Devynne Charlton, shown here in action, is preparing to represent The Bahamas in the women’s 100 metre hurdles at her fourth World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27. Photo: Kevin Morris/kevmofoto

As of Wednesday, August 16, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#As she gets set to compete in her fourth World Championships, Devynne Charlton is hoping that she will finally get her breakthrough as a medallist in the women’s 100 metres hurdles on the senior global stage.

#Charlton, 27, will be part of the Bahamas’ 11-member delegation that will be in Budapest, Hungary, this week to participate in the championships, scheduled for August 19-27.

#The team will be led by defending women’s 400 metre champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, men’s Olympic champion Steven Gardiner, sprinter Anthonique Strachan, versatile Charisma Taylor and javelin thrower Rhema Otabor, quarter-miler Alonzo Russell, sprinter Terrence Jones, veteran high jumper Donald Thomas, long jumper LaQuan Nairn and hurdler Shakeem Hall-Smith.

#Laketah Charlton will be the team leader, assisted by Tito Moss, the track coach, while Corrington Maycock will be the throws coach. Keir Miller will travel as the team doctor and Pharez Cooper will be the physiotherapist.

#Charlton, coming off her season’s best performance of 12.62 seconds on August 4 at the Wolfe Track and Field Complex in Memphis, Tennessee, said she’s ready for Budapest.

#“I had my first practice session since I got in. It went pretty well and so I’m ready to go,” said Charlton, who is already in Budapest. “The conditions here are great, the weather is warm.

#“That’s the kind of conditions that I look forward to competing in. So I’m really looking forward to turning in some pretty good times and hopefully it will get me to achieve my goals.”

#In her World Athletics’ preview, Charlton is just listed as a contender for the event, but she said it’s not going to bother her because she’s looking forward to improving on her seventh place finish at her fourth appearance at the championships last year in Eugene, Oregon.

#“Usually coming into the championships, I’m not normally considered to be a contender for a medal, so it doesn’t phase me out,” she said. “I know what type of shape I’m in so it’s just a matter of me going out there and executing on that day.”

#Without divulging too much information, Charlton said the goal is to get on the podium and bring home some of the hardware.

#“I’m definitely looking forward to something special,” said Charlton, who ended her season last year as the Commonwealth Games and NACAC Championship silver medallist.

#She noted that the field of competitors is expected to be intense as usual, with or without Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who lowered the world record to 12.12 in the semifinals before she went on to secure the gold at last year’s championships in Eugene.

#Amusan’s participation is pending a decision from the Athletics Integrity Unit, following her anti-doping suspension for three whereabouts failures.

#“It’s unfortunate if she’s not there because you want everybody to line up,” Charlton said. “We know that there are injuries and some ongoing investigations that may hinder some of the competitors this year.

#“But we still have a talented field of competitors who are expected to line up so I’m looking forward to racing against all of them.”

#According to World Athletics, if Amusan is not allowed to compete, the top two contenders would be American Nia Ali and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who have clashed 17 times since the start of the 2022 season, while American and former world record holder Kenny Harrison is next.

#The others are Jamaica’s Megan Tapper, Danielle Williams and rising talent Ackera Nugent, the 21-year-old NCAA champion, as well as American Masai Russell, who finished second to Nugent in the NCAA final. Also mentioned is Ditaji Kambundji, who has run a Swiss record of 12.47.

#As for Team Bahamas, Charlton said it’s a pretty strong one and she’s looking forward to having some medals come home at the end of the championships.

#Hopefully she will get one as she starts the process of earning the first of two major international medals that have eluded her so far. The other is the Olympic Games, which she hopes to pursue in her second appearance next year in Paris, France.

#“I’m just trying to add to my collection,” she said. “I’ve captured medals at all of the international stages, I’m still looking forward to getting my first from the World Championships and hopefully that will take me into the Olympics.”

#Charlton, who is trained by Bahamian Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene in Lexington, Kentucky, produced her lifetime best of 12.46 in the semifinals before she ended up seventh in the final at last year’s World Championships in Eugene in 12.53.

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) celebrates with forward Jonquel Jones (35) near the end of the team’s win over the Las Vegas Aces in a basketball game for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship last night in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

As of Wednesday, August 16, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#BEHIND the Most Valuable Player (MVP) performance of Grand Bahamian Jonquel Jones, the New York Liberty upset the Las Vegas Aces to win the Commissioner’s Cup.

#Jones had 16 points and 15 rebounds, Marine Johannes scored 17 points with five 3-pointers and the Liberty beat the Aces 82-63 last night to win the third WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship.

#New York handed Las Vegas its first home loss of the season — in 16 games — after holding the Aces below 65 points for the second time in nine days.

#In the Liberty’s first appearance in the in-season tournament, the powerhouse Eastern Conference squad earned the resounding win over the defending champions.

#The ongoing rivalry between the dominant ladies’ teams definitely came head-to-head throughout the first three periods of the game.

#Jones’ team threw the first blow early, claiming a 17-11 advantage over the Aces in the initial period of play.

#However, the latter tied the score 32 apiece erasing the early deficit created by the Eastern Conference team.

#The score favoured the Aces 34-32 as they regained their footing in the ballgame and looked to keep the momentum going into the second half of play.

#Former WNBA MVP Jones showed glimpses of her previous self in the bout, ending the night with a monster 16 points and 15 rebounds double double.

#The Aces had no answer for Jones who completed the first half with nine points and five rebounds as she was prepared to propel her team to a Commissioner’s Cup win. Jones held down the fort in the paint but the real difference maker was bench points where the Liberty outscored the Aces 28 to 8. Marine Johannès played an instrumental role off the pine for the Eastern Conference leader, pouring in 17 points in 14:20 minutes of action while splashing 5 three-pointers on the night.

#It was a tale of two halves at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, because following the brief intermission the Liberty outscored the Aces 24-14 in the third quarter. Meanwhile, in the final period of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals the team remained dialed in on offense and stingy on defense. The first-seeded Eastern Conference team on the Commissioner’s Cup leaderboard, put the pedal to the medal and ran out to a 14-point lead (66-52) at the 7:05 mark. The game was no doubt a foregone conclusion after that point as the Liberty notched their biggest lead of the game going up 20 points with only 2:18 remaining.

#Despite it being one of forward Breanna Stewart’s worst games of the season, both Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu chipped in to aid Jones’ efforts. Vandersloot pumped in 11 points to complement her 10 dimes and Ionescu notched 12 points and 8 boards.

#The two respective Eastern and Western conference leaders will add more fuel to the ongoing rivalry in the next meetup on Thursday at 10pm at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.

As of Wednesday, August 16, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#INTERNATIONAL Sports Academy in collaboration with Reloaded Baseball commenced the “Bat 2 Base-ics” baseball and softball camp this past Monday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#The developmental sports camp saw kids from the Tee-Ball to the 14-and under (14U) division show up in droves to learn the fundamentals of both sports at an early age.

#The two-sport camp is focused on enhancing the baseball and softball skills of the players, improving their discipline and conduct, and preparing them for traditional and unorthodox in-game situations that may arise locally and internationally.

#Peron Burnside, president of Reloaded Baseball, is particularly excited to get the collaborative camp started following the team’s recent return from the Perfect Game baseball tournament in Sanford, Florida.

#“The first two days have been a huge success and we have a lot of kids who are not a part of the Reloaded programme who are here, particularly from the Family Islands, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera, and it is going really well,” Burnside said.

#With the first two days of training in the books, the president said the main objective is to collectively work on the individual deficiencies of each young player. “We want to target certain key aspects of development so we are using this camp to pinpoint the deficits in each child, and develop those fundamentals. Our ultimate goal is to bring every child up to international standards in pursuit of higher international development,” he said.

#The president added that once the players stick with the newly-started programme, they will see improvements and the team will provide the specific data to show the development in their skill sets as time progresses.

#Geron Sands, co-founder of I-Elite, worked along with the Tee-Ball kids yesterday and was impressed with the body of work accomplished in the first two days.

#“It’s been amazing so far the last two days just seeing these kids come out here and be excited to play baseball and learn more. It’s exciting to see them so ready to play at this young age,” Sands said.

#He relayed that the softball aspect of the joint camp is going great as well and wants to bring the sport back to the forefront for the young ladies.

#“Softball is going great, we have a couple of girls out here learning the fundamentals, something we want to do in the future is bring girls softball back from a younger age and this is a good beginning for that, we are just hoping to build off this and stay focused on the young females,” he added.

#As the co-founder of I-Elite, Sands said camps like “Bat 2 Base-ics” are great for placing more focus on certain skills and in the future they hope to host more clinics like this throughout the year.

#Individuals interested in registering can still capitalise on the opportunity by contacting 445-4551 or bat2basics242@gmail.com

#The collaborative multi-sport camp wraps up on Friday.

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The men’s national basketball team celebrate winning their opening game in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament against Cuba on Monday night in La Banda, Argentina. Team Bahamas blasted Cuba 109-68 behind the big trio of NBA players Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield of the Indiana Pacers and Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon, who will be teaming up for the first time with the Phoenix Suns this season.

As of Wednesday, August 16, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#COACH Chris DeMarco liked the way the men’s national basketball team came together and played their first game in the FICA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

#In their opening game on Monday night in La Banda, Argentina, Team Bahamas blasted Cuba 109-68 behind the big trio of National Basketball Association players Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield from the Indianba Pacers and DeAndre Ayton and Eric Gordon, who will be teaming up for the first time with the Phoenix Suns this season.

#DeMarco, an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, said after playing just two scrimmages against Kansas without all of their players, they came out to find their identity against Cuba.

#“We came together and worked on our stuff that we’ve been practicing over the last few days, so I kind of felt that things went very well,” said DeMarco, who is assisted by Moses Johnson and Mikhail McLean.

#“Overall, we are trying to build our chemistry because a lot of these teams have been together for a while and so we’re just trying to speed up that process. We had about 9-10 days together, the longest we’ve had in a while, so our goal every window is trying to build chemistry and I feel we’re getting there.”

#Despite getting off to a slow 20-16 start at the end of the first quarter against Cuba, DeMarco said he liked how the players were able to rally around and used a 14-0 start behind the dynamic trio to turn things around in the second quarter.

#Hield led their balanced attack with 24 points on 10-20 from the field (4-7 from downtown), six rebounds and five assists. Ayton added 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Gordon, in his Bahamas debut, had 17 points and 4 dimes.

#All 3 exited the game midway through the 4th quarter with the team up by 33 points. Franco Miller (9 of his 18 points in the 4th quarter) and Kentwan Smith (10 points) led Bahamas’ bench unit that outscored Cuba’s 39-24.

#Shooting guard Karel Guzmán (16 points) and centre Pedro Bombino (14 and 5 rebounds) were Cuban’s only players scoring in double digits.

#DeMarco said after the team found their footing, they were on cruise control. But he admitted that every player on the team is in Argentina for one goal and that is to win.

#“We have Argentina, who is the fourth ranked team in the world on Wednesday and they play a beautiful brand of basketball,” DeMarco said. “But we have to be ready. Our guys are focused.

#“Canada didn’t show up, so they haven’t played a game yet in this window. They did have some scrimmages in Europe, so they have been playing, but it will be a feeling out process for both teams. We just have to be ready to play like we did against Cuba.”

#Those are the only two games the Bahamas will play out of their pool with Canada not participating. The outcome of today’s game will determine their fate in the playoffs that will take place on Saturday when they crossover against the top two teams out of the Group that features Uruguay, Chile, Virgin Islands and Colombia.

#The winner from the tournament on Sunday will qualify for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2024 that will determine who gets to play in the Olympics in July.

#This is the best chance for the Bahamas to advance to the Olympics and DeMarco said the players are all convinced that they can get the job done.

#“Bahamas Basketball has a bright future. We’re trying to build this thing the right way. We’re on our way,” DeMarco said. “We have a great coaching staff, a great training squad and we feel we have some really good players, so we are heading in the right direction. “We like our chances with every game we play in each window. We’re here to win and we are going to do our best to ensure that this team puts its best foot forward in accomplishing that goal.”

#DeMarco expressed his gratitude to the Bahamian public for the tremendous outpouring of support.

#He said it’s a grind for everybody to come together and play in this type of competition so the support is definitely what is needed.

#“We’re excited. We’re excited about the team that we have and we hope that we can get better every day,” he stated. “The obstacles that we faced in pulling this off to get this team in such a short time. But we’re here to get the job done.”

#The other members of the team are Domnick Bridgewater, Rashad Davis, Travis Munnings, Lourawls Nairn, Jaraun Burrows, Garvin Clarke and Davis Nesbitt.

ERIC GORDON dribbles the ball as DeAndre Ayton looks on during last night’s game.

As of Tuesday, August 15, 2023

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#The top ranked Bahamas men’s national basketball team, arguably one of the best teams ever selected, posted an impressive 41-point rout over Cuba to start the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in La Banda, Argentina.

#Last night, with three of the four National Basketball Association players in the starting line-up, The Bahamas pounded Cuba for a convincing 109-68 victory.

#Without the service of forward Kai Jones from the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Chris DeMarco, an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, utilised a line-up that featured guard Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield of the Indiana Pacers and centre Deandre Ayton and guard Eric Gordon of the Phoenix Suns, along with guard Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn and forward Travis Munnings.

#The Bahamas, ranked as the top seed at the tournament, got off to a slow start and they only led 20-16 at the end of the first quarter. But they turned things around in the second quarter and went into the locker room up 46-28.

#At the end of the third quarter, the Bahamas had extended their lead to 79-46.

#The Bahamas hit the century mark with 3:46 left in the fourth quarter for a 101-60 lead and they went on cruise control the rest of the way.

#Hield finished with a game high 24 points in a little over 27 minutes with six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Ayton netted 22 points in 25-plus minutes with 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal and Gordon, in his debut for the Bahamas in 24 minutes, had 17 points, four assists and two rebounds.

#Also helping out in the well-rounded effort by Team Bahamas in double figures were Franco Miller Jr with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Kentwan Smith had 10 points and four rebounds.

#Munnings contributed seven points with two rebounds and as many steals and Domnick Bridgewater also had seven points. David Nesbitt was the only other player to score with four points.

#The four other players on the team, who played but didn’t score, were Nairn, Garvin Clarke Jr, Rashad Davis and Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows. To their credits, Nairn dished out seven rebounds and Burrows pulled down four rebounds.

#The team’s assistant coaches are Mikhail McLean and Moses Johnson.

#Cuba had two players in double figures, led by Karel Guzman with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. Pedro Bombino was the other player with 14 points and five rebounds.

#The Bahamas will have a day off today and return to their final game in pool A against Argentina on Wednesday. There are only three teams in their Group.

#However, there are four teams in Group B, consisting of Uruguay, Chile, US Virgin Islands and Colombia.

#The top two teams in each group will advance to the playoffs that start on Saturday and are completed on Sunday when the winner will book their ticket to the Men’s Olympic Qualifying Basketball Tournament in Paris, France, July 26 to August 11 next year.

As of Tuesday, August 15, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#DESPITE being issued what they called a “punitive and severe” five-year suspension from the Bahamas Baseball Association, the Babe Ruth League has decided to retain Greg Burrows Sr’s service as Caribbean commissioner as he continues to seek to grow the game in the region.

#Babe Ruth League Inc. issued the letter yesterday to Prime Minister Philip Davis and copied it to Samuel Rodgers, president of the BBA. The letter was signed by Robert Faherty, senior vice president commissioner and Michael Solanik, commissioner.

#In its letter, the Babe Ruth League said it’s aware of the action taken by the BBA in suspending Burrows Sr for five years and his son, Greg Burrows Jr, for 15 years for their role they played against visiting home plate umpire Edaine Cannister from Curacao during a placement game in the under-18 division between the Bahamas and Puerto Rico at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium in July.

#Burrows Sr, as the organiser of the tournament, intervened with two committee members, as they approached Cannister on the field to reinsert Burrows Jr as the manager of Team Bahamas after he was ejected for repeatedly protesting Puerto Rico’s pitcher wearing what he considered to be a item that was a distraction under his hat.

#The letter informed all parties concerned that they are firmly in support of Burrows Sr and he will continue in his role as Babe Ruth League Caribbean Commissioner.

#“Babe Ruth League has had a very good working relationship with you, your ministries, and the BBA in which we have all focused on bringing tourism through baseball to your great country,” the letter wrote. “As we discussed a few weeks ago, we hope to continue bringing additional tournaments and opportunities to the Bahamas.”

#Babe Ruth League, however, called the BBA’s action “punitive and severe” for a volunteer who has served the sport and the Bahamas with class for the better part of his life.

#“With his dedication to the sport, many players have graduated from Freedom Farm Babe Ruth League and represented their country either in the MLB or at other internationally recognised events,” Babe Ruth League further wrote.

#“The community benefited from our event through tourism as well as the completion of the Andre Rodgers Stadium and the renovation of the Baillou Hills Complex.”

#When contacted, Burrows Sr again declined any comments. He indicated that his lawyer will be making an official statement on his behalf, but he didn’t say when.

As of Tuesday, August 15, 2023

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Anaiah Rolle, of The Bahamas, in action in the pole vault.

Anaiah Rolle

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH a strong background in gymnastics, Anaiah Rolle made a transition to track and field, becoming the first Bahamian female competitor to compete in an international pole vault event.

#The 16-year-old did it by joining the Leap of Faith Track Club headed by her uncle James Rolle this year and it was on to making history yet again for the Bahamas.

#She got her introduction to the event between late May and early June. Under the guidance of coach Kenny Moxey, Rolle was able to make her successful debut at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals in July where she qualified for the Junior Pan American Games.

#Having represented the Bahamas in various competitions in gymnastics as a member of the Bahamas Star Gymnastics under coach Tennille Thompson. Rolle said she decided to get into track and field where she was doing the long jump.

#“At the end of May, I started practicing for the pole vault,” she said. “Because pole vault for under-20 women was not something that was being done in the Bahamas before, most meets didn’t have the event, so I had to wait for the Nationals.”

#At the Nationals over the weekend of July 5-7 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Rolle cleared 8-feet, 10 1/4-inches or 2.70 metres. A month later at the Jr Pan Am Under-20 Championships at the Jose A. Figueroa Freire Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on August 6, she improved her personal best to 9-4 1/4 (2.85m).

#She would finish at the bottom of the eight-woman field, but noted that it was all about getting the exposure.

#“Competing in my first international event in the pole vault was different because since there were no other young females doing pole vault in the Bahamas, I normally compete by myself,” she said.

#“But when I went to Puerto Rico, I competed with eight other females, who were more experienced and who were older than me, but I learned a lot of new things from that experience,” she reflected.

#The Americans took the top two spots at the Jr Pan Am with Kenna Stimmel clearing 14-1 1/4 (4.30m) for the gold and Ella Mritchie doing 13-11 1/4 (4.25m) for the silver.

#The bronze went to Alyssa Mixon of Puerto Rico with 13-5 1/4 (4.10m).

#Based on the little experience she had going into the event, Rolle said she was quite pleased with what she accomplished.

#“I expected the competition to be hard and I expected to compete against girls who were more experienced in pole vault than me,” she insisted.

#“The competition was great. I learned that I had to be patient because those girls were pole vaulting much longer than me. I just started in May, so I have to work on being patient and in God’s timing, everything will happen.”

#Moxey, a former national team pole vaulter who also coaches his son Kenny Moxey Jr in the sport, was thrilled when he got the opportunity to work with Rolle.

#“She seems to be very promising and as long as she continues to stay focused and put in the work, I think she will be able to do better things,” Moxey said.

#“I’m looking forward to next season at the CARIFTA Games and moving forward. I think she will be someone to watch. She’s already made history as the first Bahamian female vaulter. She’s a very nice young lady, very educated, who caught on very quickly.”

#Not only would coach Moxey like to continue to work with her, but he’s hoping that Rolle’s participation in the sport will inspire more females and even young men to come out and learn the event.

#“I have one male vaulter in my son, but I’m hoping that we can get more so that we can continue to have a pool to represent the Bahamas and move on to college and beyond,” said coach Moxey, who heads the Panthers Track Club.

#While there are two pole vaulters in Brenden Johnson, who is following in the footsteps of his father, national record holder Brent Vanderpool, along with Tyler Cash, who are both making their presence felt on the international scene, coach Moxey said he’s looking for more competitors to join the list.

#And while they wait to expand the list, coach Rolle said it’s good that his niece has opened the door for the females. With her attitude towards competing in the event, coach Rolle said she is certainly on the right track.

#“I was planning on letting her do the pole vault from the offseason, but she was sceptical about it,” he said. “So I decided to let her get into track first because she was great at gymnastics.

#“So I know a lot of gymnastics people are good at pole vault, so when CARIFTA came around and they said they were having it, I asked her if she wanted to do it. She said no. Not yet.”

#After CARIFTA, Rolle said he sat down with Rolle and they discussed it and we agreed to let her do it.

#After consulting with coach Moxey, coach Rolle said the rest was history.

#“In June, I sent her over to Kenny Moxey to help her. It only took her six weeks before the trials and she jumped 2.20m. That was a great improvement,” he said.

#“She realised that it was the same thing as doing gymnastics and now I can’t get her out of it.

#“So look for bigger and better things to happen next year.”

#The 3.5 average senior student at Greenville Preparatory Academy on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway is the daughter of Shancola and Firstnell Rolle and she has an older brother Kaleb Rolle, who is not involved in sports.

#“Anaiah is a very determined young lady and what she loves, she puts her mind to it and she excels in it,” said her mother Shancola, speaking on behalf of her husband, Firstnell.

#“Coach Moxey was very impressed with her improvement, like we say, in such a short time. Of course, we believe a lot of her gymnastics background had a lot to do with her grasping the concept of being able to excel the way she did in such a short time.”

#Her mother said her daughter is a very persistent young lady who rarely likes to miss practice and now as a family, along with her coaches, they are seeing the fruits of her labour. Not only did Rolle compete as a gymnast, but she was also involved in dance and performed with the Bahamas All-Star band.

#Coach Rolle, however, was just proud to have introduced the multi-talented Rolle to coach Moxey to begin her historic journey as the first Bahamian female to compete in the event.

#“I’m proud of her. I’m happy for her,” coach Rolle summed up. “History has made it. But this is just the beginning. She’s going to do some big things for the Bahamas.”

#The Olympic Games in Paris, France might be a little out of her reach, but Rolle said her aim is to make every national team next year where there is pole vault for women.

#She eventually wants to secure an athletic scholarship to attend college for the pole vault, an event she intends to continue to pursue now that she’s given up competing as a gymnast.

Greg Burrows Sr gets five-year suspension

As of Monday, August 14, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas Baseball Association issued 15 and five-year suspensions respectively to Greg Burrows Jr and Sr for their actions against Curacao’s home plate umpire Edaine Cannister during a medal placement game in the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championships at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium on July 30.

#In the 16-and-under game played between the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, Cannister ejected Burrows Jr as the manager of Team Bahamas for his constant complaint over a head apparel that the Puerto Rican pitcher was wearing,

#After being ejected and refusing to leave the stadium, Burrows Sr, who served as the Babe Ruth League Caribbean commissioner, approached Cannister, along with two other tournament officials, with the view of having Burrows Jr reinstated.

#Cannister, a 60-plus year old tournament umpire with more than 40 years of officiating, refused to reinsert Burrows Jr, who verbally abused Cannister from the sidelines and subsequently attacked the 60-plus year-old visiting official in the umpires’ room after the game.

#After filing a formal complaint with the BBA, a four-member special panel was assembled, consisting of chairmen Tony Scriven, a lawyer, Brian Armbrister, a Bahamian pro scout, Tommy Stubbs, a former player/administrator and Keith Seymour, another lawyer. The panel, in reviewing the accuracy of eyewitnesses’ statements and account of the incidents, provided their recommendations to the BBA, who presented the facts and its final report.

#When contacted, Burrows Sr declined to offer any comments. Burrows Jr was unavailable.

#But BBA secretary general Teddy Sweeting said they did their due diligence

#and came up with what they considered to be an appropriate ruling which has been passed onto the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball and COCABA, the ruling body for baseball in the region under the jurisdiction of the World Baseball Softball Confederation.

#“None of the executives were present at the actual event when the altercations transpired,” Sweeting said. “So what we did was we requested eye witness reports from individuals present.

#“We set up the panel, who reviewed each of the eye witness reports, they reviewed the actions of the individuals accused and they came back to the executives with their findings.”

#Sweeting said they term the action a serious infraction against an umpire, who had water thrown on him and a bottle thrown at him in a restricted area in the umpires’ locker room.

#“These suspensions are only from international baseball and events sanctioned by the Bahamas Baseball Association” Sweeting insisted. “However else he wants to conduct his activities, which is outside of our preview, they can continue.

#“This is not a suspension from the organisation Freedom Farm, in which they are both affiliated. They just won’t be allowed to participate on any international teams or events that come under the jurisdiction of the BBA.”

#• Here’s a look at the report signed by BBA president Sam Rodgers and Sweeting:

#1 Umpire warnings to Bahamas Team Manager

#Cannister issued four warnings to Burrows Jr to stop delaying the game to argue a headband being worn in the game by Puerto Rico’s team pitcher. Greg Burrows Jr claimed that the piece of cloth was distracting to his team players while they were batting.

#Burrows Jr claimed that the umpire asked the pitcher to remove the headband initially but allowed the pitcher to return with it later in the game.

#The umpire made it clear that the headband (a green bandana) was not in violation of the team uniform dress code of the tournament. Hence, the Cannister ejected Burrows Jr in the fourth inning of the game with the Bahamas trailing 4-1.

#2 Game Stoppage

#Burrows Jr refused to leave the playing area after his ejection from the game, resulting in the game being delayed. He accused the umpire of discriminating against The Bahamas.

#Burrows Jr was joined on the playing field to challenge the game umpires by a three-member tournament protest committee – Chavez Thompson, Sean Bain and Burrows Sr, the Babe Ruth Caribbean commissioner.

#Greg Burrows Sr identified himself to Cannister and demanded the reversal of the ejection of Burrows Jr and that Cannister and Robert Coakley be replaced as game umpires.

#1 Game resumes

#Tournament chief umpire Andrew Burrows was called to the stadium to address the game situation. He agreed that Burrows Jr was rightfully ejected from the game and cannot be reinstated to continue managing the Bahamas team and that he must leave the stadium before the game resumes.

#It was decided that for the rest of the game no player would wear headbands or have placed in their back pockets safety protective hand sliding gloves.

#Andrew Burrows was able to convince Cannister and Coakley to return to the playing field to complete the game and promised the umpires no further game interruptions.

#2 Foreign teams demand apology

#Representatives from the two teams playing the next game on the same day – The Netherlands verses Aruba – witnessed the on-field incident and demanded a verbal apology from Burrows Sr for the actions on the field. They got their wish as the tournament games continued to completion.

#3 Threats to the Home Plate Umpire

#Burrows Jr did not leave the stadium. From the spectators’ seating area, he verbally insulted the umpire throughout the remainder of the game and issued physical threats, speaking loud enough for many spectators to hear that he would deal with the umpire after the game.

#Several times during the game, Cannister asked tournament officials to have Burrows Jr removed from the stadium or call the police for assistance to provide protection for his safety.

#Cannister also asked the tournament officials for protection away from Burrows Jr even while he was changing in the locker room after the game. But this did not happen.

#4 Assault of the umpire

#The Bahamas Team lost the game 6-5 and a chance to play for the gold medal in the tournament. After the game, Burrows Jr entered the umpire’s private locker room without permission or invitation.

#Cannister was seated, removing his game protective gear off his body. Burrows Jr uttered insulting remarks with profanity toward the umpire; punches were thrown at the umpire trying to hit him, and water from a bottle was thrown on Cannister and the bottle was thrown in his direction.

#Intervening to reduce escalation of the altercation were four tournament participants – base umpire Robert Coakley, tournament committee member Sean Bain, tournament assistant director Chavez Thompson and Netherlands team manager Eugene Henson.

#Burrows Jr was forcefully removed from the locker room and escorted out of the stadium by Bain.

#BBA Assessment and Decision

#The BBA has the authority to govern domestic and international baseball participation under the WBSC membership whether the BBA grants sanctioning or not.

#The Babe Ruth League is a private youth baseball organisation that can enforce penalties against its members within its organisation.

#The BBA has been in contact with the Babe Ruth leadership on the incident, the formation of the panel and the BBA’s final decision.

#Greg Burrows Jr

#Burrows Jr has been involved in baseball as a player, coach, manager, trainer for more than 25 years. He has also coached or managed teams at tournaments locally and overseas and played baseball at the professional level. He operates a youth baseball academy in the Bahamas.

#He knows the standard rules of the game of baseball for all participants. In his statement, he confirmed there was a verbal exchange and water thrown at the umpire but denied he hit the umpire with a closed-fist punch.

#As the Bahamas team manager, Burrows Jr was responsible for controlling his behaviour and actions of all members of the Bahamas’ team.

#Within the powers and discretion of game officials, Burrows Jr knows Cannister has the authority to eject him or anyone from the game and in the sport of baseball, there is no precedence to be reinstated once ejected.

#The Bahamas team was fortunate – the umpires did not award the game to Puerto Rico when Burrows Jr refused to leave the stadium, which is within the umpire’s discretion.

#After his ejection from the game, Burrows Jr did not leave the playing area within the required timeframe.

#Furthermore, he violated the rules by going into the spectator seating area (the stands) to give game instructions to his team during the remainder of the game competition. This behaviour and his actions in the umpire locker room, is almost unheard of in any sport and should not be condoned.

#Sportsmanship Code of BABE RUTH: “The Sportsmanship Code of Babe Ruth League Develop a strong, clean, healthy body, mind and soul. Develop a strong urge for sportsmanlike conduct. Develop understanding of the respect for the RULES. Develop courage in defeat, tolerance, and modesty in victory. Develop control over EMOTIONS and SPEECH. Develop spirit of cooperation and team play. Develop into real, true CITIZENS. Copyright, 1954 by Babe Ruth League, Inc.”

#Each of the violations by Burrows Jr was premeditated. He had over two hours to cool off and consider the consequences of his actions and behaviour.

#Penalty for Burrows Jr

#Therefore, for his role in these incidents, the BBA is issuing a 15-year suspension to Burrows Jr from all local and international baseball competition in any capacity including and not limited to player, coach, manager, official, executive and organiser in the Bahamas. He can appeal to the BBA for reinstatement after, and not before, 10 years of his suspension.

#Greg Burrows Sr

#The behaviour and participation of Burrows Sr were in clear violations of the standard baseball rules by ordering the reinstatement of an ejected game participant, namely his son Burrows Jr, and the removal of Cannister and Coakley from the middle of a game if they do not reinstate Burrows Jr.

#This is confirmed by both game umpires and umpire Marcellus Hall who was asked by Burrows Sr to replace Cannister but declined until tournament chief umpire Andrew Burrows (no relationship to Greg Sr) advises on the situation.

#Babe Ruth Rules states:

#9.02 (a) Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike of a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach, or substitute shall object to any such judgment decision.

#9.02 (d) NO umpire may be replaced during a game unless he is injured or becomes ill.

#Burrows Sr failed to permit the tournament directors to perform their duties and present a formal complaint to him, as commissioner, to make a ruling.

#As the Babe Ruth League Caribbean commissioner, the role of Burrows Sr is one of ensuring the rules are adhered to, policing the actions and behaviour on the playing field by all participants, managing and providing protection to game officials and spectators.

#Penalty for Greg Burrows Sr

#The BBA is issuing a five-year suspension to Burrows Sr from all local and international baseball competition in any capacity including and not limited to coach, manager, official, executive and organiser in the Bahamas.

#The tournament featured over 200 players comprising of two age divisions – 12u and 16u. The Bahamas won both divisions in 2022.

#Aside from the Bahamas, teams came from the following countries: Netherland Antilles, Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominican Republic, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Puerto Rico, United States and Belize.

#In conclusion, the BBA understands that the foreign umpire is within his rights to file formal charges against any key principles, including the organisers involved for their lack of protection in the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championships.

#The BBA also understands that this is a grave matter that can affect the Bahamas’ tourism product and, in particular, the game of baseball throughout the Bahamas when it comes to hosting any baseball games or sporting events on our soil.

As of Monday, August 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Rampage and Police Crimestoppers kept their early season momentum going this past weekend for the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA).

#With less than one month removed from the young season’s start, the Rampage have put together a three-game winning streak following two weekend wins over the 3-3 (win/loss record) Beat and Teach Clinic Sharks and ninth-seeded Customs Taxmen.

#Additionally, the Crimestoppers handled business against the Police Royals to remain undefeated with a 6-0 record in the league.

#Rampage vs Taxmen

#The Rampage collected their third straight win this past weekend at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

#Their most recent victory came in a double digit 18-point win over the Taxmen. The game was competitive in the opening period between the two government teams with the difference being a mere six points (21-15) after the first period of play.

#However, the second quarter of the game saw the RBDF team widen the gap by 19 points following some impressive play from Oral Rahming.

#He led the team in scoring and rebounds with 19 points with nine rebounds and shot a scorching hot 73% from the field.

#Otis Ferguson Jr chipped in 18 points along with five assists, and got two steals on the defensive end.

#Following the halftime break, the Rampage continued their dominance on offence, jumping out to a 52-28 lead at the 3:28 mark in the third period.

#Ultimately, the Taxmen were unable to stop the Rampage who won 76-58.

#The RBDF squad shot an efficient 57.4% from the field, meanwhile, the

#Taxmen only converted on 35.3% of their field goals. The Rampage also made their opponents pay at the charity stripe, swishing 11 of their 14 free throw attempts on 78.6% shooting. The Taxmen only managed to get to the line five times and only made two of their attempts.

#In their first win of the weekend, the Rampage defeated the Sharks 65-53. Ferguson Jr and Rahming put up 16 points and 14 points apiece, proving to be instrumental for the team once again.

#Bob Hudson, head coach of the Rampage, said the win felt good coming off a back-to-back game against the Sharks while being short-handed due to injuries. “It feels good, the guys played well. We had three guys injured last night but they played through it… Some of the players are off the island so we played short-handed but we came out with the victory for three in a row which is a sign that we are trending in the right direction,” Hudson said.

#Crimestoppers vs Royals

#The undefeated Crimestoppers reeled off their sixth straight win against the Royals in a 25-point drubbing. The 6-0 team demoralised the Royals from the opening tip, running out to a 12-0 unanswered lead in the first quarter. The Royals’ Spurgeon Johnson stopped the bleeding by splitting a pair of free throws at the line but the team was unable to score their first bucket until the 6:28 mark in the game.

#The Crimestoppers held the Royals to single digits in the first period, closing out the quarter leading 28-7.

#Michael ‘Furley’ Bain Jr checked into the game with 8:22 remaining in the second quarter and immediately got to work.

#He drained a quick two-pointer and followed it up with two relatively uncontested layups.

#Bain did not stop there. The guard splashed a three-pointer to push the lead to 45-16. He scored 12 of his 14 points in this period to head into halftime.

#The Crimestoppers got the lead up to as much as 30 points in the second half, and coasted to the win the rest of the way. The team had five players score in double digits and dropped 10 three-pointers in the comfortable win.

#Lavardo Bowleg, head coach of the Crimestoppers, said the team wanted to come out and have fun and show their identity while playing to the best of their abilities. Although the season is still new, he expects the team to get even better along the way.

#Cybots vs BDOC Challengers

#The Bain and Grants Town Cybots routed the Challengers 74-53 in a 21-point win. Things were evenly matched in the initial quarter which closed out 16-14 favouring the Cybots.

#However, in the second period of play, the latter turned up the heat and stretched the lead to 16 points headed into halftime. Despite trailing the majority of the game, the Challengers were able to trim the lead down to nine points (55-46) at the 6:08 mark in the fourth quarter.

#Although the Challengers seemed poised to mount a last-minute comeback, the Cybots held on for the win.

#Wayde Watson, head coach of the Cybots, talked about the importance of pace in the double-digit victory.

#“We were just running our sets because we knew we could beat that team… It wasn’t about running up and down playing fast basketball, we just wanted to get some practice in and get some of our guys acclimated and build chemistry,” the coach said.

#Watson also had a message for the rest of the league.

#“Once we get our chemistry together we should be good. The Bain and Grants Town Cybots will be in the championships guaranteed,” he added.

#The BGDBA basketball games will continue today at 7pm. The Bamboo Shack Patrollers face the Police Royals in game one.

#Additionally, the Challengers will look to avenge this weekend’s loss against the Airport Authority Avengers at 8:30pm.

As of Monday, August 14, 2023

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Dr Kent Bazard

#IN the domain of sports nutrition, one nutrient stands out as a cornerstone of athlete energy management – carbohydrates. These vital macronutrients transcend being mere energy sources; they are the strategic energy reservoirs that power an athlete’s every motion, from sprints to endurance feats.

#As a sports medicine physician and sports nutrition specialist, I work to ensure the athlete understands the integral role of carbohydrates in their nutrition, elucidating their significance and how tailored intake strategies can harmonise with the athletes’ individual goals and training phases.

#Carbohydrates: The Energy Dynamo

#Picture carbohydrates as the premium fuel that powers an athlete’s engine. It is the primary energy source for the body’s cellular processes. When consumed, carbohydrates break down into glucose, a form of sugar that the body efficiently converts into energy. This energy is then readily available to fuel every muscle contraction, every heartbeat and every breath an athlete takes during their rigorous endeavours.

#Athletes rely on these compounds to fuel their muscles during intensive physical exertion. It is essential to recognise that carbohydrates are not just about immediate energy provision; they actively influence endurance, recovery, and overall athletic performance. The unique demands of athletic activities require a continuous supply of energy. Carbs replenish the glycogen stores in muscles and the liver, ensuring that an athlete’s energy reserves remain topped up for high-intensity efforts and endurance feats, whether it’s a sprint, a marathon, or a basketball game. So, no matter how fast your Lamborghini is, without adequate fuel you will essentially go nowhere.

#Aligning Carb Intake with Athlete Goals

#A crucial aspect of carbohydrate utilisation is aligning intake with specific athlete goals. For instance, endurance athletes require sustained energy for extended efforts, necessitating a comprehensive carbohydrate intake plan.

#Conversely, athletes focusing on muscle growth and strength may adopt a cyclical carbohydrate approach to manage energy levels while facilitating muscle recovery and growth.

#Enter the science of periodisation, a key strategy used by sports nutritionists. This technique involves adjusting carbohydrate intake to synchronise with various training phases.

#During periods of intense training, higher carbohydrate consumption ensures fuel availability for demanding workouts and rapid recovery. On the flip side, lighter training phases are accompanied by moderated carbohydrate intake to maintain energy equilibrium and prevent excessive energy storage.

#The Recovery Boost

#The significance of carbohydrates in post-exercise recovery goes beyond the completion of the physical activity. Following strenuous workouts, carbohydrates assume a pivotal role in facilitating the recovery process through a series of intricate physiological mechanisms. During exercise, the body’s glycogen stores, which serve as a readily accessible energy reservoir, are often depleted. This depletion can lead to muscle fatigue and decreased performance. Consuming carbohydrates after exercise initiates a cascade of metabolic reactions. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is transported to muscles and the liver. In the liver, glucose is converted into glycogen and stored for future energy demands.

#This recovery-oriented glycogen replenishment process accelerates the recovery timeline. Swift glycogen restoration translates to reduced muscle soreness and improved muscle function in subsequent training sessions. Moreover, adequate carbohydrate intake post-exercise plays a pivotal role in minimising the risk of overtraining and subsequent burnout.

#In essence, carbohydrates act as the body’s signal for revitalisation. By facilitating rapid glycogen repletion, they not only pave the way for a more efficient recovery but also set the stage for optimal performance in forthcoming training sessions.

#Carb Choices: Quality Matters

#Holy cow this one right here. Not all carbohydrates are created equal! Hunt for complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. These sources provide a sustained release of energy, preventing energy crashes and maintaining a stable blood sugar level. Steer clear of sugary snacks and refined grains that offer short-lived energy spikes followed by crashes. No, its not easy.

#Yes, it will make you even more awesome. As a busy professional parent of an athlete myself, I understand the challenges with time and cost in the selection of quality nutrients.

#I also understand that each athlete’s journey is unique. That’s why we emphasize the importance of personalised nutrition plans that factor in the athlete’s sport, training intensity, and performance goals. It is vital that every athlete harnesses the energy they need to excel in their chosen discipline.

#Recommended Daily Carb Intake

#The ideal daily carbohydrate intake for athletes is a nuanced balance that hinges on factors such as training volume, intensity, and personal physiology.

#As a general guideline, aiming for 6-10 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight per day is recommended.

#For example, a 70 kg (154 lb) athlete might consider an intake of approximately 420-700 grams of carbohydrates daily. It is crucial to underscore the value of collaborating with a skilled nutritionist to determine the optimal range for individual requirements.

#In conclusion, carbohydrates represent the bedrock of athletic accomplishment. As a sports medicine physician, I advocate for embracing carbohydrates as the tactical catalysts of peak performance. With meticulous carbohydrate management and periodised nutritional planning, athletes can surpass barriers, surmount challenges and carve their athletic destiny, one disciplined step at a time.