The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

TEAM Orange completed an impressive run through the Bahamas Baseball Association’s second annual All-Star Weekend, defeating Team Blue 4-3 in a thrilling 8U championship game Sunday at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.

After splitting the opening two All-Star games, Team Orange entered the deciding championship contest with the series tied at one game apiece.

Team Orange opened the weekend with a 13-9 victory on Saturday before Team Blue answered with a 5-4 win in Sunday’s first game, setting up a winner takes all finale that lived up to expectations.

Team Blue struck first in the opening inning when Andrew Wong lifted a sacrifice fly to score the game’s first run.

Team Orange answered in the bottom half after a defensive error allowed the tying run to cross the plate.

Team Orange grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the second inning when Marcel Foster delivered an RBI single, but Team Blue responded with its biggest offensive inning of the game in the fourth.

Mizhai Roberts lined a two run double to put Team Blue back in front 3-2 and move the Blue squad within three outs of the championship.

Team Orange, however, had one final response.Jeremiah Johnson tied the game after tagging up on a sacrifice fly before Tyree Strachan lined a go-ahead RBI single down the left field line to score the eventual winning run and secure the championship.

Michael Forsythe III tossed a complete game for Team Orange, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings while striking out one batter without issuing a walk.

Kole Bastian turned in a solid performance for Team Blue, allowing four runs - two earned - on seven hits across five innings.

Stefano Roberts and Jeremiah Johnson each collected two hits to lead Team Orange’s offence, while Strachan, Foster and Kheyondre Butler each drove in a run.

Roberts paced Team Blue with a 2-for-3 performance and a game high two RBIs, while Bastian also recorded two hits in the runner up effort. The championship victory capped a strong weekend for Team Orange, which finished the All-Star series with a 2-1 record after winning Saturday’s opener, falling in Sunday’s first game and responding with a late rally in the decisive championship contest.

The 8U title highlighted another successful Bahamas Baseball Association All Star Weekend, which brought together many of the country’s top young players for three days of competition at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium. The weekend opened Friday with registration, team and individual photos, media interviews and skills challenges before players in the 8U, 10U and 12U divisions competed in a series of All Star games over Saturday and Sunday.

Championship Sunday concluded the event with title games in all three age groups, as Team Orange claimed the 8U and 12U championships while Team Blue captured the 10U crown.

The annual showcase continues to provide the nation’s rising baseball players with an opportunity to compete against the best talent in their respective age groups while celebrating the continued growth of youth baseball in The Bahamas.