By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
WITH Burket Dorsett re-elected as president of the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) along with his executive team, the administration aims to further the development of local softball while returning the Bahamas to prominence on the international scene.
"The federation this year released a six-point plan for the development of softball throughout the Bahamas. We are responsible for all aspects of softball, fast pitch, slow pitch, and modified pitch and the plan is inclusive of helping administrators and the running of the various associations, proper public relations and communications, technical development of the sport, that is the training of the coaches and athletes, the administration aspect of it, and to maintain and improve a relationship with the ISF," he said.
"With this team, we plan to further develop softball, make it a sport the players themselves enjoy and the fans, the sponsors will be willing to sponsor teams in the various associations and so forth. We hope we will have a very successful three-year span."
Joining Dorsett on his executive team are Ted Miller of Long Island as the first vice president, Bobby 'Baylor' Fernander is the second vice president and Godfrey 'Gully' Burnside, the president of the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA), is the third vice president.
Returned as secretary is Grand Bahamian Daphne McKinney, while Ali Culmer will be the treasurer.
"We are appointing a committee to deal with player movement to be conducive for all member associations to work with. Member associations also act to play strict attention to rules and regulations of the association. Over the years, we have had problems with rosters and the issues that go along with that so we will look to reform that," Dorsett said.
Five out of seven member associations attended the meetings as Abaco and Exuma experienced some transportation issues.
He noted that the first year of the new term will be an important year for the BSF, featuring the largest National Round Robin to date and the federation's 40th anniversary.
"Exuma is now back and is playing softball, as is Inagua. At the end of the year, we could be the largest that we have ever had. We could see eight associations, which would equal 16 teams in this year's National Round Robin," he said.
"And as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, it starts with the induction ceremony of Ali Culmer and Linda Ford into the ISF Hall of Fame at Government House on June 8 where the BSF will also induct local members at the same time which includes players and members from all leagues, government, masters, old-timers, bankers, church leagues."
Presidents are asked to obtain an application form from the BSF and submit their recommendations for approval for induction.
Men's and women's teams are also preparing for international competition on the agenda.
For the first time, ECAS is scheduled to host an inter-confederation event, the ECAS Ladies Championship, November 28 to December 2 in Belize. The winner of the event will qualify for the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia.
The ECAS tournament for men is scheduled for a tentative date in April 2013 hosted by either the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Tucks and Caicos or the US Virgin Islands.
The VIII Pan Am Championships for men is set for September 15-23 in Medellin, Colombia.
The top five teams will qualify for the 2013 World Championships to be held March 1-10 in New Zealand.
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