CARIBBEAN BASEBALL CUP

As of Monday, December 12, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Team Bahamas finished the 2022 Caribbean Baseball Cup in fourth place and missed out on an opportunity to qualify for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.

#The team concluded tournament play with a 4-2 loss to defending champion Curacao in the bronze medal game yesterday at the Andre Rodgers National Stadium.

#D’Shawn Knowles’ two-run home run in the sixth inning briefly gave The Bahamas the lead before Curacao responded with four runs in the bottom half to take the lead for good.

#Warren Saunders finished 2-3 with a run, Knowles finished 1-4 with a run and two RBI while Daunte Stuart, Yeshua Saint and Keithron Moss each added hits.

#Gio Tomlins got the start and pitched three hitless, scoreless innings.

#Travvis Ferguson was tagged with the loss in relief after 2.1 innings of work, surrendering four hits and three earned runs before McKell Bethell closed out the inning.

#Evan Sweeting pitched two hitless innings and finished with two strikeouts.

#A tied game through four innings, Curacao’s Rayshelon Carolina got the first hit of the game with a single to right field.

#The Bahamas got their first hit and first base runner when Saunders singled to left field in the top of the sixth inning. With two out, Knowles hit his two-run shot to give the home team the lead and send the crowd into a frenzy. The umpiring crew initially ruled the play a foul before the call was overturned.

#Curaçao responded offensively when they singled twice to place runners in scoring position, then Ortwin Vargas doubled to tie the game at 2.

#Vargas eventually advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch to give Curacao a 3-2 lead. The lead reached 4-2 when Shurendell Mujica hit a sacrifice fly for the game’s final run.

#Unable to mount a late rally, The Bahamas left runners on base in both the seventh and eighth innings.

#The tournament will qualify two teams for the CAC Games, June 23 to July 8, in El Salvador. Cuba already qualified for the event prior to the Caribbean Cup. Puerto Rico, who advanced to the championship game, and bronze medallist Curacao advanced as CAC qualifiers.

#The five participants in the tournament were world No. 9 Cuba, No. 16 Puerto Rico, No. 60 Curaçao, and No. 66 US Virgin Islands. The Bahamas is ranked No.80.

#The Bahamas opened the competition with a 4-3 win over the US Virgin Islands. They followed with a 12-10 loss to Curacao, a 9-3 loss to Cuba and a 14-2 loss to Puerto Rico to complete the round robin stage 1-3. They lost 9-3 to Puerto Rico in the semifinals prior to yesterday’s loss to Curacao in the bronze medal game.

#Managed by Geron Sands, the staff also included assistant head coach Albert Cartwright, alongside coaches Dominique Collie, Donovan Cox and Trae Sweeting.

#Team Bahamas’ roster included a cross section of talent across various levels of play, including the minor leagues, independent baseball, collegiate baseball and locally.

#The infielders included St Louis Cardinals prospect Adari Grant, New York Mets prospect Warren Saunders, Texas Rangers prospect Keithron Moss, Miami Marlins prospect Cherif Neymour along with Northwestern State’s Daunte Stuart, and Kennesaw State’s Jay Knowles. The outfielders were led by Los Angeles Angels prospect D’Shawn Knowles, who recently helped Great Britain qualify for the World Baseball Classic. The remainder of the outfield included Ellison Hanna of the Lake Eerie Crushers, Toby Simmons of the Miami Marlins, Kristin Munroe of the Los Angeles Angels, Kashon Conliffe of the San Diego Padres and highly touted International prospect for the class of 2023 – Janero Miller.

#The pitching staff is headlined by Evan Sweeting who last pitched in the San Diego Padres organisation and D’Vaughn Knowles who was last with the New York Yankees organisation. Pitching staff also included Brandon Russell, Robin Haven, Carvin Dames, Derrinyj Russell, McKell Bethel, Gio Tomlins, Travvis Ferguson, Kennedy Cooper and Mateo Ferguson. The catchers were Ural Forbes, Yeshua Saint and Diontwon James.

#Stuart led The Bahamas with a .333 batting average, followed by D’Shawn Knowles at .280, Saunders at .278, Grant at .273, and Hanna at .267.

#Grant led the team with 4 RBI followed by Saunders with two. Knowles, Stuart, Moss, Hanna and Munroe each finished with two.

#Knowles topped the hit list with seven, Stuart and Grant each finished with six, Saunders finished with five and Hanna had four.

#In pitching, Sweeting got the lone win for Team Bahamas.

#He surrendered a single hit and struck out five in four innings of work and finished with a 0.0 ERA.

#Brandon Russell finished with eight strikeouts in 10 innings, Haven had six strikeouts in 7.2 innings and Saint had four strikeouts through six innings.

Bahamas 4th overall CARIBBEAN BASEBALL CUP As of Monday, December 12, 2022

As of Monday, December 12, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#ONE of the mainstays on the sports tourism calendar, the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby In Paradise is set to begin its week of festivities for its fifth edition.

#Don’t Blink week begins December 14 with The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Celebrity softball game, Atlantis Paradise Harbour.

#Gametime is at 7pm and will feature event attendees along with Bahamian influencers and local public figures.

#The Harbour will also be the location of the Don’t Blink Kids’ camp the following morning, December 15 at Atlantis Paradise Harbor.

#The camp is free of charge, open to both boys and girls ages 7-18. The night concludes with the event’s official welcome party “Man Overboard Part 3” aboard Black Beard’s Revenge.

#The main event takes place on December 17 at 12pm (noon) with the Home-Run Derby’s return to the Montagu foreshore.

#The first three editions were hosted at Montagu, before last year’s event shifted to the grounds of the Atlantis resort. This year’s event will relocate to its original location. A live rake and scrape concert will take place immediately following the derby. General admission is free of charge while VIP is $30.

#A new initiative to the week of festivities will be the Prayer to Praise event, featuring a concert by former minor league prospect turned gospel singer, Todd Dulaney, 6:30pm on December 18 at Baha Mar.

#The event is the brainchild of pro baseball players Lucius Fox and Todd Isaacs Jr.

#“Five years of hosting anything in life is a blessing so we’re truly grateful, truly humbled and truly honoured, humbled and blessed that God gave us this opportunity to bring this vision to fruition, not just for us baseball players but for The Bahamas in its entirety,” Isaacs said. “Through sports, we have an opportunity to highlight The Bahamas for what it is, the beautiful beaches, the warm weather and the welcoming people.”

#Fox added that the Don’t Blink brand continues to expand its reach by partnering with several organisations including the Major League Baseball Players Association and the Players Alliance.

#“We joined forces with MLBPA, executive Tony Clark, and the members of his team. The MLBPA acts as the voice for all players in the game of baseball. We also have the Players Alliance,” he said.

#“This group is so special because they work hand in hand in minority communities to provide assistance, equipment and leadership to the youth. They make baseball accessible to all races and they give everyone a fair playing chance to learn the game, get introduced, and hopefully make the most out of it. They have been instrumental in the United States so we look forward to what they can do here in The Bahamas.”

#Bo Bichette, of the Toronto Blue Jays, won the inaugural event in 2018 and repeated as champion in 2019. Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson captured the title in 2020 and Kansas City Royals catcher MJ Melendez was the most recent winner in 2021.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/12/5th-dont-blink-home-run-derby-paradise-begins-wedn/?news

As of Monday, December 12, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIANS continue to reach new milestones early in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field season.

#Collinique Farrington had a stellar season opener for the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats in Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference over the weekend.

#The sophomore sprinter took first place in both the 400m and 200m at the Cream and Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kansas. In the 400m, she hit a national qualifying mark and had a new meet record with a time of 54.90 seconds. Farrington also hit a national qualifying mark in the 200m with a time of 24.46.

#Northern Colorado teammates Wendira Moss and Craiesha Johnson competed at the University of Purdue’s Edmonds-Wilt Invitational.

#Moss placed second in the 300m in 39.87 and 15th in the 60m in 7.99 while Johnson was second in the 200m in 25.64 and 10th in the 60m in 7.83. The duo teamed with Ruby Ann Gregory and Regina Mpigachal to finish first overall in the 4x400m in 3:55.57.

#Several student athletes also received conference wide recognition for their performances the previous week.

#Liberty Flames sprinter Indea Cartwright was named the ASun Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.

#Cartwright got her first season with the programme off to an impressive start at the Liberty kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia.

#In the 60m hurdles, Cartwright posted a dominating victory in 8.23.

#That time ranks No. 2 nationally this season.

#Cartwright improved her own school record from earlier that day (8.40 in the prelims) and took down the ASUN all-time record of 8.27.

#In Division I’s Atlantic Coast Conference, Wanya McCoy of the Clemson Tigers was named one of the ACC Performers of the Week at last week’s season opener.

#McCoy broke a school and facility record in the 300m with his time of 32.53, the third-best in NCAA history.

#He also took first place in the 60m at the event after posting a qualifying time of 6.69, which currently ranks fourth nationally.

#Minnesota State junior sprinter Denisha Cartwright was named the USTFCCCA Women’s Track and field Athlete of the Week for her efforts last weekend at the Chuck Petersen Open.

#She set provisional qualifying times in the 60m hurdles (8.18), the 60m dash (7.31), and the 200m dash (24.21).

#Her time of 8.18 in the 60m hurdles is the fifth fastest time in Division II history and her time of 7.31 in the 60m dash is the sixth fastest.

#It was the second time Cartwright has been named the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week (February 9, 2021).

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/12/ncaa-indoors-athletes-reach-new-milestones/?news

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) slam dunks in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans yesterday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

As of Monday, December 12, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Phoenix Suns are mired in a losing streak, but Deandre Ayton continues to enjoy one of his best statistical stretches for the season.

#Ayton finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but fouled out after 33 minutes of the Suns’ 129-124 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans yesterday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He shot 13-18 from the field.

#Since November 18, Ayton has posted a double double in 10 of 13 games while averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and a blocked shot.

#In the month of December, the Suns have lost four consecutive games and five of their last six.

#Ayton began the month with just eight points and six rebounds in a 122- 121 loss to the Houston Rockets.

#He followed with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 133-95 win over San Antonio, 20 points, three blocks, and eight rebounds in a 130-11 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, eight points and seven rebounds in a loss to the Boston Celtics, and 25 points with 14 rebounds in the first game of a back to back against the Pelicans on December 9.

#Through 24 games, Ayton is averaging 17 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 63 percent shooting from the field.

#He notched 30 double-doubles last year in only 58 games played and already has 13 double doubles this season.

#“There aren’t any mistakes in these Ls,” Ayton said. “We just got to break out of it and get back to our rhythm.”

#The Suns continue their road trip against the Rockets in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday night.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/12/ayton-has-28-points-12-rebounds-129-124-loss-pelic/?news

As of Monday, December 12, 2022

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BAHAMIAN tennis ace Mark Knowles in action.

JACOBI Bain and Michael Major Jr congratulate Americans.

MARK Knowles shares a moment with Donato Adderley, one of the youngsters at the Baha Mar Cup clinic.

AMERICAN Andy Roddick in action at Baha Mar.

MARCUS Samuelson is flanked by pro players Jessica Pegula, Olga Savchak and Milos Raonic.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE island nation’s most decorated tennis player brought the Baha Mar Cup back to the Bahamas for a third time with a line-up of some of the most accomplished male and female players in the world to the Baha Mar Tennis Club over the weekend.

#Five-time Olympian Mark Knowles, who was the world’s number one ranked doubles player with Canadian Daniel Nestor, showcased a star-studded line-up that included a pair of former world No.1 singles players in American Andy Roddick and Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

#Also adding to the dynamic feature were Americans James Blake, former No.4 ranked player on the men’s side and Jessica Pegula, currently the top American player ranked at No.3 in the world, along with Ukraine’s Olga Savchak, a retired player turned coach who is residing part-time in the Bahamas.

#Top Bahamian rising players collegian Jacobi Mitchell and high school sensation Michael Major Jr also got in a series of exhibition matches on Saturday at Baha Mar courts as a part of the charity events put on by Knowles to help raise funds for the development of the game in the country.

#Earlier in the day, they all participated in a youth camp for aspiring tennis players.

#First hosted in 2019, the Baha Mar Cup was postponed in 2020 because of COVID-19, but although it returned last year, Knowles was unable to stage the event because of the inclement weather.

#He was just glad that they were able to be back on the court this year. “It was awesome,” said Knowles, who was accompanied by two of his three children, 14-year-old Brody, a 6-foot, 5-inch tennis player and Presley. Graham, a football quarterback remained at home in Dallas, Texas.

#“We were troubled by weather last year, but we couldn’t ask for anything better today. The weather was great and the participation was awesome. The line-up might have been the best ever that we have assembled here.

#“To assemble this type of talent here at home was very special for me. I really appreciate the people who supported the event. We had a great crowd for the exhibition, which is why I do it. I want to bring some stars to our country, the Bahamas, which I love so much, for charity to give kids a chance to aspire the next generation of Bahamian tennis players.

#Through the Mark Knowles Foundation, Knowles said they were happy to support Bain, who is now one of the top collegiate players.

#He said he was delighted to see him and Major Jr match up in doubles against Blake and Pegula in a showdown.

#The Americans won 6-3, but it was an entertaining match. So were the other matches that saw Roddick and Hewitt outlast Knowles and Blake 6-2 in men’s doubles, while in mixed doubles, Blake and Pegula got the best of Knowles and Savchuk.

#For Pegula, she would prefer no better place to be than in the Bahamas competing in the Baha Mar Cup. “It’s been so amazing. Everyone has been so nice and friendly. I’ve been here before, but I’ve never been to Baha Mar. It was so nice,” she said. “To come out here and play with so much legends was just amazing.”

#She said she got thumbs up from Knowles’ mother, Vickie, a Bahamian legend tennis player in her own rights, so she’s looking forward to making a return to next year’s event as she makes the quick trip from South Florida where she resides.

#“It was an amazing couple years for me where I feel I have been improving,” said Pegula, who earned her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings in singles and doubles on October 24 after she won two singles titles and five doubles titles on the WTA Tour, one WTA Challenger doubles title, and seven ITF doubles titles.

#“It gets harder and harder to move up, but I will continue to go after the big titles and just keep trying to have fun as I go through the journey. I love competing, so it’s fun for me.”

#Since the inception of the Baha Mar Cup, Roddick has graced his presence and the former No.1 player in the world in 2003 when he captured the US Open title. The three-time Wimbledon finalist in 2004, 2005 and 2009 as well as US Open in 2006, retired from professional tennis following the 2012 IS Open.

#He said it’s a lot of fun to be able to be a part of an event that provides the opportunity for the younger players to get to the next level.

#“Mark has always been passionate about the Bahamas and anytime you make kids tennis relevant, I’m all for it,” Roddick said. “But when it’s one of your closest friends doing it, it’s a no brainer to show up. I’m just humbled that I’ve been asked to do it.”

#Married to American model and actress Brooklyn Decker since 2009 in a union that has produced two children, Roddick said he’s just enjoying life and there’s no better place to do it than in the Bahamas.

#Also back for a third appearance at the Baha Mar, Blake said it’s good that the weather has cooperated so that they could put on the display of their skills to the crowd.

#The 2007 champion of the American Davis Cup team in 2007 got to showcase some of his renowned speed and powerful, flat forehand that elevated him to No.4 in singles in 2006 before he retired in 2013.

#“Mark is such a great guy for what he’s doing for his community,” said Blake, who now operates the Miami Open Tennis Tournament. “I know how hard it is to put on an event like this. We appreciate it and we’re happy to help in any way that we can.”

#Blake, a commentator for tennis for ESPN, was accompanied here by his wife, publicist Emily Snider and the parents of two daughters. He said that once invited, he will be back for an encore to the Bahamas.

#After posting her best accomplishment reaching the third round of the 2006 Australian Open and earning a career-high singles ranking of No. 79 on 19 May 2008, Savchuk has since retired and is one of the two coaches of top-ten player Karolina Pilskova, along with Daniel Vallverdu and since November 2020 along with Sascha Bajin.

#“I love being here. This is my first time playing here, but when he asked me to be a part of it this year, I couldn’t say no,” Savchuk said. “I now live here. I love everything here, especially the beach. I hope to be more involved in tennis here.”

#Among those in attendance in the stands was Bahamas sports ambassador Rick Fox, a two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Perry Newton and other BLTA executives.

December 12, 2022

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MARCUS Samuelson is flanked by pro players Jessica Pegula, Olga Savchak and Milos Raonic.

Stories this photo appears in:

Baha Mar Cup brings star tennis players to Bahamas

THE island nation’s most decorated tennis player brought the Baha Mar Cup back to the Bahamas for a third time with a line-up of some of the most accomplished male and female players in the world to the Baha Mar Tennis Club over the weekend.

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• December 12, 2022
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 Home|Sports|The Bahamas finishes fourthSports

Team fails to qualify for CAC Games

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 12, 2022 92 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Team Bahamas gave a good effort on Sunday in the bronze medal game of the 4th Annual COCABE (Caribbean Baseball Confederation) Caribbean Baseball Cup at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium on Sunday, but just couldn’t get the key hits and outs when they needed them.

They fell to Curaçao, 4-2, thereby losing out on the bronze and an automatic qualifying spot for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

For a good portion of the week-long tournament, The Bahamas struggled to get key hits when they needed them. It proved to be no different on Sunday, particularly in the later innings.

The Bahamas struck first, taking a 2-0 lead on D’Shawn Knowles’ two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, but Curaçao scored four runs in the bottom half of that inning to surge ahead. Neither team cracked the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Curaçao pitcher Nelmerson Angela went the distance for the win, striking out 10 and spreading six hits. He retired his first 15 batters before yielding a single to New York Mets’ prospect Warren Saunders in the top of the sixth. Saunders came around to score on Knowles’ home run to give The Bahamas the lead and fire up the crowd at the stadium.

The Bahamas’ lead was short lived as Curaçao responded in the bottom of the sixth.

Darren Seferina led off the inning with a single, and after the next batter flied out, Seferina advanced to third on a single from Raysheandell Michel. Ortwin Pieternella Vargas brought both runners home on a double to left center field, tying the score at two. Aldair Daal singled and stole second, and Pieternella Vargas scored on a wild pitch to give Curaçao the lead. A 

sacrifice fly brought Daal home and the next batter grounded out to end the inning.

The Bahamas stranded a base runner in both the eighth and ninth innings, leaving the runner at second base both times.

Relief pitcher Travis Ferguson suffered the loss for The Bahamas. Starting pitcher Giovante Tomlins pitched three innings of no-hit ball before being pulled in favor of Ferguson. McKell Bethel gave up a hit and an earned run in relief of Ferguson in the top of the sixth and Evan Sweeting pitched the final two innings for The Bahamas. Sweeting struck out two and walked one batter in two innings of no-hit ball for The Bahamas.

Offensively for The Bahamas, Saunders was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lead-off batter Knowles had his two-run shot in four at-bats, and three other batters had a hit each.

The Bahamas out-hit Curaçao, 6-5, but failed to get the key and outs when they needed to.

Five batters had a hit each for Curaçao.

In the semifinals on Saturday, The Bahamas fell to Puerto Rico, 9-3, and finished the single round robin segment of the tournament with one win and three defeats. The Bahamas’ only win came over the U.S. Virgin 

Islands on the opening night of the tournament.

Puerto Rico and Curaçao booked their spots to next year’s CAC Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, joining Cuba.

Cuba played Puerto Rico for the gold medal of the 4th Annual COCABE Caribbean Baseball Cup last evening, and had previously qualified for the 2023 CAC Games.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-finishes-fourth/

 Home|Sports|King, Harvey see action in NCAA DI basketballSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 12, 2022 86 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It was a tough weekend for Bahamian collegiate basketball players Frederick King and Ahmard Harvey on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I basketball scene over the weekend. 

Taking the floor on Saturday night for the nationally number 21 ranked Creighton University Bluejays was King. The Bluejays ended up falling in a close 83-80 battle against the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The loss dropped the Bluejays to a 6-4 win/loss record on the season.

The freshman started and played for 18 minutes on the floor. He was able to come away with four points on 2-for-3 shooting from the field. He also had three blocks. 

The Bluejays started the first half hot from the field, taking a 19-11 lead, but the Cougars went up by as much as eight, 49-41, late in the first half. Four points in a row by the Bluejays at the end of the first half pulled them within four, 49-45. In the second half, the Cougars tied the game at 56 points with 15:53 left. The Cougars responded, taking an 11-point lead at 78-67 at the 3:56 mark.

The Bluejays didn’t go away. They came back and took an 80-79 lead with 26 seconds left. However, the Cougars were clutch when they needed to be, scoring the final four points of the game.

Next up for the Bluejays is a matchup against the Arizona State University Sun Devils at 9 p.m. tonight at the same arena in Las Vegas. 

Harvey and the High Point University Panthers also could not come up with a victory over the weekend as they fell 87-79 to the Queens University of Charlotte Royals on Friday night. Playing home at the Millis Center in High Point, North Carolina, the Panthers got seven points from Harvey on 3-for-3 shooting from the field, including a connection on his only attempt from deep. Like King, the redshirt junior played 18 minutes. He was able to grab six rebounds, dished out three dimes and had three blocks before fouling out.

At the 11:47 mark of the first half, Harvey made a layup that put his Panthers up 19-12. The Panthers led 44-38 at the end of the first half. The game was tied at 55 points with 12:34 left in the second half. The Royals took the lead to five points with 10:49 left in the second half. It was all Royals the rest of the way as they were dominant in the second half. 

With the loss, the Panthers dropped to an 8-2 win/loss record on the season and will look to go in the win column on Sunday, December 18 when they face the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

It is the first year on their new teams for both players as they look to adjust. King is making the transition from high school and Harvey is a transfer from Coastal Carolina University after spending three years there where he battled injuries.+

https://thenassauguardian.com/king-harvey-see-action-in-ncaa-di-basketball/

 Home|Sports|Marvin Henfield’s ‘The Lab’ continues to growSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 12, 2022 89 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Looking to train young Bahamian basketball players, Marvin Henfield Basketball launched its training facility on Thompson Boulevard during the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2021, and just over a year later, the program is up and running and continue to grow.

Founder and lead instructor Marvin Henfield said that the first year has been exciting and he had to intensify training sessions.

“The first year just having to come out of COVID and go through that experience enabled us to be where we had to be – able to get through. All the protocols that we had with COVID and everything else that was happening here in the country was a challenge,” Henfield said. 

The indoor training facility that was officially opened on November 28, 2021, features two half-courts and nine rims. The facility known as “The Lab” works with kids from as young as three years old to adults. Henfield has worked with professional players as well as collegiate athletes. Over the past year, Henfield and his team started out with one class per week and now they are up to three classes per week, Monday through Friday. Saturday basketball features the younger kids from ages three to seven. 

Although they are known for shooting drills, Henfield said that they also work on other aspects of the game such as ball handling and passing.

“We’re a full-fledged basketball training facility,” Henfield said. “We specialize in shooting, but we also teach all the core skills. Kids can come in here and they can learn ball handling. They can learn how to pass. They can learn how to finish at the basket. We teach a lot of things in basketball – how to be able to come off screens, and how to penetrate and kick and other stuff. We’re a full-service basketball training facility.” 

Other than their after-school program, schools and night league teams have used the facility. 

“We have additional programs that we do where we rent spaces to other basketball clubs, some of the smaller school programs and then some of the night league teams. They also utilized our facility and then we also have private individual sessions that we do,” Henfield stated. 

Henfield is not surprised by the response that he has gotten over the year. He compared the sport to soccer in that everywhere there is an area where kids are playing. He knew that there was going to be a demand for a facility like his own where players can go and work on their skills.

Looking to expand and grow, Henfield is hoping to have a full court facility by the first quarter of 2023. He is hoping to have tournaments to provide games for juniors.

Henfield and his team have been able to offer virtual training sessions on their website, www.marvinhenfield.com.

https://thenassauguardian.com/marvin-henfields-the-lab-continues-to-grow/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas falls to Puerto RicoSports

The Bahamas falls to Puerto Rico

Team will play Puerto Rico again in the semis on Saturday

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 9, 2022 291 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After The Bahamas took a 2-1 lead over Puerto Rico in the second inning, the visitors shut them out the rest of the way to win 14-2, as the 4th Annual COCABE (Caribbean Baseball Confederation) Caribbean Baseball Cup continued at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium last night.

The Bahamas finishes the opening round with a 1-3 win/loss record and locked up the fourth position in the standings. The team has advanced to the semifinals, set for Saturday. Friday is a rest day.

Puerto Rico got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning. They ended the night pouring in seven runs in the top of the ninth to take the convincing 14-2 victory.

In the second inning, The Bahamas’ left fielder Kristin Munroe hit a double to left field as the ball bounced off the wall. He then got to third base on a wild pitch to second baseman Adari Grant. Munroe came home when Grant singled to left field to pick up the run batted in (RBI). Grant stole second base, then shortstop Cherif Neymour singled to center field. Grant came home to give Neymour the RBI. The Bahamas led 2-1 at the end of the second inning.

Puerto Rico tied it up at two runs apiece in the top of the third inning, as centerfielder Miguel Garcia came home on Reynaldo Navarro’s sacrifice fly. After The Bahamas came up empty in the bottom of the third inning, catcher Ivan Navarro grounded out but first baseman Jose Ortiz scored the tie-breaking run as Puerto Rico led 3-2 after four innings.

Two more runs by Puerto Rico in the top of the sixth inning enabled them to take a 5-2 lead. Crossing home plate were designated hitter Kevin Luciano and Ortiz.

After three wild pitches by Mateo Ferguson and two runs conceded in the top of the eighth inning, The Bahamas’ manager pulled him and put D’Vaughn Knowles on the mound. It was 7-2 at the end of the eighth inning.

Grant finished the game 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored for The Bahamas. Puerto Rico’s second baseman Luis Mateo finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The winning pitcher was Puerto Rico’s lefty Pinto Roldan. The losing pitcher was Bahamian Robin Haven.

Puerto Rico had eight hits while The Bahamas had seven hits, but they were not able to turn them into more than two runs.

Earlier in the day, Cuba gave up seven runs after three innings against the defending champions, Curacao. They shut them out the rest of the way to win 8-7.

The top two teams from the week-long tournament will qualify to compete at next year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador. If Cuba is among the top two, the top three will qualify for the CAC Games, as Cuba has previously qualified.

Puerto Rico ends at the top of the table with a 3-1 win/loss record. They hold the tiebreaker over Cuba, which has an identical record. Curacao finishes third with a 2-2 record. The Bahamas finishes fourth on tiebreaker rules. They and the US Virgin Islands both finished 1-3 in the opening round.

The Bahamas will return to action on Saturday night in the semifinals when they take on Puerto Rico at 7 p.m. The early game will pit Cuba against Curacao and that will take place at 2 p.m. The winners will advance to the gold medal game while the losers will play for bronze. The third-place game will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. The championship game is also on Sunday, set for 5 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-falls-to-puerto-rico/