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SportsNorthern Bahamas crowns new volleyball champions 

The Nassau Guardian Send an email

December 7, 2022 156 1 minute read

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The 1st Northern Bahamas High School Volleyball Championships, staged by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training, wrapped up over the weekend at the St. George’s High School Gymnasium in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The three-day event was organized by the Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association (GBSSAA).

In the senior boys championship match, the Agape Christian Eagles out of Abaco defeated the Sunland Baptist Academy Stingers in three sets, winning 15-21, 22-20 and 15-9.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the boys tournament was Jason Williams and the Coach of the Tournament was Stephen Johnson, both from Agape. Agape is the Abaco island champion and Sunland Baptist is the Grand Bahama champion.

In the girls championship game, the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons took down the Eight Mile Rock Blue Jays in three sets. The Falcons won 21-14, 18-21 and 15-13.

The MVP of the girls tournament was Khanna Hanchel and the Coach of the Tournament was Salaka Williams from Tabernacle.

The Jack Hayward High Wildcats finished third in the boys division and the Lucayan International School Buccaneers ended up third in the girls division.

The three-day tournament started on Thursday and wrapped up on Saturday.

Following the tournament the Ozzie ‘The Insider’ Simmons top six rankings for the Northern Bahamas were released.

Coming in at number one in the boys division is the Agape Christian Eagles. They are followed by Sunland at number two, Jack Hayward High at number three, Tabernacle fourth, St. George’s at number five and the PJ Bethel High School Marlins out of Abaco at number six.

Tabernacle is number one for the girls, Eight Mile Rock is second, the Lucayan International School Buccaneers are third, PJ Bethel is fourth, Sunland Baptist is at number five, and the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors is at number six.

Next up on the Northern Bahamas high school sports calendar is basketball in all four divisions – junior boys and girls and senior boys and girls. The dates and venues will be announced later.

https://thenassauguardian.com/northern-bahamas-crowns-new-volleyball-champions/

 Home|Sports|Curaçao beats The BahamasSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 6, 2022 139 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A furious rally by Team Bahamas came up just short on Monday night, as they fell to the defending champions Curaçao on the second day of the 4th Annual COCABE (Caribbean Baseball Confederation) Caribbean Baseball Cup, currently taking place at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.

The host nation lost, 12-10, dropping to one win and one loss in the week-long tournament. The Bahamas team is off today and will face Cuba tomorrow.

The Bahamas fell behind 10-0 early in the game, but certainly didn’t go away quietly as they rallied behind a six-run fifth inning and a three-run eighth inning. They had the tying runs on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn’t complete what would have been an historic comeback.

The crowd came alive late in the game, hoping The Bahamas could complete the comeback attempt, but Curaçao closer Risandro Pastor struck out Ural Forbes II with a runner at second to end the eighth and then sealed the deal when he got Toby Simmons swinging with a runner at first to end the game.

“We fought hard. We went down early but we didn’t give up. It shows the character of our team,” said Team Bahamas’ Head Coach Geron Sands last night. “There were a couple of mental mistakes that caused us, but I like the fight in the team. We’re going to be better because of a loss like this. The plan is to learn from this, come back and play better in the next game. That’s all we could do.”

Curaçao came out swinging, taking a 4-0 lead after the first inning and extending it to 9-0 after two. They scored another run in the bottom of the third and it looked like The Bahamas’ night would be over early due to the international mercy rule. The home team finally came alive offensively in the top of the fifth.

Four singles, three hit batters and two walks led to a huge top of the fifth inning for The Bahamas. Forbes, Kristin Munroe and Adari Grant all had RBI (runs batted in) hits for The Bahamas in the top of the fifth. They plated six to trail 10-6 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Still, it felt like a missed opportunity for The Bahamas, as a couple of mental errors might have caused them a couple of runs. Munroe was coming around third on a single from Grant, but was tagged out as he stopped in his tracks instead of continuing to home plate. The ball was thrown to third instead of going home and Munroe was tagged out. Moments later, Grant left too early from first base, and instead of delivering a pitch, Curaçao pitcher Témesh Lourens stepped off and got Grant at second to end The Bahamas’ inning.

Meanwhile, Team Bahamas pitcher Yeshua Saint came on in relief and was wheeling and dealing. He pitched six innings of three-hit ball for The Bahamas, enabling the host team to make a comeback. Curaçao scored just two runs after the third inning.

“Yeshua Saint came in and did his thing. He was ready and he picked us up at time when we really needed him to,” said Sands. “Starting pitching struggled for us tonight, but that’s a part of the game. There are a lot of positive things that we can take from this game. This is a team that keeps fighting and I think that bodes well for us for the rest of the tournament. We will continue to fight,” he added.

After Curaçao got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth, The Bahamas plated three more in the top of the eighth to pull within 11-9.

Robin Haven suffered the loss for The Bahamas, failing to get out of the first inning. He gave up two hits, four walks and four runs. Derrinyj Russell lasted just a third of an inning for The Bahamas, giving up two hits, three walks and five runs. Saint went the next six innings for The Bahamas. D’Vaughn Knowles pitched the bottom of the eighth for The Bahamas and retired three of the four batters he faced. The only one he didn’t, Raysheandell Miche, produced the first home run in the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, instantly becoming the subject of a trivia question going forward.

Miche’s solo shot in the bottom of the eighth gave Curaçao a three-run lead, 12-9. The Bahamas completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Grant in the top of the ninth.

Lourens recorded the win for Curaçao and Pastor picked up the save.

For The Bahamas, Warren Saunders finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Grant was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Lead-off batter D’Shawn Knowles, clean-up batter Forbes, Munroe and pinch hitter Jay Knowles added a hit each for The Bahamas.

Raywendley Van Gurp finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Curaçao. Clean-up batter Dudley Leonora was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and four batters including Miche had a hit each for Curaçao. They will play the US Virgin Islands (USVI) today.

In the early game on Monday, Cuba shut out the USVI, 9-0.

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

The Bahamas is off today and will face Cuba tomorrow.

https://thenassauguardian.com/curacao-beats-the-bahamas/

 Home|Sports|Huge task ahead for next track administrationSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 6, 2022 167 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The new administration of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) certainly has its work cut out for them as this is expected to be a busy four-year period in track and field in the country.

On tap for next year alone is the 50th CARIFTA Games, the Bahamas Games and a number of local high school and club meets. In 2024, the World Relay Championships is set to return to The Bahamas, and going forward through 2026 will be two world outdoor championships, three world indoor championships and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

For now, the focus is on the 2022-2023 season, which will climax with the 50th CARIFTA Games right here in Nassau, The Bahamas, for junior track and field athletes. CARIFTA will be hosted at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend, April 8-10, 2023.

BAAA President Drumeco Archer said one of their goals is to engage the community more, and induce more youth participation and more fan participation in track and field.

“We’re looking for a federation that is a part of the community, so fan participation is going to be a huge focus for us,” he said. “The catalyst for the major initiatives that we have planned for for 2023 will no doubt be the 50th anniversary of the CARIFTA Games coupled with the 50th anniversary of our country.

“We will use that to maximize the profile and the presence of our federation. This is a brand new administrative team, but although they are new, many of them have been in similar roles before, so the acumen of their respective roles is at the highest level. The mandate that we will have for the next four years will be one that will put us at the very top of administrative history of our federation.”

Serving as the first vice president is Foster Dorsett. John Ingraham is the new second vice president. The vice president of finance is Laketah Charlton; the vice president of public relations and marketing position is this paper’s journalist Sheldon Longley; Pharez Cooper, from Grand Bahama, is the new vice president of business operations; and Tito Moss is the new vice president of technical operations.

Elected to the council positions for the BAAA for the next four-year term are Jason Edwards, who will serve as the council chairman; Dionne Britton, Mikhilo Strachan, Andrew Tynes, Kennard Mackey, Jason Larrimore and Robert Ayton.

For this CARIFTA year alone, the budget for track and field in the country is reported to be around $3 million. Oaktree Medical Center came on board as the title sponsor of the 50th CARIFTA Games, donating $300,000.

Archer said more funding is a primary concern and focus of this new administration.

“I think we need to open our mouths more and speak more clearly about why we need funding. The federation continues to live at a subsistent level,” said Archer. “If the country wants us to do more, and to produce more, then we certainly would need more from the country. I am indebted to the government of The Bahamas for being such a champion for us, together with the Bahamas Olympic Committee. I believe the corporate community could do a whole lot more. I believe it starts with the alignment of what we are in our core values and to align that with corporate Bahamas.

“I believe that what we do as an organization is far more than just track and field and with the alignment with the healthcare profession, there is limitless benefits – from telecommunications, from finance and many more. We will aggressively be targeting those entities. The numbers we are looking for cannot be solely dependent on corporate Bahamas. We are looking at the mom and pop stores because they are the ones who are a part of the grassroot movement of our sport. The smaller pennies are the ones that accumulate the most money. We want everyone to be on board and we are excited about four years from now.”

The 2024 world relays is expected to be one of the more anticipated events that year. The country, in general, has longed for a return of the world relays ever since it left in 2017. The first three editions of the event were held in The Bahamas, in 2014, 2015 and again in 2017.

“This board has an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Archer. “We were the pioneers of the world relays – hosting it for three successive editions. It has returned and I think the world is looking forward to coming back to The Bahamas. Our task is to recreate this event and make it more grand than before as we continue to re-engineer how we see and how we experience track and field. Also, during this term, we will witness 50 years of existence and success as a country and 50 years of CARIFTA legacy. We are excited to be history makers and we are excited to be hosting the region.”

Archer said coaching and athlete development go hand in hand, and that is another area that the new administration intends to address in this four-year period.

“At the end of the last term, there was a focus on coaching development and athlete development through a talent search. It is one of the huge undertakings of this federation,” said Archer. “We believe that as we grow, the training acumen and technology that we will introduce to our sport, we believe that we will attract more people to remain and train here in The Bahamas. Even if we have to bring in specialists, we will do that. We want to be able to grow the sport from home and be able to say that we produce the best athletes in the world from right here in The Bahamas. Our focus is to produce the best athletes in the world and, without the coaches, that is for naught. So, we appreciate the role of the coaches association and we intend to engage with them more and more on a regular basis to produce the desired results.”

Archer said he is grateful to the track and field community for their confidence in him and this new team, and looks forward to the next four years of track and field in The Bahamas.

The first meet on the BAAA calendar for the 2022-2023 season is the Odd Distance Track and Field Meet, set for Saturday, December 17.

https://thenassauguardian.com/huge-task-ahead-for-next-track-administration/

 Home|Sports|Mingoes start slow, fall to RocketsSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailDecember 6, 2022 98 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas’ (UB) men’s basketball team fell to the Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets, taking far less shots in their New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) game on Saturday night at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium. That proved to be the Mingoes’ downfall as they fell 104-60.

The Mingoes shot 40 percent from the field (26-for-61) and hit just one of five three-point attempts compared to the Rockets shooting 39-for-91 (42 percent) and 10-for-39 (25 percent) from three-point range.

Timothy Grant led the Mingoes with 15 points and Erquantae Edgecombe scored 10 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Justin Burrows pulled down 12 rebounds for UB.

For the Rockets, Roosevelt Whylly and Able Joseph each scored 24 points in the win.

Both teams had 55 rebounds on the night and had about the same amount of points in the paint – UB with 46 compared to the Rockets’ 54.

The Rockets were able to capitalize on the Mingoes’ 42 turnovers on the night, scoring 45 points off those turnovers. The Rockets had 17 turnovers on the night.

UB Head Coach Bacchus Rolle said the turnover difference was the story of the game.

“We just had too many turnovers,” he said. “It’s difficult to win a game with 42 turnovers but we showed that we had some conditioning and could get up and down with these other teams. We just didn’t have the finish. Finishing around the rim was hard for us.”

The Mingoes are expected to play the TMT Giants in their next game which will be this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the A.F. Adderley Gym.

TEAM Bahamas (national baseball team) opened the new Andre Rodgers National Stadium and the Caribbean Cup on a winning note with a 4-3 win over the US Virgin Islands last night.

As of Monday, December 5, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Team Bahamas opened the new Andre Rodgers National Stadium and the 2022 Caribbean Cup on a winning note.

#Toby Simmons’ sacrifice fly to score Kristin Munroe in the bottom of the eighth inning was the go ahead for a 4-3 win over the US Virgin Islands last night.

#Evan Sweeting was the winning pitcher after he struck out two in relief in the eighth while McKell Bethel got the save with two strikeouts in the ninth.

#The Bahamas’ bullpen accounted for 12 strikeouts and gave up six hits en route to the win.

#Brandon Russell got the start and finished with five strikeouts through five innings followed by Travvis Ferguson who had three strikeouts through two.

#Simmons finished 1-3 with an RBI, Hanna was 1-3 with an RBI and scored a run, Adari Grant was 1-4 and Ural Forbes went 1-4.

#After a scoreless first inning, The Bahamas got on the scoreboard in the second inning.

#After Hanna and Cherif Neymour both drew walks, Neymour stole second and forced a wild throw from USVI catcher Conroy Samuel that sailed over the head of shortstop Zayd Branningan.

#Hanna scored on the play to take a 1-0 lead.

#Russell struck out two of the three batters he faced in the third to keep the lead for The Bahamas.

#Forbes’ single led off the third for The Bahamas.

#With two outs and the bases loaded, Simmons struck out to end the inning and the team left runners on base for the second time in as many innings.

#The USVI got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Taj Bates’ fly ball landed just beyond the reach of a diving Simmons to score Kelani Luke.

#USVI would tack on another run in the sixth inning to take their first lead of the game, 2-1.

#Simmons opened the bottom half of the seventh when he ripped a double down the right field line.

#Warren Saunders hit into fielders’ choice with runners at second and third and the potential game-tying run cut down at the plate. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hanna singled down the right field line to score Moss and Saunders and give the Bahamas a 3-2 lead.

#In the eighth, Sweeting entered the game with no outs and runners on first and second. He eventually struck out two of the next three he faced to get out of the inning with the game tied at 3-3.

#In the ninth, Munroe walked and eventually stole second and third, setting the stage for Simmons’ late game heroics with his sacrifice fly for the go ahead score. Bethel entered the game in the ninth and struck out two of the three he faced to seal the win.

#The Bahamas continues play tonight when they face defending champion Curacao at 7pm.++

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/05/4th-caribbean-baseball-cup-bahamas-victorious/?news

BAAA executives elected, from left to right, are Pharez Cooper, Laketah Charlton, Foster Dorsett, Drumeco Archer, John Ingraham and Tito Moss. Missing is Sheldon Longley.

As of Monday, December 5, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER an intense campaign, Drumeco Archer was returned on Saturday as president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations for the next four years, a term that will include the hosting of the 50th CARIFTA Games and the return of the World Athletics Relays in 2024.

#Continuing what he already started, Archer will serve with Foster Dorsett as his first vice president, John Ingraham from Grand Bahama as second vice president, Laketah Charlton as vice president of finance, Pharez Cooper as vice president of business operations, Tito Moss as vice president of technical operations and sports journalist Sheldon Longley as vice president of public relations and marketing.

#Joining the executive team as council members are Jason Edwards, the highest vote getter with 33, Mikhilo Strachan with 28, Grand Bahamian Dionne Britton and Eleuthera’s Kennard Mackey with 27 each, Grand Bahamian Jason Larrimore with 26, Robert Ayton with 24 and Andrew Tynes with 23. The election was held in the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium and was conducted by BAAA Chief Executive Officer May Miller, assisted by Belinda Wilson, John Pinder and Greg Burrows Sr. Pinder called it one of the most impressive elections he’s seen performed in any sporting organisation.

#President Elect

#Campaigning under the theme: “The More Plan,” Archer collected a total of 24 votes to beat out immediate past president Rosamunde Carey, who had 17 and Dawn Woodside-Johnson, who picked up seven.

#“It’s a sigh of relief, but I can tell you that we’re focused on the prize and that is to grow the sport and to make the country proud,” he said. “That means there has to be a collective effort for all stakeholders.

#“I intend to work closely with the coaches as well as all of the administrators who make up this federation. I’m excited about the next four years. The previous four years, we’ve been dealing with a lot of challenges including COVID and Dorian and the likes. But we have an exciting season ahead of us.”

#With the CARIFTA Games coming back for the ninth time next year and the World Relays to follow in 2024 for the fourth time since its inception, Archer said the BAAA has an unique chance to showcase the Bahamas to the world, although many elected are serving for the first time.

#In accepting her defeat, Carey said the coaches have spoken again and she will accept the defeat.

#“We thought we had it, even up to last night, but you know what it is, it’s an election and people say one thing and they do something else,” she said. “But it is what it is. So we wish this new administration well because there’s a lot of work to be done, but not just from the coaches’ part of it, but with the athletes.”

#Johnson, whose campaign was on change, said there’s no love lost as she congratulated Archer and his team.

#“We thought we would have done better in terms of what the membership said they were going to do, but they have spoken and so we have to move on,” she said. “Hopefully the BAAA can now unite and move on to the level that it should be. I will still be around to assist the BAAA in whatever needs to be done.”

#First Vice President

#Dorsett emerged out front with 25 votes, followed by University of the Bahamas Mingoes’ coach Ednal Rolle with 13, Olympian and World Championship relay medallist Carl Oliver with nine and former executive and coach Rupert Gardiner with two.

#“I feel this position is right for me. I never left track and field. I always worked whether it was as a coach or BACO, I always worked with whoever was in power,” said Dorsett, a former president and vice president.

#“There’s still a lot of work to be done especially with our Family Island development, which we are doing now with our talent search. But I also want to display the history of track and field in the Mall where we can showcase the sport to the Bahamas.”

#Second Vice President

#Ingraham, the head coach of the Heats Athletics, went through with flying colours, soaring to the top of the chart with 31 votes. Former executive Ravanno Ferguson had nine and Sandra Laing came up short with eight. They were both Grand Bahamians who served in the past administration.

#“It’s a privilege to serve because track and field has always been my passion,” Ingraham said. “I came from the lowest level and now I’m a part of the executive board. I really appreciate what the members did for me. Through God, we got it done.”

#Vice President of Finance

#Charlton, a member of the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials, said she’s very elated to be a part of the executive team. She won with 20 votes, holding off former sprinter and now announcer Philippa Willie, who had 13. Both Darius Ferguson and Shakena Demeritte had eight apiece.

#“I will try to do my endeavour best to be as transparent as possible to ensure that all of the finances of the association are accounted for,” she said. “Accountability and transparency will be my top priority for this association.”

#Vice President of Business Operations

#Cooper got a landslide victory with 26 votes. His nearest rival was coach Cedricka Rolle with eight. Demaris Cash finished third with six. “First of all, I want to thank the coaches for their support. It’s a good feeling to win a position from Grand Bahama,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do and our goal is to put our best foot forward and get the work done that needs to be done.”

#Vice President of Technical Operations

#In what came down to the wire, Moss held off Bernard Newbold 22-21 to claim the spot. Former Grand Bahamian 800m specialist Alexis Roberts had six.

#“It’s a privilege and an honour and I want to thank all who imposed their confidence in voting for me for this post,” said the coach of the Red-Line Athletics Track Club. “It’s a big position with a lot of responsibility, but I’m looking forward to getting on the ground and running.”

#Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing

#Longley, the sports editor at The Nassau Guardian, won with 27 votes. Verna Bonaby had 12 and former sprinter Tanya Woodside ended up with 10. There was one spoiled ballot. Longley said he was ecstatic with the results.

#“I want to thank the track and field family community for having the faith in me in getting the job done,” Longley said “I intend on going in there and getting the job done as best as I can to get track and field back to where it used to be, to get it some stability in track and field and make it the number one sport in the Bahamas.”

#Sprinter Anthonique Strachan, the BAAA athletes’ representative, offered her word of congratulations.

#“Looking forward to working with you and everyone being transparent and making great change for athletes and coaches involved,” said Strachan, who was added to the Legends Walk of Fame on Thursday outside the Thomas A Robinson Stadium along with quarter-milers Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner.

#“Please don’t let me and you all argue.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/05/drumeco-archer-returned-baaa-president/?news

As of Monday, December 5, 2022

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GARVIN Tynes Primary School girls won the softball title as the New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association completed its week-long dual competition at Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

SADIE Curtis boys emerged as the boys’ baseball champions as the NPPSSA completed its week-long dual competition at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE Garvin Tynes outslugged Palmdale for the girls’ softball title, Sadie Curtis blanked TG Glover to emerge as the boys’ baseball champions as the New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association completed its week-long dual competition at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#The championships took place on Friday as sponsor Lillian McDonald and Ministry of Education officers Evon Wisdom and Clara Storr joined NPPSSA president Latoya Bain-Sturrup in presenting the hardware to the recipients.

#Girls softball

#Garvin Tynes 9, Palmdale 5: Time only allowed them to complete two innings, but it was all that Garvin Tynes needed in the one hour to pull off the exciting championship feat. “I am very pleased. They did a phenomenal job,” said Crystal Eneas, who coached Garvin Tynes along with Janice Williams.

#“We went back to practice and we cleaned up the mistakes we made in our previous games and now we came out as champions.”

#Eneas said it was expected. “We had no doubts that we would pull it off,” she added. “Our hitting improved and our fielding improved. We’re just happy to be able to take the team trophy back to Garvin Tynes.”

#They did it on the strength of their towering pitcher Zamira Simms and diminutive first sacker D’Antia Rose. “I feel we could have played a little better, but we did very well for the time that we had to practice,” said Simms, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Garvin Tynes. “I know I could have done better, but we still got the win.”

#Rose, an eight-year-old fourth grader who played first base, noted she could have done better, but she felt good that her team won. “I feel good,” she said. “I think we played our best.”

#Ashley Oembler, coach of Palmdale, said it was a good game for them to win.

#“Congratulations to Garvin Tynes. They are an excellent team,” Oembler said. “Our Palmdale girls did an excellent job. Me and Nikita Bridgewater are proud of them. They showed that they were confident playing in this game. They played through the end. We wanted the championship, but we didn’t get it.”

#Bridgewater said despite the loss, she can concur with Oembler, that they did their best.

#“For the short time we had to work with them, I think they did very well,” she added.

#Their battery mate of pitcher Kimeyah Coakley and catcher Azariah Hinds came through at the last minute after Palmdale’s original duo couldn’t make it out. Eva Hilton finished in third place.

#Boys’ baseball

#Sadie Curtis 6, TG Glover 0: Behind the three-headed pitching monster, Sadie Curtis proved to be no match for TG Glover, holding their opponents scoreless in the complete five innings played.

#As the champions of the last championship played in 2020 before the pandemic struck, Sadie Curtis’ coach Francesca McBride said they just wanted to win another title.

#“I knew they had it in them. Some of them play for Freedom Farm and JBLN, so I knew we had good talent,” McBride said. “We had good pitching and good catching, but I was a little concerned about our hitting. They surprised me with their performances. We did a great job.”

#Rhamelo Bethel, Elisha Sands and Josiah Filterman combined to pitch the shutout.

#Bethel, who got the ball rolling before he moved to catching, said they worked so hard to accomplish their feat and they had a lot of fun doing it, especially in pulling off the shut out.

#Bethel actually made a game-ending play at the plate that prevented TG Glover from scoring their only run. “I couldn’t let him score,” said Bethel, a 10-year-old sixth grader at Sadie Curtis..

#“We played so well, so I couldn’t let them score.”

#Brad Wood Jr, who along with William McFall coached TG Glover, said he felt they played as best as they could. “We only had about a week and-a-half to prepare,” Wood Jr said.

#“But we had one or two veteran players and they tried to keep us together.”

#Eldon Bullard was the star for TG Glover, pitching all of their games during the regular season to get them into the final.

#Unfortunately in the final, they were no match for Sadie Curtis.

#Eva Hilton picked up third place.

#McDonald, the proprietor of Mackado Bus Service, said she was so impressed with what she saw that she will always be willing to assist and she advised the NPPSSA that they can count on her to help out. Wisdom, the retiring sports officer at the Ministry of Education, encouraged the players to respect “the people who came before you, respect mommy and daddy” and persons like “Mrs McDonald and Mrs Sturrup” because they are the ones who are there to assist the players in achieving their goals.

#“When you don’t pay homage to them, this is all at naught,” Wisdom said.

#“I want all of you as players to thank your coaches and thank your mother and father and let them know how much you appreciate them.”

#Storr, the education officer at the Ministry of Education, took the time out to congratulate all of the teams and she encouraged the players to “celebrate” their achievements,

#“Do not let it stop here. This is just the beginning,” Storr told the players.

#“I know that the Bahamas had a legacy relating to baseball and softball. You are the players that will continue to carry the legacy.

#“Even though you are children in primary schools, the sky’s the limit.

#“Let nothing stop you. We might be a small island nation, but everyone knows where we are. So you are the flag carrier to the world.”

#The NPPSSA, which started the year with soccer, will move into its basketball competition in January.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/05/baseball-and-softball-champions-crowned/?news

As of Monday, December 5, 2022

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#THE Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association completed its first ever Northern Bahamas Volleyball Championships over the weekend.

#The event, organised through the joint Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education, was held at the St George’s Gymnasium from Thursday to Saturday.

#In the girls’ championships, the Tabernacle Falcons defeated the Eight Mile Rock Bluejays in three sets with scores of 21-14, 18-21 and 15-13.

#The most valuable player was Khanna Hanchel and the coach of the tournament was Salaka Williams of Tabernacle.

#Winning third place was the Lucayan International School Buccaneers.

#In the senior boys’ championships, the Agape Eagles from Abaco stunned the Sunland Baptist Stingers in three sets as well with scores of 15-21, 22-20 and 15-9.

#The MVP was Jason Williams.

#The coach of the tournament was Stephen Johnson of Agape.

#The Jack Hayward Wildcats won third place.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/05/first-ever-northern-bahamas-volleyball-championshi/?news

VIKTOR HOVLAND, right, poses for a photo with tournament host Tiger Woods, left, after he won the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club yesterday. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

As of Monday, December 5, 2022

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#NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Viktor Hovland led by four shots at the turn. No one got closer to him than two shots during the final nine holes at the Hero World Challenge.

#It sounds easy. Far from it. Hovland pulled a 6-iron from an awkward lie into the water on the 18th hole and had to make a 20-foot bogey putt for a 3-under 69 to secure victory yesterday, allowing him to join tournament host Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of this holiday event.

#“I made it a little more exciting, I guess,” Hovland said.

#A year ago, the 25-year-old from Norway rallied from six shots behind on the final day with a 66 to win. That was fun. Far more stressful was leading the entire way at Albany, even when it looked to everyone else that it was a Bahamas breeze.

#Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, whose three-putt double bogey on the ninth hole left him five shots behind, stayed in the game with four birdies on the back nine that gave him a fleeting chance, two shots back playing the 18th.

#Hovland faced a 6-iron from the slope above a bunker, with water left of the green. The face of the club closed on impact, and the ball headed left into the hazard. “Basically just do anything else but hit it in the water,” Hovland said. “So as soon as that happened, I was pretty frustrated. But I knew that he didn’t have a gimme par, so if I can wedge up there close, I can still make a putt and win the tournament. And if not, he still has to make a par to force me to a playoff.

#“But it was a lot more stressful than it should have been.”

#Scheffler put his approach into the sandy area, and his chip ran over the cup with too much speed, about 10 feet by the hole. If Hovland missed his bogey putt, Scheffler would have that putt for a playoff.

#Hovland ended the suspense. Scheffler missed what became a meaningless putt and shot 68 to finish two shots behind, a runner-up to Hovland for the second straight year. “I said earlier in the week that I don’t like finishing second,” Scheffler said. “It’s not a good feeling right now. But I’m proud of the fight.”

#Woods won in 2006 and 2007 when it was held at Sherwood Country Club. He had to withdraw this week with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, instead watching in his Sunday red shirt for some drama no one was expecting. “It’s frigging nerve-wracking,” Hovland said with a smile. “You’re never that comfortable. I didn’t play that great on the back nine, but it was good enough.”

#Hovland finished at 16-under 272 and won $1 million.

#The victory is unofficial, but the world ranking points pushed him up three spots to No. 9.

#Scheffler needed to win to return to No. 1 in the world, at least for a few weeks. Rory McIlroy was projected to end the year at No. 1 regardless of the outcome.

#Starting three shots behind, Scheffler holed a pitch from 30 yards short of the green on the par-5 sixth hole for eagle to reach 14-under par and momentarily tie for the lead.

#Hovland was in trouble off the tee. He had to play a pitching wedge over a 20-foot dune, an 8-iron to the green and then holed an 18-foot birdie putt to stay one ahead.

#The next hole was pivotal, the 18th notwithstanding.

#Scheffler’s pitch from the bottom of the fairway on the short par-4 seventh barely got onto the green and rolled into the bunker, leading to bogey.

#Hovland was on the edge of a bunker and chipped to 5 feet for birdie and a two-shot swing, restoring his lead to three.

#There were other challengers over the final two hours, just not for long.

#Cameron Young made a strong bid and got within two shots at one point until he took bogey on the 16th. Xander Schauffele also made an early run until that ended with a bogey on the par-5 15th.

#Scheffler ran off three straight birdies through the 16th hole to get within two shots, and Hovland gave him an opening on the 18th until he closed it with the big putt.

#Scheffler still heads into the holidays with a breakthrough year behind him — the Masters among his four PGA Tour wins, No. 1 in the world longer than anyone else this year, the PGA Tour player of the year.

#Young had a 68 and finished alone in third, followed by Schauffele (68) and Justin Thomas, who had five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine to salvage a poor start and close with 70 to finish fifth. “It’s only 20 players, but it’s the best 20 players in the world,” Hovland said. “You’ve got to play your best to win.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/05/hovland-hangs-become-repeat-winner-hero-world-chal/?news

 Home|Sports|Bahamian collegiate athletes hit the trackSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 5, 2022 183 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It’s early December, which means for Bahamian collegiate track and field athletes, it’s the beginning of their athletic seasons.

A few Bahamian athletes got their seasons underway in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) this past weekend, competing at various meets around the United States.

Wanya McCoy, a sophomore at Clemson University, showed tremendous progression a season ago, setting personal best times in both short sprints, and showing early season form of potentially going even faster this year with blazing times over the weekend.

Competing at the Clemson Open inside the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex in Clemson, South Carolina, the up-and-coming Bahamian sprinter recorded personal bests in both the 60 and 300 meters (m) indoors. McCoy, 19, ran a personal best of 6.69 seconds in the preliminaries of the men’s 60m, then came back in the final and won that event in 6.76 seconds. His time in the prelims has him tied with three others for the 11th fastest in the world this year in the under-20 boys division.

‘The Real McCoy’ as he is known, wasn’t done yet. He also won the men’s 300m, running a blazing personal best of 32.53 seconds. That time is less than a second off Steven Gardiner’s national record and is tied for the 23rd fastest of all time. McCoy is also the number two Bahamian athlete of all time in that event behind Gardiner.

Also seeing action over the weekend was Megan Moss, a junior at the University of Kentucky. Moss competed at the Commonwealth College Opener at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Moss, 20, ran in the 500m and 4x400m relay. In the 500m, she finished second in 1:13.24. That race was won by Kennedy Simon, a senior at the University of Texas, in 1:08.59.

Moss came back and ran in the women’s 4x400m relay with her teammates Karimah Davis, Masai Russell and Yasmin Brooks. Moss ran the third leg and they won in 3:40.05. Louisville was second in 3:42.70 and Bellarmine University rounded out the top three in 3:53.45.

After missing the 2022 outdoor season, Anthaya Charlton is back and she is back with a bang. Also competing at the Commonwealth College Opener, the Kentucky Wildcats sophomore matched her personal best time in the 60m, ran a new personal best in the 200m and was just off her personal best jump in the long jump event.

In the 60m, Charlton matched her personal best time of 7.41 seconds in the heats, came back in the final and finished fourth in 7.53 seconds. In the 200m, she finished sixth in a personal best of 24.91 seconds. Over in the long jump, Charlton finished second in that event with a best leap of 5.94m (19’ 6”). The 19-year-old was just off her personal best leap of 5.99m (19’ 8”).

Taking part in the 2022 Dakota Indoor Classic inside the Fargodome Sports Arena in Fargo, North Dakota, was University of North Dakota senior Daejha Moss. Moss, 23, won the high jump competition with a clearance of 1.76m (5’ 9-1/4”) and finished second in the long jump with a personal best leap of 5.96m (19’ 6-3/4”). Her clearance in the high jump was just two centimeters short of her personal best height in that event. North Dakota State sophomore Grace Emineth won the long jump competition with a leap of 6.05m (19’ 10-1/4”).

Also at the Dakota Indoor Classic, Bahamian Shyrone Kemp, 23, was in action for the MSU-Moorhead Dragons. The Dragons compete in the NCAA Division II.

Kemp, a senior, finished first in both the men’s 60m and the men’s long jump.

In the 60m, he had a winning performance of 7.01 seconds after running a personal best time of 6.93 seconds in the heats. In the long jump, he had a winning jump of 7.42m (24’ 4-1/4”) – a personal best leap for him and third all-time in MSU-Moorhead history. The winning jump was also a qualifying jump for this season’s NCAA Indoor Championships.

Bahamian Shaquiel Higgs, 22, was third in the men’s 60m in 7.05 seconds after running an identical time in the heats. The senior athlete finished eighth in the 200m in 22.98 seconds. In the 60m hurdles, he ran a time of 8.77 seconds.

It didn’t take long for Tiffany Hanna to establish herself at Fordham University in New York City, New York. The graduate transfer from Wagner College smashed Fordham’s school record in the women’s weight throw at the Youree Spence-Garcia Invitational at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island, New York.

Hanna, 23, turned in a massive heave of 17.44m (57’ 2-3/4”) in the women’s weight throw to win that event. Finishing a distant second in that event was St. John’s University junior Ismini Andreou with a throw of 15.18m (49’ 9-3/4”). Hanna’s throw smashed the previous school record of 15.84m (51’ 11-1/2”) by Arianna Washington in 2006. Hanna’s throw was also an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifying mark.

In the women’s shot put event, Hanna finished fourth with a throw of 11.28m (37’).

Her stellar performances earned her the Maxine Williams Memorial Award for the meet’s most outstanding female performer.

In the NCAA Division II, Denisha Cartwright competed for the Minnesota State University (MSU) at Mankato Mavericks at the Chuck Petersen Open at Myers Field House in Mankato, Minnesota.

The junior athlete earned three top three finishes, all in personal best times, crossing the finish line first in the 60m hurdles, first in the 200m and second in the 60m, to lead her team to a first-place finish overall in the team standings.

In the 60m hurdles, Cartwright, 22, ran a new personal best time and facility and school record of 8.18 seconds after running 8.19 seconds in the heats. Her previous personal best and school record was 8.23 seconds. In the 200m, Cartwright’s winning time of 24.21 seconds was also a new personal best and facility and school record. In the women’s 60m, Cartwright was second behind her teammate Makayla Jackson, a junior. Jackson ran a new facility and school record of 7.29 seconds and Cartwright was second in a personal best time of 7.31 seconds after running 7.40 seconds in the heats.

The NCAA indoor season continues next weekend.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-collegiate-athletes-hit-the-track/