The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

For years there has been the cry of “let’s play senior baseball” and the New Providence Amateur Baseball League is hoping to fill the void next year.

According to NPABL president Jeff ‘Sangy’ Francis, a move is afloat to get the league started at the newly improved Pinewood Baseball Park on April 8.

“After waiting nine years and it’s obvious we are not going to get a diamond next year, with so many former division one college players back home and former professional baseball players back home, everybody is asking when are we going to play a season,” Francis said.

“So when I went out to Pinewood and I helped to build a new mound and we got an infield, I said it was a great spot and so I said we might as well go ahead and play senior baseball next year. So I talked to a few players and guys who could organise it, so we decided to try to see if we can get a season out of it.”

The field, once properly renovated, will require maintenance because there are a whole lot of people who actively occupy the park.

However, the league is currently seeking the assistance of the Ministry of Works and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation to secure the proper lighting fixtures for the park.

“All of the switch gear and all of the power boxes were stolen and the fences were stolen, so there’s no light and security around the field,” Francis said. “We will check with BEC or the Ministry of Works and see if they would do it for us because it will dictate the schedule and the amount of teams that we will put in the league. If there are no lights, we will only be able to play day games and then we will be conflicting with the players getting off from work and coming straight to the park for a game that will probably start at 5:30 or 6pm.”

At present, Francis said they are anticipating at least 6-8 teams making up the league. A meeting is set for 3pm Saturday at Holy Cross Parish Center, Highbury Park, for all those persons who are interested in assisting Francis, Jeff Williams, Clarence McKenzie, Jeannie Scavalla and Danny Stubbs, who are spearheading the move.

“We have a lot of ball players who go back to college and to the pro ranks and they are at a disadvantage because they don’t have a league to play in,” Francis said. “So if they come home, at least they will have an opportunity to play in a league where they can sharpen their skills, especially if he’s a pitcher.

“If we can get this league started, when these guys come home, they can play summer ball like their counterparts in the United States do. That will help them to go back in baseball shape. So we are looking at finally getting this league off the ground, not only for the locally based players who want to play baseball, but also to help those who come home on a break.”