As of Thursday, May 19, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#This week produced varying results for Bahamian pro basketball players as their postseason runs continued in their respective leagues throughout Europe and South America.

#Zane Knowles and Levski Sofia staved off elimination in Bulgaria’s NBL semifinal against Balkan Botevgrad last night.

#The veteran centre nearly posted a double double with nine points and 11 rebounds in a 66-56 win and his club now trails the best of five series 2-1.

#In game one, Knowles came off the bench to finish with eight points and four rebounds in an 80-74 loss. Moved into the starting lineup for game two, he finished with 17 points and five rebounds in a 76-72 loss.

#Last season while preparing for the season in Hungary with Zalakerámia ZTE KK, Knowles sought treatment for what he described as a minor hamstring injury when doctors discovered a rare Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) that required surgery.

#In eight games since he returned to play, he has returned to form with averages of 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

#Aaron Levarity and his Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen, the highest level of basketball in Denmark, are down 0-3 in their best of seven finals series against the Bakken Bears.

#After playing sparingly in a 118-73 blowout loss in game one, Levarity had his best performance of the season in game two with 30 points and 13 rebounds in a 95-82 loss. In game three he finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in a 91-74 loss.

#Game four is set for tonight as the Rabbits face elimination.

#Over the course of the season, Levarity has averaged 14.9 points, 11 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season. In his first season with the Rabbits, Levarity averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with the club.

#Travis Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have advanced to the semifinal in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

#Benfica completed a two game sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win. In game two, Munnings had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win.

#They will advance to face Munnings’ former club UD Oliveirense.

#In 28 games this season, Munnings averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arch.

#Last year he averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. Benfica eliminated UD Oliveirense in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs.

#Tavario Miller and Minas Belo Horizonte were eliminated the semifinal in Brazil’s Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) at the hands of Flamengo.

#Miller had 14 points and three rebounds in last night’s 91-80 loss at the hands of the defending champions.

#He had just three points and three rebounds in the 76-67 game one loss. He followed with seven points and seven rebounds in a 77-63 loss.

#Minas advanced with a 3-1 series win over Unifacisa in the quarterfinal series.

#His best performance of this years playoff run was 22 points and seven rebounds in a 90-81 game two loss in the quarterfinals.

#Minas finished the regular ranked third in the league at 25-7. The team also finished third in the FIBA Basketball Champions League of the Americas with a win over Quisima in the bronze medal game last month.

#In his first season with the club, Miller is averaged 11.5 points and seven rebounds per game on 65 percent shooting from the field.

Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones (35) shoots against New York Liberty centre Stefanie Dolson (31) in the first half during a WNBA basketball game, Tuesday, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

As of Thursday, May 19, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Jonquel Jones and the Connecticut Sun exacted revenge for an opening day loss and looked like a dominant title contender in an early season rematch with the New York Liberty.

#Jones finished with 11 points and six rebounds in just 21 minutes but Connecticut’s defence was the story in the 92-65 win over the Liberty Tuesday night at the Barclays’ Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

#Connecticut set franchise records for most turnovers in a half (20) and an entire game by an opponent (32) as they improved to 2-1 on the season.

#Those 32 turnovers resulted in 44 of Connecticut’s 92 points.

#They finished one shy of the league record of 33 turnovers.

#In the season opener on May 7, the Liberty took a close 81-79 win. Jones finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals.

#“That was on me,” Coach Curt Miller said of the difference between the two games, “We were going to be aggressive. At times, they were going to make some easy baskets because of our aggression but it worked.

#After the Liberty took an early 12-2 lead, the Sun scored 18 unanswered points to take control for good.

#“The points off of turnovers were obviously the biggest story of the game, especially when we still had moments tonight where our offence struggled,” Miller said, “This is a group that prides itself on the defensive end.”

#The Sun will return to the court Friday night when they host the Indiana Fever at the Mohegan Sun in the first game of a home and away back-to-back.

Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMay 18, 2022 210 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A walk inside the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Aquatics Center on Saturday was met with a competitive atmosphere, reminiscent of the Bahamas National Swimming Championships in June 2021. Instead, it was staging of the Alpha Aquatics Spring Invitational. There were food and drinks on sale on the outside, Junkanoo music in the stands, swimming clubs’ supporters cheering their swimmers on, coaches in action, and swimmers pushing themselves in the pool. Apart from the individual swims, there were competitive relays as well.

A torrential downpour of rain and lightning cut the meet’s first session short on Friday night but they were able to complete those events on Saturday as the weather held up for a bit. They were able to get the meet out of the way as swimmers looked to drop times and qualify for nationals, slated for July 7-10 this year.

President of the Alpha Aquatics Club, Celeste Darville, said that swimming is one of the most exciting sports being contested in the country and they are trying to get back to normal. She said they had to hype the meet up with Junkanoo music to keep the swimmers motivated.

“It was a good meet, and we were praying that the weather held up and it did,” Darville said. “It has been so hectic, and I have been up and down the deck but I have been checking in with Meet Mobile and coaches and from what I saw and heard, the swimmers were prepared and dropped times. For the most part, they are exactly where their coaches want them to be and we are happy for that.”

Isabella Munroe won all her races, dropping times in all of them. She secured 54 points to win the high point award in the 8-and-under girls division. The Mako Aquatics Club swimmer won the 100 meters (m) freestyle (1:19.46); 50m back (44.52 seconds); 50m butterfly (41.16 seconds); 50m free (35.33 seconds); 50m breast (50.93 seconds); and 200m free (3:05.24).

She finished ahead of her teammate Leniah Hamilton who finished with 31 points. The Blue Waves Swim Club’s Rinia Johnson scored 21 points to finish third.

Building off her performance at the 35th CARIFTA Championship in Barbados this year, 11-12 girls swimmer Saleste Gibson scored 54 points as she won all six of her individual races as well. The Barracuda Swim Club swimmer won the 100m free (1:04.55); 200m breast (3:20.96); 50m fly (31.38 seconds); 200m back (2:58.78); 100m back (1:15.71); and 200m free (2:23.11).

Gibson finished ahead of Lyford Cay Swim Club’s Alexia Zatarain who had the second most points for that age category with 42 points. Finishing third was the Barracuda’s Madison Gilbert who had 34 points.

Mako Aquatics’ Lenin Hamilton scored 57 points to win the 11-12 boys division. He came away with five first place finishes and two third place finishes. His teammates Trace Russell and Damari Butler were second and third respectively in that category. Russell scored 41 points and Butler had 35 points.

Alpha’s Mark-Anthony Thompson battled Barracuda’s Hodari Prince in the 15-and-over boys 200m free. Thompson, who is on summer break from college, swam 2:07.37 for the victory. Prince swam 2:09.66 to finish second while Lyford Cay’s Roman Pinder placed third with a time of 2:12.35.

Caellum Darville swam his first 800m free of the season and won it with a time of 10:19.40. The 13-14 boys swimmer from Alpha Aquatics held off Barracuda’s Tyler Adderley who clocked 10:24.92 to finish second. The Blue Waves’ Kevin Johnson place third in 10:32.52.

Leylah Knowles, who swims for Alpha Aquatics, won the 13-14 girls 800m free with a time of 10:29.23. She finished ahead of Barracuda’s Kyana Higgs who swam 10:36.96. Also swimming in that race and placing third place was Delaney Mizell who clocked 11:09.73 for Lyford Cay.

Clubs were able to observe competition for their 200m medley relay teams. It was one of the highlights of the meet. Given the intense competition, Darville said she is looking forward to nationals this year.

Sands, FSU win ACC title; Wilson comes close to world championships qualifying standard

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMay 17, 2022 274 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The collegiate athletics landscape in the United States (US) is heating up as various athletes compete in their respective conference championships, and other athletic meets of note, in preparation for a run at their regionals and nationals.

A Bahamian who stood out was Jahmaal Wilson at the West Texas A&M Last Chance Meet 2022 at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

Running at altitude, Wilson, a sophomore at West Texas A&M, won the men’s 110 meters (m) hurdles in a blazing 13.35 seconds – just three one hundredths of a second off the qualifying standard for the World Athletics (WA) Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, this summer. That global meet is set for July 15-24.

Running unattached, Tyrin Lewis finished second in 13.55 seconds, and Cameron Macon, a sophomore at Texas A&M University-Commerce, was third in 14.05 seconds.

Over at the 2022 Summit League Championships at the Oral Roberts ONEOK Sports Complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a quartet of Bahamians performed well at their collegiate home facility.

Gabrielle Gibson, a senior at Oral Roberts University, was second in the women’s 200m in a wind-aided 23.72 seconds after running 24.05 seconds in the heats. Sara Reifenrath, a sophomore at South Dakota, won that event in 23.20 seconds, Gibson was second, and Erin Kinney, another sophomore at South Dakota, finished third in 23.88 seconds.

Gibson came back and won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.57 seconds after running 13.42 seconds in the heats. It was a 1-2 finish for The Bahamas in that event as Indea Cartwright, a sophomore at Oral Roberts, finished second in 13.59 seconds after running 13.41 seconds in the heats. Elise Ulseth, a sophomore at North Dakota, finished third in 13.97 seconds.

Cartwright went into the 400m hurdles final with the top qualifying time of 1:00.55 from the heats but she did not finish the final.

Lakelle Kinteh, a junior at Oral Roberts, finished fifth in the women’s 100m in 12.17 seconds after running 12.12 seconds in the heats. She also competed in the women’s long jump and was 16th overall with a best leap of 5.50m (18’ 0-1/2”).

In the women’s 4x100m, Kinteh, Gibson, Judith Bediako and Cartwright, in that order, finished second for Oral Roberts University in 45.09 seconds. South Dakota won that race in 44.99 seconds and North Dakota State finished third in 45.88 seconds.

In the women’s 4x400m, Oral Roberts team of Chanice Forbes, Gibson, Nikki Victorious and Adrena Mazzei, in that order, finished fifth in 3:52.83.

Another Bahamian at Oral Roberts, Bradley Dormeus, a senior, finished second in the men’s 400m in 46.20 seconds after running 47.12 seconds in the heats. Demar Francis, a sophomore at South Dakota, won that race in 45.79 seconds, and Cody Roder, a senior at North Dakota State, was third in 46.22 seconds.

Also at the Summit League Championships, Daejha Moss, a senior at North Dakota State, finished second in the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.76m (5’ 9-1/4”). Daniella Anglin, a freshman at South Dakota, won with a leap of 1.79m (5’ 10-1/2”) and her teammate Carly Hering, a junior, finished third, clearing the same height as Moss – 1.76m. Moss finished ahead of her based on number of knockdowns.

Moss was also fourth in the women’s triple jump with a jump of 12.24m (40’ 2”). Her teammate Jodi Lipp, a junior, won that event with a leap of 12.76m (41’ 10-1/2”), Shalom Olotu, a sophomore at Oral Roberts, was second with a leap of 12.57m (41’ 3”), and Alissa Melvin, a junior at North Dakota State, finished third with a leap of 12.38m (40’ 7-1/2”).

Moss was also seventh in the women’s long jump with a leap of 5.83m (19’ 1-1/2”).

At the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, Sasha Wells, a senior at Florida, finished seventh in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.75 seconds. Her teammate, Doneisha Anderson, a junior, was 18th overall in the women’s 400m in 53.66 seconds. She also ran on the Florida Gators’ women’s 4x400m relay team and they finished seventh in 3:26.85. That team was made up of Taylor Manson, Sterling Lester, Anderson and Talitha Diggs, in that order.

Megan Moss, a sophomore at Kentucky, was 11th overall in the women’s 400m in 52.70 seconds. She was an alternate on Kentucky’s record-setting 4x400m team as the quartet of Karimah Davis, Dajour Miles, Abby Steiner and Alexis Holmes, ran a new collegiate record of 3:21.93 for the title. Texas A&M was second in 3:22.01 and Arkansas finished third in 3:22.05.

Florida women won the team title with 107 points and Kentucky was fourth with 85 points.

The Kentucky Wildcats feature a number of Bahamians and are led by Head Coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene and Assistant Coach Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.

At the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships at Morris Williams Stadium at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Wanna McCoy, a freshman for the Clemson Tigers, was fourth in the men’s 200m in 20.50 seconds after running 20.68 seconds in the heats. He also ran on the Tigers’ 4x400m relay team and they won in 3:05.15. The team consisted of McCoy, Tarees Rhoden, Cameron Rose and Aman Thornton, in that order. The Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles were second in 3:05.83 and Pittsburgh was third in 3:06.07.

Raymond Oriakhi, a sophomore at Pittsburgh, finished 28th overall in the men’s 400m in 51.14 seconds.

FSU won the team title easily, scoring 149 points for their second straight ACC outdoor championship. Virginia Tech was a distant second with 93 points, and Virginia finished third with 83 points. FSU women were third with 99 points. The University of Miami won with 108 and Duke was second with 100.5 points.

Bahamian ‘Superman’ Leevan Sands, in his first year as an assistant coach at FSU with responsibility for the jumps, said winning a conference title feels great. In his specialty, the men’s triple jump, FSU sophomore Jeremiah Davis finished third with a best leap of 16.16m (53’ 0-1/4”) and was named as the Most Valuable Performer for the Seminoles. Jacore Irving, a junior, was sixth with a best leap of 15.38m (50’ 5-1/2”).

“To come here and win a conference title in my first year is a good feeling,” said Sands. “This school has a great tradition of jumpers and runners and I’m excited to be a part of the movement. It’s only up from here for us. We’re going to the regionals with some great marks and if everyone do what they’re capable of doing, I have no doubt that we could have a shot at winning the nationals. I’m just thankful and looking forward to great things. I’m thankful to God for this opportunity – to be a part of a great team in a great atmosphere with great coaches. As coaches, we encourage each other and in turn we carry it over to the athletes and the results are shown. We’re looking forward to great things.”

Over at the Big 10 Outdoor Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Shaun Miller, a sophomore at Ohio State University, finished second in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.17m (7’ 1-1/2”). Mayson Conner, a junior at Nebraska, won with a clearance of 2.20m (7’ 2-1/2”). Cassidy Henshaw, a senior at Michigan, cleared the same height as Miller but had to settle for third based on number of knockdowns.

Oscar Smith, a sophomore at Ohio State, competed in the men’s 110m huddles and finished fourth in 13.59 after running 14.01 seconds in there heats. Joshua Zeller, a junior at Michigan, won that race in 13.19 seconds, Kentre Patterson, a senior at Ohio State, finished second in 13.39 seconds, and Josh Braverman, a senior at Iowa, was third in 13.56 seconds.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I East Preliminaries is set for May 25-28 at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex in Bloomington, Indiana, while the west preliminaries is set for that same time at the John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Indiana University at Bloomington will host the east preliminaries while the University of Arkansas will host the west preliminaries.

Simba FrenchSend an emailMay 17, 2022 377 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Triathlon Association was able to put on its national championships despite inclement weather at Jaws Beach on Sunday. Armando Moss was the overall men’s winner and punched his ticket to Birmingham, England, for the 22nd Commonwealth Games this summer.

The national championships also served to provide junior athletes with an opportunity to qualify for CARIFTA. The team will be ratified later.

President of the BTA, Dorian Roach, said the championships was good as the weather held up.

“The weather cooperated with us after a rough day on Saturday so we are glad that it did not rain anymore. We had to change the bike course because of the flooding,” Roach said.

There was only one spot available for the Commonwealth Games that is slated for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham. It went to Moss who powered his way to finish atop the men’s group in 1:06.54. He had the fastest times in all three portions of the race. He swam in 10:17 before biking in 30:28 and they culminated with a run in 24:30.

Finishing second behind him was Jorge Marcos who clocked 1:11.19. Sean Andrews was third with a time of 1:13.26.

The overall female winner was Carolyn Thompson. She posted a time of 1:19.35. Finishing second was Suzy Eneas who was a minute behind her in 1:20.35. Sylvia Bateman placed third after finishing in 1:21.37.

The top three finishers in each of the junior categories made the cut for CARIFTA.

Roach said he enjoyed the 13-15 boys age division as there was very close competition with Ayten Bain coming away with the victory in the end. Bain finished in a time of 37:53. He got out-worked by second place Launy Duncombe on the swim and the bike portions of the race but the run helped him to pass Duncombe. Bain clocked in 11:05 on the run while Duncombe was timed at 13:24.

Duncombe finished in 38:12 overall. Enea Gervasini was a close third after finishing in 39:53.

In the 13-15 girls, CARIFTA swimmer Erin Pritchard went up against Anjaleah Knowles. In the end, it was Pritchard who would win with a time of 44:16. Knowles was not able to keep up with Pritchard as she clocked 54:45.

In the boys 16-19 age group, two competitors, Barron Musgrove Jr. and Jason Cates, were in action. Musgrove won that division when he clocked 1:26.37. Cates did the race in 1:31.20.

Kami Roach was the winner in the 16-19 girls age category after completing the three-part race in 1:27.54. Sienna Culmer-Mackey finished behind Roach in 1:40.05.

The 11-12 boys age category was another competitive division as there were 10 competitors. In the end, 30 seconds separated the first and second place finishers. Lauchalan Menzies was able to win that category with a time of 27:14. Jayden Smith was close behind Menzies, clocking 27:44. Finishing third was Sibby Fynn Potter in 28:23.

Taylor Knowles came away with the 11-12 girls title after posting a time of 37:59. Coming in second to Knowles was Paityn Burrows who finished the course in 40:55.

The only competitor in the 20-21 age category, that was added to CARIFTA this year, was Ralph Wood II. He wasted no time as he won with a time of 1:13.58. The 20-year-old was able to win the 20-29 men’s age category with that time also. He won that comfortably as his closest competitor Justin Higgs posted 1:23.42 for second. Mikhail Yagudin placed third after posting a time of 2:03.30.

Roach and the other executives will look to ratify the CARIFTA team in two weeks. That CARIFTA meet is set for September 24-25 at Clearwater Beach, Saint Georgeʼs, Bermuda.

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMay 17, 2022 243 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) Play Tennis Bahamas Program continues to produce positive results.

The program resumed this month and this portion is set to run through the middle of June. The objective of the program is to introduce children to tennis, starting play from the first day in a fun environment. With the organization of these sessions consistently, the program boasts in excess of 400 entries with approximately 300 unique hits.

The conversion rate is also positive with kids entering after-school programs, and participating in extended tennis classes. The program is also a path for persons who always wanted to play tennis but never had an opportunity. It sparks interest generally and ignites a tennis fire in many ways.

“We hope that many tennis journeys are birthed from this introductory program of the association,” said a BLTA spokesperson through a press release. “The results are a testament to sustained and committed work by the BLTA via the program.”

The program has been offered at no cost for children ages 5-17 for the last four years. Registration has been a minimal $1 fee and that has been seeded back into building the program. All the tennis equipment are provided at no charge, and the sessions are held at the BLTA’s National Tennis Centre.

The attraction to the sport of tennis continues to grow at all levels in the country as these developmental programs expand.

BLTA President Perry Newton, who has organized the program over the past four years, remarked on the growth and the potential. A total of 100 youngsters participated in the last session of the program which culminated with its first tennis festival.

“We hope to have many more festivals. For the past two weeks, we have reached approximately 40 participants. The demand is high and we encourage those who can help in any way to come out and be a blessing in some child’s tennis journey,” said the BLTA president. “The program would not be possible without the volunteer coaches who continue to give back to tennis and to the nation. We are building a foundation for the future as these kids will be a part of the next generation of players.”

This junior tennis initiative by the BLTA will aid to tennis sustainability as juniors are added to the ranks by the hundreds. The program is expected to reach the 300 mark in June.

Interested persons wishing to be a part of this tennis initiative for themselves, or their children, or wishing to assist in any way possible to the building up and growth of the sport, can send an e-mail at the address pr@blta.net.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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DIRECTOR of Sports Tim Munnings, professional volleyball players Eugene Stuart and Shonari Hepburn, Minister of Sports Mario Bowleg; volleyball player Ras Jesse Delancy, Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier and director designate Kelsie Johnson.

#TWO professional volleyball players in the Europe Circuit and a successful college athlete recently met with Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture officials for a courtesy call.

#Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg expressed his appreciation and support for the work of volleyball athletes in improving their sport while promoting the Bahamas on a global scale. Minister Bowleg met with pro players Shonari Hepburn, Eugene Stuart and Ras Jesse Delancy.

#Also attending were director Tim Munnings, director designate Kelsie Johnson, and Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier.

#The players took the opportunity to share their successes and their challenges, on and off the Volleyball court.

#Hepburn played for Frankfurt in Germany and Stuart played for Arca Golati in Romania. Stuart has just recovered from a knee injury and is in search of a team.

#Delancy recently made history in collegiate volleyball, becoming the first man to win the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) Volleyball Player of the Year, as the male category was introduced this year.

#Delancy also captured the player of the year for the Benedict College Tigers. Delancy had an impressive season and rounded it off with a 4.0 average GPA at Benedict. The Tigers team includes several other Bahamians – Clint Forbes, Donovan Wilmott, Zion Beckford and Terran Walkin.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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#WHILE the weather did not cooperate over the weekend at the Roscoe Davies Soccer Complex, this did not dampen the spirit of the competitors in the men’s and women’s divisions of the Hummel Cup Soccer Tournament.

#The event was hosted by the Bahamas Football Association.

#In the end, the United WFC prevailed over the Dynamos WFC 3-0 to win the Women’s Division and in the Men’s Division, the Renegades FC stood victorious over the Seventeen FC in penalty kicks 4-2.

#The third place medals in the Women’s division were captured by Cavalier WFC over the Western Warriors WFC and in the Men’s Division, United FC defeated the Warriors Men’s team 3-1.

COLIN Thompson and Godfrey Eneas pictured third and fourth from left respectively.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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#Colin ‘Church’ Thompson, the brother of former NBA two-time Los Angeles Lakers’ center Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, passed away last week. Today, former baseball player GODFREY ENEAS gives a special tribute to his former baseball/ softball team-mate.

#IN the 1950s when Andre Rodgers signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants, this changed the sporting landscape for many youngsters in Nassau at the time.

#Every youngster who played softball switched to baseball because they wanted to be the next Andre Rodgers.Colin “Church” Thompson and I were no exceptions.

#The 50s were a time when sporting facilities were lacking and sporting organisations made do with what was available. For baseball, Clifford Park or some would call the Western Fort for us, was our Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field or even the Polo Grounds.

#Sunday was baseball as the games started at 10 am and three games were played.

#Because Church and I lived out East, our practice field was the Eastern Parade.

#It was on the Parade that we developed our skills under the watchful eyes of his uncle Phillip “Box” Fountain and older players like Willis Ferguson, Freddie Higgs, Robbie Elliot and others.Church came from a very religious family, so he had to engage in some shenanigans to play on Sundays.

#Church was a pretty good softball and baseball player as a catcher/ first baseman. He was in the lineup not because of his glove but for his bat.

#In the Schlitz lineup, he hit cleanup or fourth behind Lorenzo “Donie” Lockhart,probably one of the best hitters in the history of Bahamian baseball. In softball, Church had the distinction of facing the US softball traveling legend,the King and his Court which was a four-man team: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, and shortstop.

#The King, Eddie Feigner, was probably the best softball pitcher in the world. They were the Harlem Globetrotters of softball. However, that Sunday on Garfunkle Field, Church put him over the left field fence.It was a sensational moment just to watch trot around the bases with a big smile.

#Church had another big baseball moment when he homered to clinch the Championship for Schlitz that was fifty plus years ago.

#Winning the Championship enabled our sponsor, the late Audley Kemp, to arrange with Schlitz in Milwaukee an all expense paid visit to that City.

#Schlitz treated us royally as we played a number of teams around the City as well as given VIP treatment with the Milwaukee Brewers, the major league team.

#I just highlighted two unforgettable softball and baseball events in the sporting life of a guy who I knew as a playmate, schoolmate and teammate.

#May you rest in peace, Church; we will miss you.

Church And Me

COLIN Thompson and Godfrey Eneas pictured third and fourth from left respectively.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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#Colin ‘Church’ Thompson, the brother of former NBA two-time Los Angeles Lakers’ center Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, passed away last week. Today, former baseball player GODFREY ENEAS gives a special tribute to his former baseball/ softball team-mate.

#IN the 1950s when Andre Rodgers signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants, this changed the sporting landscape for many youngsters in Nassau at the time.

#Every youngster who played softball switched to baseball because they wanted to be the next Andre Rodgers.Colin “Church” Thompson and I were no exceptions.

#The 50s were a time when sporting facilities were lacking and sporting organisations made do with what was available. For baseball, Clifford Park or some would call the Western Fort for us, was our Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field or even the Polo Grounds.

#Sunday was baseball as the games started at 10 am and three games were played.

#Because Church and I lived out East, our practice field was the Eastern Parade.

#It was on the Parade that we developed our skills under the watchful eyes of his uncle Phillip “Box” Fountain and older players like Willis Ferguson, Freddie Higgs, Robbie Elliot and others.Church came from a very religious family, so he had to engage in some shenanigans to play on Sundays.

#Church was a pretty good softball and baseball player as a catcher/ first baseman. He was in the lineup not because of his glove but for his bat.

#In the Schlitz lineup, he hit cleanup or fourth behind Lorenzo “Donie” Lockhart,probably one of the best hitters in the history of Bahamian baseball. In softball, Church had the distinction of facing the US softball traveling legend,the King and his Court which was a four-man team: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, and shortstop.

#The King, Eddie Feigner, was probably the best softball pitcher in the world. They were the Harlem Globetrotters of softball. However, that Sunday on Garfunkle Field, Church put him over the left field fence.It was a sensational moment just to watch trot around the bases with a big smile.

#Church had another big baseball moment when he homered to clinch the Championship for Schlitz that was fifty plus years ago.

#Winning the Championship enabled our sponsor, the late Audley Kemp, to arrange with Schlitz in Milwaukee an all expense paid visit to that City.

#Schlitz treated us royally as we played a number of teams around the City as well as given VIP treatment with the Milwaukee Brewers, the major league team.

#I just highlighted two unforgettable softball and baseball events in the sporting life of a guy who I knew as a playmate, schoolmate and teammate.

#May you rest in peace, Church; we will miss you.

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) looks away after being fouled during the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns were eliminated. (AP Photo/Matt York)

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEANDRE Ayton played sparingly in his Phoenix Suns’ worst playoff loss in franchise history which prompted many to revisit a lingering and unresolved contract negotiation between the team and its former no.1 overall pick.

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

#He finished with just five points, four rebounds and two assists. Suns’ head coach Monty Williams told reporters postgame that Ayton’s limited playing time was the result of an “internal” decision and did not expand on the matter.

#Ayton declined postgame media availability.

#He had just one shot attempt in the first quarter (2-5 for the game) and exited the game after he was called his third foul near the four minute mark in the second quarter. The Suns trailed by 18 when Ayton left the floor and was replaced by Bismack Biyombo.

#Over the first six games of the series, Ayton averaged 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field.

#In his fourth season, the 23-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#Attention this offseason will return to Ayton’s contract situation with the Suns as he enters restricted free agency (RFA). As an RFA, Ayton is free to sign an offer sheet with another franchise but the Suns would still have the ability to match the deal and retain his rights if they choose to do so.

#Ayton also has the option of playing next season under a one year qualifier and become an unrestricted free agent the following season in 2022-23.

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension. He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5m extension that could have reached as much as $207m if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#Last offseason, the Suns reached extensions with veteran point guard Chris Paul – a four year deal worth up to $120m; Ayton’s fellow 2018 draftee Mikal Bridges – a four year deal worth up to $90m and newly acquired guard Landry Shamet – a four year deal worth $43m.

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

#“We were two wins away from a championship,” Ayton said following a preseason practice session, “And I just really want to be respected to be honest, like my peers are being respected by their teams.”

#TMZ Sports first reported that Ayton and Suns owner Robert Sarver met at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Phoenix prior to the extension deadline as negotiation talks ramped up but that meeting failed to produce a deal.

#Ayton has career averages of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 236 games as a Sun. He is the fastest player in franchise history to reach 100 double doubles and was also the fastest player in franchise history to collect 1000 rebounds for his career (94 games).

#According to StatMuse, Ayton was the first player in NBA history to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game on 65 percent field goal shooting in a single playoff run (10 games minimum).