The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A tough opening day for Team Bahamas in international softball competition. However, there remains a window to qualify.

The Bahamas Softball Federation’s (BSF) team at the Pan Am Championship and World Qualifier in Medellin, Colombia, dropped a tough game against a regional powerhouse.

The Bahamas lost to the Dominican Republic 8-3 after leading 3-1 in the fifth inning.

Veteran pitcher Adney “The Heat” Bethel gave up a grand slam home run to give the Dominican Republic the lead for good.

Lamar Watkins scored two of the Bahamas’ three runs, and also hit a triple.

Sherman Ferguson nailed a sac fly to drive Watkins home, while Hosea Hilton scored the other run for the Bahamas.

In game two, the Bahamas trailed

Venezuela 5-0 after the opening inning.

However, the final results were unavailable up to press time last night.

The top eight teams in the event will qualify for the Pan Am Games in Mexico in 2014. The top five teams will qualify for the World Games in New Zealand in March, 2013.

BSF president Burket Dorsett said this team has the ability to contend because of its young talent and the experience of its coaching staff.

“The expectations are set high for this team. This team is young, but it is also very talented and will be under the guidance of three internationally certified softball coaches in the men’s division,” he said. “By the end of day two of competition we will have a better handle of where we stand in the field, but we know the competition gets tougher with Canada ahead. We have already faced two of the toughest teams in the tournament right out of the gate so we have to be confident moving forward.