The Tribune

BASKETBALL

COMETS WIN

THE Queen’s College Comets pulled off a 69-34 win over the Bahamas Academy Stars in a Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools senior boys’ make-up game yesterday.

Elliott Greenslade led the way for the Comets with 16 points. He was followed by Kofiannan King with 15 points. A full team effort enabled the victory through Habit 6 - Synergise.

The Comets are expected to be back in action 4pm today when they take on the Big Red Machine at St Augustine’s College.

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUE

COMING TO TOWN

MAJOR League Baseball announced today that it will hold a coaching clinic in Nassau - the first of its kind on the island - January 23-24. MLB, along with the support of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, will host 25 Bahamian coaches at the Junior Baseball League of Nassau’s Field of Dreams at St Andrew’s School, and the event will include the participation of Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar. Alomar, a 12-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays, will share his experiences with the coaches during a two-day clinic.

The clinic is a continuation of MLB’s coaching development efforts. MLB has hosted programmes around the globe to teach pitching, batting, catching, fielding, strength and fitness, and scouting. MLB’s programme teaches the coaching students how to run effective practices and identify tools to help them grow the game of baseball in their home countries.

BASEBALL

JBLN OPENING

THE Junior Baseball League of Nassau will open the 2016 season - its 27th year - with 28 baseball and five girls’ softball teams comprising 434 boys and girls in competition January to May this year. The breakdown of teams entered are as follows:

Tee Ball Division - 5-6 years - 5 teams; Coach Pitch Division - 7-8 years - 4 teams; LL Minor Division - 9-10 years - 5 teams; LL Major Division - 11-12 years - 3 teams; Junior Division - 13-15 years - 6 teams; Senior Division - 16-Over - 5 teams and Girls softball - 13-19 - 5 teams.

JBLN will celebrate the opening of the season 10am Saturday with a parade of all 33 teams. Dignitaries expected to attend include the Minister of Sports Dr Daniel Johnson, the representative for Yamacraw, Melanie Griffin, presidents of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, the Bahamas Softball Federation and the Bahamas Olympic Committee and representatives from the US Embassay and corporate league sponsors.

The end of ceremonies will be highlighted by a Junkanoo rush-out by the Builders Mall Genesis War Hawks, winners of the B Category in the New Year’s Junkanoo competition.

Games in week one will start immediately after the opening ceremonies.

Wednesday 

6:30 - Major League -  Reds vs Giants

Friday 

6:30 - Minor League -  Astros vs Royals

Saturday

12:00pm - Tee Ball - Blue Claws vs Hornets

12:30pm - Coach Pitch - Marlins vs Padres

12:30pm - Minor League - Tigers vs Pirates

12:30pm - Junior League - Dodgers vs Mariners

12:30pm - Softball - Shippers vs Spice Girls

2pm - Tee Ball - Raptors vs Hot Fries

3pm - Coach Pitch - Athletics vs Cubs

3pm - Major League - Giants vs Yankees

3pm - Junior League - Rays vs Orioles

3pm - Softball - Distributors vs Crushers

Sunday

12:30 - Senior Division - Rangers vs Braves

3pm - Senior Division - Nationals vs Brewers

3pm - Softball - Shippers vs Player

FUNERAL SERVICE

HELD FOR SMITH

THE sporting community came out in large numbers over the weekend to pay their last respects to DeVince Smith, the late 44-year-old former national player/coach. Smith’s funeral service was held at New Covenant Baptist Church, East-West Highway, on Saturday.

The ceremony was conducted by Pastor Ronald Bastian of Everlasting Life Baptist Ministries. Ronald Duncombe, a long-time friend and former team-mate, gave a fitting tribute in a ‘As I Knew Him.’

Volleyball players showed up in large numbers and following Smith’s internment in Woodlawn Gardens, congregated at the DW Davis Gymnasium for a post celebration.

SWIMMING

BSC SEASON

OPENER

THE first meet for the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s 2016 season will be the Swift/Gunite Pools Invitational January 15-16 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6pm Friday and wrap up following Saturday’s 9am session. All of the local swim clubs are expected to participate.