The Tribune

ALEX Taylor-Gabriel, one of the top female players in the country, has been given an enormous task of reshaping the University of the Bahamas Mingoes women’s softball team as they prepare for competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Newly acquired manager Gabriel replaces International Hall of Famer Oria ‘Big O’ Knowles, who managed the team for the past three years when they played in the New Providence Softball Association after the death of her late husband Collin ‘Troppy’ Knowles.

Kimberley Rolle, UB’s athletic director, said they are heading into a different direction and they felt Gabriel would be best suited to lead the Mingoes at this time. “We just thought it’s time to move into a new direction,” Rolle said. “We have an enormous amount of gratitude to Mrs Oria Wood-Knowles and her late husband, who would have started the women’s softball programme and the three years that they would have put into it.

“We just thought it was time for a new direction and we thought Alex would be the perfect person to lead that charge. She has a storied career and because of her pitching ability, she has the prospect of attracting pitching core to the institution, which we know is the heart of any team.”

Like all of their coaches in the various disciplines, Rolle said Gabriel will be added to their coaching staff on a part-time basis and they are just as excited to have her on board as she is in making her contribution to the team.

“We will offer her and her team a lot of support to ensure that we get women’s softball on track,” Rolle said. “We’re moving very aggressively in the next year or two to gain her NAIA membership and women’s softball is one of those disciplines that we need to fast track to get us to a competitive level when we compete in the NAIA.”

Gabriel, who played for the youthful Lady Sharks in the NPSA, said she’s very excited with the new role that she will be taking on.

“I would like to see where I can assist in taking the team to the next level in the goal that we are trying to achieve, as mandated by the Director of Athletics,” she said.

“They are trying to get the competitive on a consistent basis so that they can compete against other universities and colleges because they are going into university status, so I’m excited to see where I can take them in the future and I’m excited to see what’s going to come out of it.”

Gabriel, who played against the Mingoes during the NPSA, commended Knowles and her deceased husband Collin ‘Troppy’ Knowles, who played an integral role in the early development of the team.

“I’m just going in there to attain a goal,” Gabriel stressed. “No one is looking back at the situation. We’ve moving forward and looking ahead. It’s going out there and achieving the goal that is set before me and that is what I intend to do.”

During the off season, Gabriel said she will be undertake a heavy recruiting process because the Mingoes need players to fill just about every position.

“We’re looking for dedicated, respectful and self motivated players who have the desire to win and to put their best foot foot forward and give 110 percent every time they go on the field,” she stated.

“We want players who are willing to learn and who is willing to embrace the opportunity that they will have to play on this collegiate level. We’re looking for talent, you need to have the other things that we are looking for because you need to coachable and you need to respectful and dedicated for the work that is ahead.”

As they prepare for the collegiate season, Gabriel said once the team is completed, they will get ready to return to play in the NPSA with the view of making the playoffs. This season, with only five teams entered, the Mingoes were the team looking in after finishing in fifth place.

“There is some work that need to be done, so making the playoffs would be a goal or a standard that we should be able to achieve,” she projected. “It will depend on how much work the young ladies are willing to put in to achieve these things.

“I can’t do it by myself. I have to commitment and dedication of the young ladies to be able to achieve these things in order for us to get anywhere. So when I speak with the players, the goal will be to get to the playoffs and if we go further than that, it would be awesome.”