#“It’s just something that you take in. It was my first All-Star, my first time being at the All-Star game and not getting to play was tough,” he said. “This year, I have to get back there. I already told them, I have to go deep (hit a home run) in the All-Star game.”

#And while many felt he was having a remarkable year before the injury, Chisholm said it was just average, even though in 213 at-bat, he had an average of .254 with 14 home runs, 45 runs batted in (RBI) and 12 stolen bases in 60 games played up to his injury.

#“I was doing that in rookie ball and low A and double A,” he said. “As a big l, I feel I should have been doing more. I can’t be duplicating the things that I was doing as a kid. I mean I am 25 now, so I am a man now. So I feel it’s time for me to become the man that everybody wants me to become.”

#And the only thing he would like to add on his résumé this year is the “MVP” most valuable player award.

#“I don’t expect less of myself,” he charged.

#As for the Marlins, Chisholm said he’s watching his team-mates work out every day when he’s in Miami and with more and more of the players coming out, he likes what he’s seen so far on the field and in the gym.

#“We might be underrated, but we will coming out with some fire,” he said. “They might be thinking they can blow by us, but we have a couple of sticks coming for us.”

#Chisholm said he’s expected to get in some early workout sessions in a minor league that is expected to be staged in Miami when he gets back.

#Once he can get in sufficient at-bats, he’s hoping that he can suit up and play for Great Britain next month in the World Classic with the other Bahamian players.

#“All of the things that have been happening the past seven-eight years in Bahamian baseball is leading towards the Bahamas having its own team,” he said.

#But after working out with coaches Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright, who worked with him from before he turned pro, Chisholm said he enjoyed his birthday and he’s looking forward to spending time with his family and friends.

#Note: In the second part of the interview on Friday, Chisholm pays tribute to his first ever coach Frankie Simmons, who recently passed away.

#Chisholm will also talk about his involvement with both Sands and Cartwright and others who assisted him along the way.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/02/chisholm-looking-mvp-season/?news

JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm says the death of coach Franklyn Simmons was one of the hardest losses he experienced in his life.

As of Friday, February 3, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm clearly remembers the days he spent with the late Franklyn Simmons at Freedom Farm.

#Simmons, the first coach to work with Chisholm, passed away on Friday, January 20. He used to teach young players the game in the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at Southern Recreation Grounds.

#Chisholm, home to celebrate his 25th birthday on Wednesday, said it was one of the hardest losses he experienced in his life.

#“You guys know, he literally begged my grandmother (Patricia Coakley) for me to play on his team,” Chisholm recalled in an interview with the media during his birthday celebrations at Fusion Superplex.

#“He begged my grandmother to come from her softball camp to come and play on his team. That was the first time I ever played at Freedom Farm. That’s who Frankie Simmons was. He picked me every Sunday, Saturday, Friday to come to practice, to games. I didn’t miss a game at Freedom Farm because of one person.”

#What’s even more interesting is that Chisholm, who is now the face of The Show video game for Major [League Baseball, said the first time he actually played the game, it was at Simmons’ house.

#“That’s so crazy to me,” said Chisholm, who remembers playing the game with Simmons’ son. I was holding back to show him I was on the cover and then I heard what happened to him. It really hurt me.”

#After he was introduced to baseball at Freedom Farm by Simmons, Chisholm said he met coach Geron Sands about 6-7 years ago.

#As one of the smallest players around the park, Chisholm said Sands invited him to try out a drill. “So I started doing it and it just happened more and more when I was out there hitting,” Chisholm said. “He would come over and tell me that I’m so small, I shouldn’t be trying to hit home runs. He was small too, so I guess that was why he was telling me that.

#“But from day one, I just wanted to hit home runs. I don’t care how small I was, I wanted to hit home runs like A-Rod and (Ken) Griffey Jr. So he just kept on coming and coming at me with more and more drills. The next year, I was on his team and we just developed a father-son bond from there. Every day I was with him.”

#When he left for school, Chisholm said Sands was relentless in contacting him to find out how everything was going and whenever he returned home, he was the first person who got him on the field working out.

#“These two guys right here (Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright) took me in when I was about 15-16 years old. We worked for about nine months straight, no days off. We did gym at 7, school at 8 and practice at 12:30 every day for nine months straight. Nine months later, I was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.”

#Sands, who along with Albert has formed the International Elite Baseball Academy that assists young men getting off to high school and college or into the professional ranks, said Chisholm was also the spectacular “small guy” on the field swinging the “big bat.”

#“He always wanted to hit the home runs. He always thought he would win,” Sands said.

#“But something that stuck with me when he talked about being the MVP. I believe him because every single thing he said he was going to do, he’s done so far in the sport of baseball. This is the only thing kind of left for him to achieve at this point. He signed yes. MVP in minor league – yes. Player of the Year – yes. 30 home runs – yes. All-Star game in the big league – yes. Cover of the game – yes. There’s only two things left for him, MVP and Hall of Fame and I’m looking forward to that.”

#Sands said it has been a long journey and he will continue to love and support Chisholm just as he does his own son, Storm. Chisholm, however, advised Sands that Storm was his second son because he was the first. “He’s grown up to be a man now, so I’m comfortable with him doing his thing out there,” Sands said. “I’m just happy for him and his family and the support that they give him. The same guys who were with him when he was 10-11 years old are still with him today. We’re like a family, who try to stay together.”

#For Cartwright, he’s tried to be the coach of reasoning.

#“After Marlins game that we went to with Jazz, he said tomorrow I’m going to hit a home run or a slider. I said come on Jazz,” Sands said.

#“The next game, first at bat, he hits a home run and gets a slider. He points up in the stands. So I guess I have to believe everything he says now.”

#As a leading figure for the younger guys following in his footsteps, Sands said he’s confident that Chisholm will make an impact on the future of baseball in the Bahamas and hopefully he will get a chance to display that pride when he teams up with them to play in the next professional baseball tournament at the new Andre Rodgers Stadium.

#Bahamas Baseball Association president Sam Rodgers commended Chisholm, whom he has watched through his progress from the minor league to the major league.

#He said he had a chance to sit down with Chisholm and his grandmother about the future of baseball in the Bahamas.

#“I told him then that I was looking for a bright future for baseball,” Rodgers said. “I told him that I hope that him and the other young men in baseball would be a part of it. So the journey started. We have a great relationship now. I have something in mind, but I’m not ready to announce it yet. I can tell you that the position that Jazz holds in baseball, there’s coming a day when he will be the ambassador for baseball in the Bahamas.”

#BBA secretary general Teddy Sweeting said they will be right there in the Marlins’ stadium supporting Chisholm during the upcoming season.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/03/chisholm-remembers-those-who-helped-him/?news

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 31, 2023 585 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The list of qualifiers for The Bahamas for the 2023 CARIFTA Games continues to grow.

A number of productive performances by young Bahamian athletes at the 3rd Annual Oaktree Sonja Knowles Track Classic hosted by the Red-Line Athletics Track and Field Club at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium this past weekend increased the number of qualifiers by nine, bringing the total number up to 20.

There were three qualifiers in the under-17 girls 400 meters (m) hurdles alone with three either matching or going under the standard of 1:07.00.

Darvinique Dean, of the host club, is set to enjoy her first CARIFTA experience, winning the race in a blazing personal best time of 1:01.45. She was nearly a full three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, her teammate Bayli Major, who ran 1:04.18. Yulianis Akompi, of Quick Step Athletics, finished third in 1:07 flat, matching the CARIFTA qualifying time.

After a spectacular run in the heats of the under-17 boys 400m, Andrew Brown came back and ran even faster in the final. Running unattached, he clocked 49.41 seconds to go under the qualifying time of 49.42 seconds, easily winning that race at the Sonja Knowles classic.

Not to be outdone, Amari Pratt went under the qualifying time in the under-20 girls 200m. Pratt, of Star Elite Athletics, clocked 24.36 seconds to go under the CARIFTA qualifying time of 24.40 seconds.

In the under-20 girls shot put, Annae Mackey, of Blue Chips Athletics, had a toss of 12.91m (42’ 4-1/4”) to surpass the CARIFTA qualifying distance of 12.60m (41’ 4”).

After not qualifying in the under-20 boys 100m, due to a strong tailwind, Adam Musgrove came back and went under the standard in the under-20 boys 200m, winning that event at the Sonja Knowles classic. Musgrove, representing Bahamas Speed Dynamics, clocked 21.23 seconds to go under the qualifying time of 21.40 seconds.

Earlier at the meet, on Saturday, a couple of young ladies qualified in the sprints. Shayann Demeritte, of Swift Athletics, ran 12.10 seconds in the heats of the under-17 girls 100m, to go under the qualifying time of 12.20 seconds. She came back and ran 12.07 seconds in the final but that time was wind-aided. Dean was second in the final in a wind-aided 12.18 seconds.

Grand Bahamian Shatayla Dorsett, representing Kenyan Knights, qualified in the heats of the under-20 girls 100m on Saturday. She clocked 11.84 seconds to go under the CARIFTA qualifying time of 11.90 seconds. In the final, Dorsett, who was on the CARIFTA team in Kingston, Jamaica, last year, was second in a wind-aided 11.73 seconds.

Jamiah Nabbie, representing Fast Forward Athletics, won the under-20 girls 100m final in 11.67 seconds, but that time was wind-aided. Pratt finished third in 11.76 seconds.

The other 11 qualifiers for The Bahamas are Alexandria Komolafe (under-17 girls high jump), Taysha Stubbs and Kamera Strachan (under-17 girls javelin), Terrell McCoy (under-17 girls shot put), Cassie Thompson (under-20 girls 200m), Javonya Valcourt and Lacarthea Cooper (under-20 girls 400m), Calea Jackson (under-20 girls discus), Mateo Smith (under-20 boys long jump), Kaden Cartwright (under-20 boys javelin) and Brenden Vanderpool (under-20 boys pole vault).

The 50th CARIFTA Games is set to be held at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium from April 8-10. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) CARIFTA Trials is set for March 25-27 at the national stadium.

Next up on the local athletics calendar is the Star Performers Track and Field Classic set to get underway at 9 a.m. this coming Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The Star Trackers Athletics Club is the host club.