Published On:Tuesday, August 31, 2010

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Softball Association (NPSA) is gearing up for a festival weekend at the Banker's Field, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

It's the All-Star Classic scheduled for Saturday night when the NPSA is expected to showcase the majority of its bright young talent assembled in the league.

Additionally, the NPSA is also scheduled to stage a pre-All-Star game 6:30pm Friday in a match-up of the legends against the executives.

That game, according to president Loretta Maycock, is the NPSA's way of giving the younger athletes an opportunity to see some of the future stars in action.

"The legends team will consist of players like Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle, Anthony 'Boots' Weech, Lionel 'Ironman' Symonette and Fred 'Papa' Smith, who are always at the park," Maycock said.

Maycock is expected to lead the executive team that features Neressa Seymour, Cyril Smith, Jean 'Bubbles' Minus, Renee 'Sunshine' Davis and Tommy Stubbs.

As for Saturday's All-Star game, Maycock said they decided to focus more attention on the surplus of young players in the league, coupled with some of the veteran players.

"It was very difficult picking the men because a lot of the younger players are not batting as well as the younger females," Maycock said.

"But I expect for all those selected to come out and play in the All-Star game. We expect that it will be a lot of fun."

One of the women's All-Star teams will be named in honour or Jeannie Minus, the fourth vice president of the league. The other will be named after Linda Ford, an accomplished former pitcher in the league.

As for the men, the NPSA will honour the late Tyrone 'Ron, Figure' Wood by naming the teams after him. The other will be named after Rev Dencil Clarke, a former long-time teammate of Wood. The teams are comprised of the following:

Jeannie Minus Ladies All-Stars

Starters

Pitcher - Marvel Miller (Wildcats); catcher - Christrine Jenoure (Operators); first base - Vernie Curry (Wildcats); second base - Vonetta Nairn (Sharks); third base - Shavette Taylor (Brackettes) and shortstop - Zella Symonette (Brackettes).

Left field - Lathera Brown (Operators); right field - Krystal Delancy (Brackettes) and center field - Candice Smith (Wildcats).

Substitutes - Trika Munroe (Sharks); Crystal Taylor (Scorpions); Shonette Symonette (Sharks); Lashana Gittens (Scorpions); Dorothy Marshall (Operators); Garnette Curry (Brackettes); Sheria Woodside (Sharks) and Celo Symonette (Sharks).

Manager - Anthony Bullard (Wildcats). Coach - Mario Ford (Operators).

Linda Ford Ladies All-Stars

Starters

Pitcher - Desiree Coakley (Operators); catrcher - Dornette Edwards (Wildcats); first base - Michelle Thompson (Operators); second base - Vanrica Roise (Brackettes); third base - Jeanette Hilton (Wildcats) and shortstop - Christine Edmunds (Wildcats).

Substitutes

Dawn Sears (Sharks); Natasha Paul (Scorpions); Thela Johnson (Sharks); Shirley Stubbs (Scorpions); Britteny Clarke (Operators); Katrell Dorsett (Brackettes); Stephanie Goodridge (Wildcats) and Kendra Humes (Operators).

Manager - Stephen 'Bishop' Beneby. Coach - Cyril Smith (Brackettes).

Ron Wood Men's All-Stars

Starters

Greg Burrows Jr. (Freedom Farm); Van Johnson (Truckers); Jemeko Sands (Freedom Farm); Ramon Storr (Truckers); Clayton Bowles (Outlaws); Philip Farquharson (New Breed); Romero Armbrister (Del Sol); Martin Burrows Jr. (New Breed) and Keiron Munrow (Dorin United).

Substitutes

Roscoe Thompson (Outlaws); Julian Collie (Truckers); Bruce Mackey (Outlaws); Khalid Curry (Buccaneers); Darren Stevens (Dorin United); Leonard Ferguson (Dorsey Park); Peval Storr (Dorsey Park) and Dwight Butler (Del Sol). Manager - Philip Rolle (Commando Security). Coach - Godfrey Burnside (Freedom Farm).

Dencil Clarke Men's All-Stars

Starters

Devaughn Wong (Freedom Farm); Garfield Bethel (New Breed); Darren Bowleg (Dorsey Park); Ken Wood (New Breed); Lamar Watkins (Buccaneers); Stephen Brown (Truckers); Adrian Pinder (Outlaws); Eugene Pratt (New Breed) and Alcott Forbes (Dorin United).

Substitutes

Tori Rolle (Dorsey Park); Lavaughn Ferguson (New Breed); Ray Strachan (Del Sol); Javon Dorsett (Dorsey Park); D'Kyle Rolle (Mighty Mitts); Garret Strachan (Dorsey Park); Demont Charlow (T&C Outlaws) and Rudy Fox (Dorsey Park).

Manager - Erin Adderley (Dorin United). Coach - Martin Burrows Sr - New Breed.