Home|Sports|Dorsett chosen as tournament director of world qualifierSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJanuary 25, 2023 111 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Founding president of the English-speaking Amateur Softball Confederation (ECASC) and former Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) President Burkett Dorsett, who now sits as a commissioner on World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Technical Commission, has been appointed the Tournament Director for the upcoming WBSC Qualifier/ECASC Championship from February 28 to March 6, 2023 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A total of six teams, including a team from The Bahamas, have confirmed attendance for this event.

Travelling with Dorsett from The Bahamas are former BSF President Ted Miller, a long-time director of ECASC who will be a part of the Technical Unit for the tournament, and ECASC Deputy Director of Umpires Thomas Sears.

Roberto Perez, from Canada, a WSBC commissioner for technical development, is the tournament technical director, and Santos Velesquez, of Puerto Rico, the WBSC director of umpires, will serve as umpire in chief of the regional tournament.

The winner of this tournament will represent ECASC in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador later this year and will also be crowned ECASC Champion.

Aruba is the defending champion and The Bahamas is the runner-up.

The Bahamian trio leaves the country on February 25 and will return March 7. The 2023 CAC Games is set for June 23 to July 8 in Panama City, Panama.

https://thenassauguardian.com/dorsett-chosen-as-tournament-director-of-world-qualifier/

 Home|Sports|McCoy learns a lot at NBA Academy CampSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 25, 2023 126 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian junior women’s basketball player Terrell McCoy experienced a thrilling week in mid-January, taking part in the 2023 NBA Academy Women’s Camp Latin America in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

McCoy returned home over the weekend and spoke about the game and her experience. The camp featured 29 of the top young prospects from 13 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The work was impeccable,” McCoy said. “It was like nothing like I’ve ever done. There were new drills and I met new people,. Our coaches pushed us to work through our barriers even when we were tired. It was definitely an impeccable camp and the best I have ever been to. I’m happy that the NBA (National Basketball Association) chose me to come and I hope I get to go back. I built friendships, I got connections and it’s going to help me to go further to where I want to be.”

The camp was hosted by WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) former and current players and coaches. It offered both basketball instructions and off-the-court workshops on leadership and life skills. The coaching staff included local coaches, current WNBA players Jordin Canada from the Los Angeles Sparks, the Atlanta Dream’s Danielle Robinson, the Washington Mystics’ Ariel Atkins, former WNBA players Carla Cortijo and Taj McWilliams-Franklin, current Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach Cinnamon Lister and FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Americas President Carol Callan.

“It’s almost unreal because you see them on TV and you dream about meeting them and then you’re there and you don’t want to mess up. You think that they’re going to judge and critique you, but no, they were very helpful. The scouts came and talked to us, and asked us questions about ourselves personally to get us to know us on a deeper level,” McCoy said. “They even gave connections, so I now have connections to wherever I want to go when I go to school for college. I have connections with Taj McWilliams-Franklin and people like Callan came up to me. It’s more about getting connections inside the sport, and so I’m happy to know that they helped me to reach that goal.”

When she heard that she was selected to go to the camp, McCoy said she was shocked but filled with joy and excitement. She started to doubt herself but got relaxed after she was at the camp as she was in her element – the basketball court. McCoy reiterated that the instructors at the game taught them more than just on-court skills but also about life.

“One thing that I noticed is that everything they taught us, they related it back to life, such as self-discipline and running up the court, pushing yourself, pushing yourself through life – they related everything more to life. It was not just trying to get us to do better in basketball, but trying to progress us mentally, spiritually as a person, not just a person on the court but a person in life,” McCoy said.

One of the memorable aspects of the camp for the 14-year-old was that her and the campers became close, like sisters, as they formed a bond. Another one of McCoy’s biggest highlights of the camp was meeting former WNBA player and two-time WNBA Champion McWilliams-Franklin.

“She was a post player just like me and now she works for the WNBA. She gave me many connections. She said that when I get to another level, she wants to help me look for NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I (DI) scouts and she’s going to help me further myself in basketball,” McCoy said.

McCoy currently attends Windsor School here in New Providence. Her school does not have a girls basketball team but she said that she will be doing work on her own and she also plays for a local club team, the Elite Ballers.

McCoy was outstanding for The Bahamas in the Centrobasket Under-15 Championship that was held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico in June 2022. The Bahamas lost all of its games but McCoy finished the tournament averaging a double-double at 10.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. She led The Bahamas in both categories. She finished with three double-doubles in the five games that The Bahamas played in while averaging 27.5 minutes per game.

She is also a star in the track and field arena, competing in the throws. She won a bronze medal in the under-17 girls discus at the 2022 CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, and has qualified for this year’s CARIFTA Games.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mccoy-learns-a-lot-at-nba-academy-camp/

 Home|Sports|McCoy, Tigers  win six straightSports

Bahamian records a double-double to help his team win

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 25, 2023 171 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian collegiate basketball player Malachi McCoy and his team, the Benedict College Tigers, are riding a six-game winning streak. The Bahamian forward notched his seventh double-double of the season on Monday night to help them take down Edward Waters University, 89-70.

Playing on the road at the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports and Music Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, McCoy scored 19 points and added 12 rebounds in 36 minutes on the floor. He led the team in both points and rebounds. McCoy was strong from the field, going 9-for-13, to finish the game shooting a sizzling 69.2 percent. He is at 62.2 percent on the season. McCoy was active on the offensive glass, collecting five offensive boards. He got two assists.

It was a tale of two halves for the Tigers and they now sport an 11-7 win/loss record on the season, 9-4 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). They are second in SIAC behind Savannah State University (10-3, 12-5 SIAC).

After going down 47-42 at the end of the first half, the Tigers needed a strong second half to keep their winning streak going. Their defense stepped up in the second half as they held Edward Waters to only five made field goals, outscoring them 47-23.

McCoy, who was named SIAC Player of the Week last week, scored nine points in the first half, keeping the Tigers close to Edward Waters. They finished the first half shooting 40.5 percent.

The teams went back and forth at the start of the second half. McCoy made a jumper with 10:57 left in the second half to give his team a 62-59 lead. From there, it was all Tigers as they outscored Edward Waters 27-11 the rest of the way.

Tavares Oliver led Edward Waters with 20 points in the loss.

In the game, the Tigers had 24 fast break points and 17 second chance points. They scored 22 points from their opponents’ 21 turnovers. The game had six lead changes and two tied scores.

McCoy, a junior, had a great week to start off the new year, going 14-for-17 from the field that week. He led the Tigers with 18 points and 13 

rebounds in a victory against Albany State then had 13 points and four rebounds against Morehouse College.

In 18 games this season, he has started in 14 of them and is averaging 11.6 points, 9.3 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game. All are career highs for him.

The Tigers finish the week with home and away matchups against Savannah State. The first game is an away matchup that gets underway this evening at 7:30 p.m., ending the Tigers’ five-game road trip. That game will be played at the Tiger Arena in Savannah, Georgia. The second game is set for Saturday when they play at home at the HRC Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. That game gets underway at 3 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mccoy-tigers-win-six-straight/

Sloop sailing highlighted in documentary

 Home|Sports|Ayton listed as day-to-day by the SunsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 24, 2023 70 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian big man with the Phoenix Suns DeAndre Ayton remains out of action in the National Basketball Association (NBA), sitting out with what is being termed a non-COVID illness.

Ayton, who is having another strong season for the Suns, missed a couple of games over the weekend, but the Suns were able to win both games and are on a three-game winning streak. At the moment, his status is unclear for the Suns’ next game – on their home floor at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, tonight. The Suns will host Kai Jones and the Charlotte Hornets, but Jones 

remains with the Hornets’ NBA G League team – the Greensboro Swarm where he is averaging 19 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

As for Ayton, he is just a smidgen under what would be his fifth straight season averaging a double-double for the Suns. The Bahamian big man is at 17.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor. It’s his second greatest scoring output of his five-year career, following the 18.2 points he averaged in his second season three years ago.

Ayton isn’t expected to miss significant time. He is listed as day-to-day by the Suns.

Just when all-star point guard Chris Paul returned to the lineup after missing seven games, Ayton went out. Three-time all-star guard Devin Booker remains out with a left groin strain and the Suns have limped to a 24-24 win/loss record this year – tied for seventh in the Western Conference of the NBA. They are nine and a half games behind the Western Conference leading Denver Nuggets.

As for Ayton, his return is expected to be imminent. He has been pretty durable this season, playing in 40 of the Suns’ 48 games.

Ayton, 24, was called upon to play a larger role in the offense in the absence of Booker and Paul and he responded, increasing his production and being more of a team leader on the court. He averaged 18.43 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 14 games that Booker missed and 16.75 points and 10.25 rebounds in four games without Paul. However, the Suns struggled 

collectively as a team, losing six straight at one point, nine out of 10 and 12 out of 14.

They dropped from first in the west to tied for seventh – currently in a play-in spot for the playoffs. Last season, they finished the regular season as the number one seed in the west with a 64-18 record.

 Following the game against the Hornets tonight, the Suns will host Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. That game will tip off at 10 p.m. and will be televised nationally on TNT.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ayton-listed-as-day-to-day-by-the-suns/

Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 24, 2023 67 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Up next in the sport of sloop sailing in the country is the Farmer’s Cay Exuma Regatta in early February. With a focus on the sport, a group of persons came together and created a documentary titled, “How the Main Sail Sets”. It premiered at Fusion Superplex last Wednesday.

The 80-plus-minute documentary comes at a time when the government of The Bahamas is about to declare sailing the national sport, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting. The documentary showcased the work that Bahamian boat builders and sailors put into their craft, showcasing their skills and talent at regatta time.

Chairman and Commodore of the National Family Island Regatta Danny Strachan said he was happy to see a documentary like this surface.

“It means a whole lot,” Strachan said. “The regatta started in 1954 and there’s not been any kind of documentary or historical aspect of what it is all about. So, what we’re doing is we’re cataloguing the history of regattas from 1954 to today, so that is historical from that standpoint, and that’s why we wanted to make this documentary.”

Some of the sailors featured in the documentary include Lloyd Sands from Andros, Hugrie Lloyd, teenager Tanaj Manos and Mark Knowles from Long Island.

Director of the documentary, acclaimed producer/director Charlie ‘Charlie Bahama’ Smith, said it was a collaboration between Strachan and executive producers Fred Munnings and Nadir Hasan. He said he joined them on the journey and wanted to get creative with the film, so viewers could be engaged.

“I think we got creative with it because what I did was – it’s a documentary, so it’s documenting the story, the history of it,” said Smith. “This is why Danny (Strachan) wanted to do it because even the archives, they want this, they want this for posterity to know how this happens, so there’s a lot of history in it. The first part is going back when the Lucayans were here. It is academic but I wanted to make it more academic, so I made sure the beauty of sailing was in there.”

Smith added that the stories from the sailors were interesting, but they could not get all in.

Munnings said they were able to encapsulate not only the history of regattas, which was the most important thing, but the evolution of the development of the Family Islands as well.

“I’m sure that every Bahamian knows that, throughout the years, these work boats were used to connect the islands,” said Munnings. “Whether it was for communication purposes, distribution of food, people being transported back and forth from one settlement to the next, and/or from one island to the next, they were used. So, in addition to just a regatta film, this is really a film over the last 60 years of the development of the people of The Bahamas, particularly in the Family Islands.”

Sweeting, who is featured in the documentary being interviewed and also as a crew member on a boat that was featured in the documentary, commended the team.

“As a ministry, especially during our 50th year, we looked at how does regattas and sailing encapsulate us as a people, whether it’s through sports or through the culture or through land activities,” he said. “What’s so exciting about this is we were able to travel throughout The Bahamas. The team did a wonderful job to ensure that they captured the essence of what sailing and regattas mean not just to the people or the sailors who experience sailing, but also to the people on the ground and the people throughout the Family Islands.”

“How the Main Sail Sets” is in negotiation with circulation and syndication rights organizations for both domestic and international circulation rights. It will be available in domestic and international markets after April 18, 2023. It is being looked at being placed in the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Maine Film Festival and other film festivals. In addition, there is a desire to take the documentary on a school tour.

https://thenassauguardian.com/sloop-sailing-highlighted-in-documentary/

Sports

Bahamian star baseball player said to be intrigued by the move

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 24, 2023 76 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

According to reports, Bahamian superstar baseball player with the Miami Marlins Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr. is intrigued by the move of manning center field this upcoming season.

Chisholm was the Marlins’ every day starter at second base in 2022 and was having a breakout second full season with the team before getting injured. He was voted into Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Game as a starter for the National League but couldn’t play due to injury.

After acquiring reigning American League Batting Champion and All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the Minnesota Twins for Pablo López and a pair of prospects, Marlins’ General Manager Kim Ng announced that Chisholm would be moving from the infield to play center field.

Speed certainly plays a factor as it believed that Chisholm could cover a lot of ground in center field. Chisholm has started at shortstop in the past, but newcomer Jean Segura and Joey Wendle are expected to cover the left side of the infield.

“Jazz is a very unique athlete, very dynamic,” Ng said to Paige Leckie of MLB.com. “He’s got great range, great speed. He’s got a lot of the things that you look for when you’re thinking about center field. We’ve seen how he handles popups, and how he ranges to the ones that are really tough to get to.”

The Marlins traded starting shortstop Miguel Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers in January, leading to questions of whether or not Chisholm would be moved from second to shortstop. He started 31 games at short for the Marlins in 2021, recording 46 putouts and 77 assists in 133 total chances for a fielding percentage of .925. The same season, he had a fielding percentage of .959 at second base. At second base in 2022, Chisholm had 93 putouts and 123 assists in 220 total chances for an impressive fielding percentage of .982. He has excelled at both second base and shortstop, but has been the Marlins’ Opening Day second baseman the past two seasons.

“We’ve talked about this for a while,” Ng said. “We were never necessarily pressed to think about it meaningfully until probably this offseason. So when this particular opportunity [to pick up Arraez] came up – and we had some of these such scenarios going on – it made us think about it harder. [Jazz is] pretty intrigued and interested in this situation as well, so that made it a lot easier.”

Chisholm was sidelined on June 29 last year with lower back spasms, and it was later determined that he had a stress fracture, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Up to that point, he was batting .254 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs (runs batted in) and 39 runs scored. He was among the league leaders among second basemen in several offensive categories and was a pillar of stability defensively for the Marlins. He also had 12 stolen bases, an on-base percentage (OBP) of .325 and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .860.

In 2022, Chisholm was among the best defensive second basemen in the National League, but for the immediate future, he will man center field for the Marlins. Arraez will play second base, and Segura and Wendle will be expected to control the left side of the infield for the Marlins.

“You always want to be better, and between the additions and the health, we’re in a much better situation than we were six months ago,” Ng said of their situation heading into MLB’s Spring Training which gets underway at the end of February for the Marlins.

The Marlins finished with a 69-93 win/loss record in 2022 – 32 games behind the National League East winning Atlanta Braves. It was the Marlins’ 12th losing season in the last 13 years. The only time they finished over .500 during that span was the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020 when they advanced to the postseason for the first time in 17 years.

Last season, 24-year-old Chisholm developed into one of the Marlins’ best players and one of the game’s most exciting young stars. He became the first Bahamian to be selected to an all-star appearance in MLB.

In his first full season in 2019, Chisholm finished with a slash line of .248/.303/.425, with a decent 42 percent hard-hit and nine percent barrel rate.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jazz-moving-to-center-field/

BROTHERS Andru and Andre Arthur share a special moment.

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Andru Arthur, known as the “clean-up batter” for the International Elite Baseball Academy’s travelling team, was the last of four signees of professional contracts during the month of January.

#Arthur, following in the footsteps of his older brother Andre, who signed with the Miami Marlins in 2000, inked his name on a deal with the St Louis Cardinals yesterday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in front of family, friends and members of the I-Elite Baseball Academy, headed by Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright.

#On hand for the ceremony was the Cardinals’ international crosschecker, Damaso Espino, who welcomed Arthur, an outfielder who started out at Freedom Farm, to the St Louis organisation.

#Espino thanked Arthur’s parents, Beulah and Anthony Arthur, for entrusting their son with the Cardinals’ organisation, and I-Elite and their coaching staff, led by Sands and Cartwright, for working them to achieve this day.

#Espino said this is a day to celebrate all of the sacrifices, hard work and dedication that was put in to achieve this feat by Arthur.

#“The Cardinals organisation take pride not only in the quality of our players, but also the quality of their character, the people and the place where they come from,” Espino said.

#“We are very comfortable in the quality of a player and the person we are bringing into the organisation.”

#The 16-year-old Arthur said he knows it will be a long process as he starts his journey in the Dominican Republic, but he’s prepared to continue to work hard to achieve his ultimate goal, which is to play in Major League Baseball.

#“I was very excited. This was a lifelong event that I was waiting for and now it has finally come through,” Arthur said. “I need to work on getting my load back.”

#After watching his brother, Andre, sign his contract, Andru said the goal was to follow suit.

#Andre, in setting the stage in 2020, said now that he’s playing rookie ball, he gets to fulfil his dream and he can inspire his younger brother, Andru, to do the same.

#“I grew up with him, so it was amazing to see him do the same thing that I did,” Andre said. “I’m happy for him and I’m happy for what we achieved together. I’m happy for him as his older brother.”

#As he hopes to see him in the Dominican Republic where they will both be heading for their respective training camps, Andre advised Andru to never give up, but continue to press on.

#“He will need a lot of dedication. He won’t know what will happen, so just be prepared for anything,” stated the 19-year-old Andre, who plays centrefield. “You go in droughts, but just continue the hard work and never waver.”

#Their father, Anthony Arthur, said he was just as proud for Andru as he was for Andre.

#“Before this happened, I though I would just sit down and enjoy life, but I’m overwhelmed by his speech and some of the things he said because I used to get in trouble with my wife for them,” father Arthur said.

#“I would take them to their baseball practice and when we leave practice, they always wanted me to take them to do some extra practice, so we used to get home round 11:30pm and they had school the next day, so my wife used to get mad with me.

#“But I did what they wanted to do.”

#After they both ventured into baseball at Freedom Farm, father Arthur said they both joined I-Elite nd now they bosst of being the first two brothers to sign professional contracts, albeit with two different organisations.

#Like he did when Andre left, father Arthur said his words of encouragement for Andru is simple.

#“The hard work and the sacrifices you made in your early career, you will have to continue that and press even harder because this is just the beginning of the road,” father Arthur said.

#Sands said they will miss Arthur because of the memories he left with them during the time he participated in I-Elite.

#“A lot of folks don’t understand or know how hard it is to be able to sign a professional contract at the age of 16,” Sands said.

#“It’s a every day, non stop, seven days of the week, 360, no holidays, no birthdays, nothing.

#“It’s baseball all the time, mentally and physically,” he pointed out.

#“Your mindset has to be all about your craft and always tell parents, the kids are different when they pursue this career. Here in this country, we really don’t place emphasis on sports, but these young men have shown the Bahamas that is possible and it’s no mistake.

#“If you put in the work and trust the process, you possibly could have a professional career. So my thing is today, Andru displayed that.

#He came into the programme and after taking about a year off, he had to put in the extra work. He has matured as a man.”

#And Cartwright said he was able to witness Arthur’s transition from the time he came into the programme as a shy youngster to taking at least 5-6 months before he started to open up in the absence of his parents. “Andru is a hard working young man. Anytime we went to the United States, he did what it took to get here today,” Cartwright said.

#“Andrew was also laid back. He doesn’t get upset. If he has a good game or a bad game, he’s always the same way.

#“I think that will prepare him when he goes to pro ball and he has to struggle with the ins and outs of professional baseball.”

#Cartwright, however, said they will miss Arthur because he was a leader of the team and as the third or clean up batter, it was only natural that he would be the last one to complete the signing class of 2023.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/clean-batter-signs-cards/?news

Chad Delancey puts on his Boston Red Sox cap as coach Albert Cartwright and Boston’s Bahamian agent, Dominique Collie, look on. Photo by Trevere Saunders.

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#DOMINIQUE Collie felt he could not have signed a more deserving player to the Boston Red Sox than International Elite Baseball Academy’s shortstop Chad Delancey.

#In his first official duty as a Bahamian agent for Boston, Collie signed Delancey to his official Red Sox contract on Saturday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in front of family members, friends and members of the I-Elite progamme.

#Delancey, better known at I-Elite as ‘the Big C’ or the ‘philosopher,’ said he can now fulfil his childhood dream, which came at the age of five, to play professional baseball.

#“When I was 12 years old when I joined the programme, I knew that I could do it,” 16-year-old Delancey said.

#Now that he’s on his way, Delancey said he hope that he can meet up with the right people, who can help him advance his journey and get to connect with the different people from around the world with the different cultures that he’s never experienced before.

#“Ultimately, I want to be the same person that I am and hopefully I can inspire more young people to do the same thing that I am doing,” he said.

#“This is something that is achievable if you work hard.

#“It wasn’t enough for me, but if you put your trust in God and trust the process that you have to go through, anything is possible.”

#Delancey’s signing came a day before Andru Arthur signed his name on the dotted line for his contract with the St Louis Cardinals yesterday at the same venue.

#Collie is a former player who didn’t continue on the field, but stuck with it off the field and is now a respected scout in Boston. He welcomed Delancey to the Rod Sox organisation. He said they are looking forward to some great things as they head off to their training camp in the Dominican Republic.

#“It’s not what he does on the field, but the type of person that he is off the field,” Collie said. “I think both of those ingredients will help him to succeed as a professional baseball player. And so I want to thank Mr and Mrs Bannister for entrusting your child with the Boston Red Sox and for me to sign him as my first Bahamian player as a scout from the Bahamas.”

#His mother, Deisha Bannister, said she and her husband, Colin Bannister, are in awe of Delancey’s accomplishment and they believe in the Red Sox organisation to get the best out of their son as they venture into the pro ranks. “This is a surreal moment for me,” she said. “Chad has always known what he wanted to do and so I’m just proud that I am able to support him and he can actually realise and accomplish his dream today.”

#With a village helping to raise her son, Bannister said she’s grateful for all those who assisted in anyway to get him to achieve his accomplishment today.

#“I’m thankful for the mentors who were put in his life,” she said.

#And as he prepares to leave her nest and embark on his pro career, she had this bit of advice for her son. “Character is who you are when no one is watching,” she stated. “With God, all things are possible, so put God first and he will do the rest.”

#Having done what they had to do, Sands said I-Elite is delighted to put Delancey, a smart, determined and mature baseball player into the hands of the Red Sox.

#“The first time I saw Chad, I was at JBLN and my eyes caught the way he played. He kind of reminded me of Lucius Fox when he played around 9-10 years,” Sands said. “That was what caught my eyes there.

#“So I decided to keep my eyes on him. Fast forward to a couple years later, I saw him again and I told him that he needed to get bigger because he was a little too small. He would have two breakfast and then he was looking for lunch. That’s the determination and dedication that he did to get to this level.”

#Cartwright said when Delancey came into I-Elite, he felt he was too small and he wasn’t convinced that he would grow to the size that would enable him to play at the pro level.

#“But he put a lot more work in than most of the other guys,” Cartwright said. “He put his trust in the coaches and today he’s reaping his reward. We’re so happy for him and I’m so proud of him because he really put in the work to get here today.”

#Steven Curtis, according to Cartwright, was the coach who introduced Delancey to I-Elite and looking at his progress, they made the right choice in making him a part of their organisation because he did all of the things necessary to make it as a pro player.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/big-c-delancey-goes-red-sox/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ALTHOUGH she competed in a younger age group, Grace Komolafe emerged as the lone qualifier for the 2023 Golden Jubilee CARIFTA Games at the DTSP Wolfpack Track and Field meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

#Komolafe, competing in the under-15 girls’ division, matched the under-17 girls high jump qualifying standard of 5-feet, 1¾-inches or 1.57 metres with her victory over her Xtreme Athletics’ team-mate Tahlia Ferguson, who did 4-4 (1.32m).

#Paris Rolle of Leap of Faith was the only competitor in the under-17 girls division. She cleared 4-6 (1.37m), but it was shy of the qualifying standard.

Chase’Y Nelson (578) and Azalia Henderson (336) leading the turn in the girls under-13 200m. Photo by Patrick Hanna.

#The one-day meet, held in honour of former coach, educator and politician Neville Wisdom, saw at least one big match-up at the elite level with Indiana graduate Jyles Etienne going head-to-head with his new Leap of Faith team-mate Ryan Ingraham in the men’s high jump.

#Etienne, back home and preparing for his first season as a professional athlete, only cleared 6-6 ¾ (2.0m), but it was good enough to snatch the victory over Ingraham, who did 6-0 3/4 (1.85m).

#Jaidyn Brown of the University of the Bahamas got third with 5-10 ¾ (1.80m).

#“It was my first full approach meet for the year,” Etienne said. “It wasn’t horrible, but I’m trying to get better than that. It was alright.”

#Etienne, however, said he was delighted to have Ingraham competing with him, not only in men’s, but in practice as they push each other. As the season progresses, Etienne said he expects that they both will continue to challenge each other.

#Competing for the first time since he went down with an injury last March, Ingraham said he felt like he’s getting back to his competitive days and with Etienne around, he feels he will be more motivated to compete at a higher level.

#“I’ve been jumping back in practice, so it’s just about getting back into the competitive frame of mind,” Ingraham said. “I like when all of the high jumpers are home and competing, especially at nationals. But Jyles will help me to push myself higher.”

#The 29-year-old Ingraham said his goal is to win the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals in June and eventually get a chance to compete at the World Championships in August in Budapest, Hungary.

#On the other hand, Etienne, 23, said the goal is to get prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

#Except for that showdown, the meet had some interesting results posted.

#In the girls under-7 division, Erin Strachan of Kids Athletics emerged as the double sprint champion, taking the 100m 50m in 10.37 and the 80m in 16.17. Munroe Riley of Xtreme Athletics got second in both in 10.93 and 16.71, while her team-mate Sta-Viah Brown was third in 10.98 and 17.01.

#Leslie Munnings of Kids Athletics also got a double dose of victory in the boys under-7 sprints, taking the 50m in 10.34 and the 80m in 15.25. Valdez Godet of Hurry Murray was second in both in 11.06 and 15.36.

#But while Malachi Williams of Xtreme Athletics was third in the 50m in 11.33 and fourth in the 80m in 17.46, Rashard Hanna of Beginners Track’s got third in the 8-0m in 17.01 and fourth in the 50m in 11.45.

#Christovia Moss of Beginners Track also doubled up in the girls under-9 sprints, running to victory in the 50m in 8.88 and the 80m in 13.48. Claylin Johnson of Kids Athletics got second in the 50m in 9.30 and third in the 80m in 13.92. Monae Miller of Unique Athletics was second in the 80m in 13.81 and third in the 50m in 9.43.

Gee Sene (190) and Bryson Rolle (500) compete in the boys under-17 800m. Photo by Patrick Hanna.

#And in the boys under-9 events, Nathan Smith of 3PA Stallions won the 50m in 8.46 and the 80m in 12.56. Daython Ingraham of Swift Athletics was second in the 50m in 8.52 and A’Ky Wilson of Kids Athletics was third in 8.78. Ingraham was also second in 12.99 and Caiden Bain of Hurry Murray was third in 13.42.

#The girls under-11 division saw Tanaz Davis of Unique Athletics take the 100m in 1.05 and the 200m in 30.96. Jaelyn Munroe of DTSP Wolfpack was second in 15.30 and Kian Duncombe of St. Francis/Joseph was third in 16.07. Davis was second in the 200m 32.94, Rayven Munroe of Xtreme Athletics was third in 33.76, and Duncombe got fourth in 34.36.

#The boys under-11 events were divided with George Brown of Swift Athletics winning the 100m in 14 with Jayden Jones of Unique Athletics second in 15.07 and Stafford Sweeting of Hurry Murray third in 15.19. Aiden Knowles of Xtreme Athletics won the 200m in 15.29, Ronald Simon of Beginners Track was second in 15.29 and Vincent Johnson Jr of Jumpers Inc third in 15.39.

#The girls under-13 division also saw a split as Brianna Bootle of 3PA Stallions take the 200m in 26.67 -with Rocelis Moxey of Swift Athletics third in 27.99. In the 400m, Symiah Strachan of Boost Athletics won in 1:03.73, Bootle, Brianna was second in 1:07.35 and Chyanne Hepburn of Roadrunners third in 1:07.42.

#In the boys under-13, Justin Shepherd of Swift Athletics won the 200m in 26.85, Ayden Russell of Unique Athletes was second in 27.03 and Jacob Pickstock of Swift Athletics was third in 27.41. Patreco Sherman of Red-Line Athletics won the 400m in 1:07.46, Jayden Ferguson of 3PA Stallions was second in 1:10.15 and Nipsey Jones of Kids Athletics was third in 1:12.79.

#Brion Ward of DTSP Wolfpack won the under-15 girls 100m in 13.25, Deryn Rodgers of Star Trackers was second in 13.35 and Keely Deveaux of the T-Bird Flyers was third in 13.40. Sarsha Wright of Team Velocity won the girls under-15 200m in 26.11, Nataya Watson, her team-mate, was second in 26.88 and Ward got third in 27.15.

#Jasmine Thompson of the Roadrunners won the 400m in 1:01.36 with Wright in 1:02.49 and Jade Knowles of DTSP Wolfpack third in 1:02.99. Breyteisha Kemp of Hurry Murray, who was fourth in 1:03.16, won the 1,500n in 5:50.35, Shimoi Bain of Hurry Murray was second in 6:21.40 and Rishan Belle of the Roadrunners was third in 6:28.64.

#In the boys under-15 division, Terrin Beckles of Quick Step won the 100m in 12.23, Rohman Rolle of Fast Forward was second in 12.28 and Jayden Smith, also from Fast Forward, was third in 12.75. In the 200m, Beckles won again in 24.41, Rolle was second in 24.55 and Kamron Henfield of Team Velocity was third in 24.66. Henfield Kamron won the 400m in 55.99 over Tyreik Colebrook of Swift Athletics (56.47) and Rion Larrimore of Hurry Murray (57.80).

#Winning the under-17 girls 100m was Shekinah Johnson of Spirit of Excellence in 12.75 with Khylee Wallace of Quick Step second (13.11) and Iesha Hanna of Roadrunners third (13.17).

#In the 200m, Jamiah Nabbie of Fast Forward won in 25.26, Shayann Demeritte of Swift Athletics second (25.99) and Johnson third (26.57).

#Tamia Taylor of Roadrunners won the 400m in 58.56, Brey’Elle Cooper of DTSP Wolfpack second (1:01.83) and Evanice Sands of DTSP Wolfpack third (1:04.29). And in the 800m, Yulianis Akompi of Quick Step won in 2:29.46, Jayda Rahming of Core Athletics second (2:32.53) and Alexis Roberts of Team Roberts third (2:35.66).

#On the field, Zion Carey of Star Trackers won the long jump with 4.67m; Zoe Adderley of Fast Forward took the triple jump with 11.04m; Terrell McCoy of Triple Threat tossed the shot put 12.17m and Chea’Lisa Knowles of Air Assaults hurled the javelin 15.00m.

#Andrew Brown, competing nonattached, clocked 11.01 to take the under-17 boys 10m; Davon Davis of T Bird Flyers was second in 12.49 and Trent Ford of Roadrunners was third in 11.20. Brown also captured the 200m (22.91) with Everette Fraser of Fast Forward second (23.38) and Rolinny Labranche of Swift Athletics third (23.41).

#In the 400m, Bryson Rolle of T Bird Flyers won in 52.89, Zion Davis of Fast Forward second (52.97) and Jayden Cooper of Speed Capacity third (53.70). Winning the 800m was Zion Davis of Fast Forward (2:07.62), Christopher Minors of T Bird Flyers second (2:14.00) and Rolle Bryson third (2:14.59). Ross Martin of Hurry Murray won the 1,500m (4:47.36), Minors was second (4:55.36) and Gabriel Johnson of Hurry Murray third (5:20.90).

#J’Lin Roberts of Jumpers Inc cleared 5.38m in the long jump; Cooper took the triple jump (12.11m); Jaylen Scott of Blue Chip won the shot put (13.82m); Larouche Morley of Triple Threat took the discus (31.34m) and Ashton Morley of Air Assaults threw the javelin 38.41m.

#Dana Rolle of Roadrunners took the under-20 boys 110 metre hurdles in 15.46 with Jon-Mark Smikle of Quick steps second (15.50) with his brother and team-mate Jehiel Smikle of Quick Step third (16.19).

#In the women’s under-20/ open division, triple jumper Tamara Myers of Leap of Faith showed her versatility and speed by winning the 100m in 12.6; Melvinique Newbold of T Bird Flyers won the 200m (25.60) and the 400m (1:00.20); Jasmine Mackey of 3PA Stallions took the 800m (2:31.16) Kaiya Cambridge of Power Athletics won the 100m hurdles (16.02).

#In field events, Lanique Thompson of Jumpers Inc took the long jump (5.19m); Koi Adderley of Fast Forward won the high jump (1.55m); Apryl Adderley of PVS Sports took the triple jump (11.31m); Annae Mackey of Blue Chip took the shot put (12.46m); Cailyn Johnson of Triple Threat took the discus (37.95m) and Kamera Strachan of Air Assaults won the javelin (39.76m).

#The under-20/open men’s 100m was won by Samalie Farrington of Swift Athletics (10.68) with Jeremiah Adderley of DTSP Wolfpack second (10.76) and Taryll Thompson of Fast Forward third (10.92). Adderley came back and won the 200m (21.89) with Thompson second (22.36) and Matthew Chandler of Fast Forward third (22.56).

#In the 400m, Philip Gray of DTSP Wolfpack won (48.90), Quinton Ellis of Phoenix Track was second (49.33) and Berkley Munnings of Fast Forward third (50.54). Levinne Joseph of University of the Bahamas won (1:56.16) with Kenzie Knowles of Swift Athletics second (1:57.66) and Raywind Winder of Hurry Murray was third (2:01.94).

#Winning the 1,500 metres was Christopher Saintus of Swift Athletics (4:20.30) with Paulindo Boyer of Swift Athletics second (4:20.86) and Jean Dorelien of T Bird Flyers third (4:53.11). Kenold Jen of the University of the Bahamas won the 3,000m (10:40.74) with Hurry Murray’s Nathan Johnson second (10:46.09) and Ross Martin third (11:00.69).

#And also in field events, Grand Bahamian Dimarco Oliver of Tabernacle Baptist Academy won the long jump (6.44m) with Corey Wright of Bahamas Speed Dynamics second (6.26m) and Jahlandon Wilson of Noble Preparator third (86m). Rollie Hanna of Jumpers Inc took the triple jump (13.94m) and Robert Deal Jr of Air Assaults won the javelin (45.70m) with Lavardo Deveaux of Bahamas Speed Dynamics second (45.46m) and A’Jai Culmer of Air Assaults third (29.36).

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/grace-komolafe-qualifies-carifta-high-jump/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#THE Bahamas International Tennis Club’s 2023 Doubles Championships came to a close on Friday at the Nassau Lawn Tennis Club with the United States of America’s Robins team beating the USA Bluebirds 3-2 to take the top spot.

#The Robins ended the week-long tournament with a perfect 4-0 win-loss record. The loss was the first for the Bluebirds, who ended up 3-1.

#While Barbados finished third at 2-2, the International Team stunned the Bahamas 3-2 to clinch the fourth spot. The International team, comprising of players from different countries in the Bahamas, was 1-3 and the Bahamas was winless at 0-4.

#“This has been a fantastic week of tennis played to a high standard with great camaraderie and sportsmanship,” said USA IC president Robb Bunnen. “The Bahamas have been wonderful hosts and I know all our team will want to return to The Bahamas again for any future events. We go back to the USA as proud winners with fond memories including many renewed friendships and also with new ones created in the tennis world.”

#This was the fifth bi-annual event that is designed around top senior players from forty International Tennis Clubs (IC) around the world.

#Each inter-country match had two men’s doubles, two mixed doubles and ladies doubles in various age combinations. The event was sponsored by Winterbotham Trust.

#The Bahamas, captained by Neil Mactaggart, had on its team John Antonas, former Davis Cup and top Caribbean player plus Susan Kimball the ITF World number one ranked lady in the 75+ age category last year. Kimball had been a maths teacher for many years in The Bahamas and has kept up contact with The Bahamas tennis world since leaving and returns often.

#Despite these strong players The Bahamas, while winning several individual matches, unfortunately, did not quite get an overall team victory.

#“Although losing our overall matches the team enjoyed some great competition. It was good to once again be competing with strong players, many we have known through years of tennis,” Mactaggart said.

#“With most of the competitors in the 40 to 70 age groups it confirmed tennis is a game for life.”

#Bahamas IC president, Kit Spencer, who as a former British tennis player, played on the International team that beat the Bahamas.

#“With a wonderful week of weather there has not only been some great competitive tennis but I think we have been able to showcase The Bahamas to our visiting teams,” Spencer said. “The matches were played at the historic Nassau Lawn Tennis Club, first established in 1880. It is one of the very oldest tennis clubs in the whole Americas region and the same age as Wimbledon.”

#At the final night presentation dinner, the players were treated to a Bahamian menu with the Curb side Rockers “Rake and Scrape” duo playing the steel drum and saw.

#“This gave a taste of some Bahamian culture which delighted our USA teams and had our fellow Caribbean team from Barbados joining in,” Spencer said.

#He also thanked was local sponsor Winterbotham Trust for their continued support of this and other tennis events such as the recent IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge that The Bahamas also hosted.

#USA Robins 3,

#USA Bluebirds 2:

#Men’s 105+ doubles – Jeff Clark/Jeff Snow (Robins) def. Shirish Deshpande/ Steve Moehn (Bluebirds) 7-6(5), 6-2.

#Women’s 105+ doubles – USA Robins def. USA Bluebirds w/o.

#Men’s 125+ Bob Beverley/John Chatlak (Bluebirds) def. Robb Bunnen/Rob Castorri (Robins) 6-2, 6-4.

#Mixed 105+ doubles – Steve Moehn/Shana Magruder (Bluebirds) def. Jeff Clark/Ann Clark (Robins) 3-6, 6-2, 10-7.

#Mixed 120+ doubles – Rob Castorri/Margaret Lumia (Robins). def. Bob Beverley/Kay Beverley (Bluebirds) 6-0, 6-1.

#International Team 3,

#Bahamas 2:

#Men’s 105+ doubles – Cory Francis/Alex Murbach (INT) def. Neil Mactaggart/Livio Bisterzo (BAH) 6-1, 6-4.

#Women’s 105+ doubles – Sarah Beukes/Sue Kimball (BAH) def. Adelgisa Hillhouse-Banks/Dale Kozicz (INT) 6-1, 6-2.

#Men’s 125+ doubles – Kit Spencer/Gerry Kanuka (INT) def. John Antonas/ Alejandro Mesples (BAH) 7-5, 6-7(5), 10-7.

#Mixed 105+ doubles – Alex Murbach/Dale Kozicz (INT) def. Neil Mactaggart/Sarah Beukes (BAH) 6-4, 6-4.

#Mixed 120+ doubles – Ivan Hooper/Sue Kimball (BAH) def. Cory Francis/ Adelgisa Hillhouse-Banks (INT) 6-2, 6-4.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/ic-tennis-doubles-usas-robins-team-takes-top-spot/?news