COURTESY CALL - Shown, from left to right, at the Governor General’s Office are Tommy Stubbs, Sandena Neely, Mario Ford, Lyrone Burrows, Theodore Sweeting, Governor General CA Smith, Sam Rodgers Sr, Jennifer Isaacs, Martin Burrows and Anthony Newbold.
WITHIN days, the prestigious Caribbean Baseball Cup will stage its fourth annual competition on Bahamian soil, thanks to the Bahamas Baseball Association.
Senior league baseball action returns to Nassau in a big way on Sunday, December 4 when Team Bahamas faces Caribbean power-house teams from Cuba, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Curacao, the tournament’s defending champions.
During the week-long competition, there will be three games a day at the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium in Oakes Field. This is the 4th annual Caribbean Baseball Cup, but it’s the first time being held in the Bahamas.
After addressing the press at the Office of Prime Minister’s weekly briefing, members of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s local organising committee (LOC) paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Governor General Sir Cornelius Smith, who expressed appreciation for their voluntary work to the success of the Caribbean Baseball Cup.
Led by BBA president Sam Rodgers and its secretary general Theodore Sweeting, the LOC members included Lyrone Burrows, Jennifer Isaacs, Mario Ford, Judy Charlton and chief umpire Martin “Pork” Burrows.
The courtesy call was organised by Tommy Stubbs, member of the Governor General Volunteer Bahamas committee who is also spearheading the promotions for the upcoming baseball tournament. GG VB members in attendance were Arthurnique Jones, Anthony “Ace” Newbold and Sandena Neely, also of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture.
Smith told the group that the Bahamas can never compensate them for their contributions to this and other efforts over the years, and encourage them to train the youth to follow in their footsteps.
He said he envisions baseball returning as the No.1 sport in the Bahamas.
Making up Team Bahamas will be some of the finest Bahamian players assigned to Major League Baseball’s (MLB) minor system and attending US colleges. The team manager is Geron Sands.
When the tournament ends in Nassau on Sunday, December 11, two teams will qualify to compete at next year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador.
To which the Governor General asked: “Who will be the other team” advancing to the 2023 CAC Games.
He expects Team Bahamas to be one of the teams qualifying.
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