SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025
‘These are the plans we have for 2025’ Bahamas Baseball Association looks to get stadium ready to host major international competition By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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ACTION PLAN: THE Bahamas Baseball Association has a comprehensive plan that will cater to its players from the youth to the senior league. Shown, from left to right, are Shane Albury, Clarence McKenzie, Theodore Sweeting and Martin “Pork” Burrows. Photos: Nikia Charlton
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EXCITEMENT BUILDS OVER THE SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
n a comprehensive plan that will cater to its players from the youth to the senior league, the Bahamas Baseball Association is confident that The Bahamas will gain enough points to be able to compete on its own at the major international competition. Newly elected president Clarence McKenzie, secretary general Theodore Sweeting, Shane Albury and umpire-in-chief Martin “Pork” Burrows,
NATIONAL FAMILY ISLAND REGATTA HIGHLIGHTS
THE NPABL reintroduced the senior baseball league with a pre-season tournament at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium over the weekend. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
representing the National Sports Authority, revealed the plans at a press conference yesterday. It was the first official press briefing by the newly elected board, which was voted into office in December, but has already made significant strides with some of its member associations in the Family Islands. McKenzie, who has been island hopping staging mini clinics and tournaments in Eleuthera and with another one set for Long Island this weekend, said this is one of the most active sporting calendars
in the history of the BBA. “These are the plans we have for 2025,” he said. “We have been working since the moment we were elected and trusted by the membership. This is a snapshot of what we are looking for.” Some of the plans, according to McKenzie, are ongoing activities and others are new ones they hope to initiate during the course of the year for not just baseball, but softball as well. Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium Burrows, the manager of the Andre Rodgers
Baseball Stadium, said they are in contact with Major League Baseball to get the stadium ready to host some major international competition. “Once that is done, then we are open to invite some major leagues and college teams to come and host their training camps and/ or hold tournaments,” he said. “That would be a plus for the NSA. We welcome that.” Sweeting revealed that Murray Cook, one of MLB’s officials, should have already been in town, but his trip has been postponed to May 28-29
when he will be in town to inspect the stadium for MLB. Mini Island Tournaments With no baseball played in some of the Family Islands, McKenzie said it was the mandate of his executive team to introduce the sport and also to strengthen those islands that played before. “We are having a series of mini tournaments on the islands, as directed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for the development of the sport in the Family Islands,” McKenzie said.
AFTER watching so many players leave the island for high school, college and the professional ranks, the New Providence Amateur Baseball League has decided to revitalise the senior league programme. The NPABL, headed by Jeff “Sangy” Francis, reintroduced the league with a pre-season tournament over the weekend at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. And while only four teams participated, Francis said it was a step in the right direction. “All the guys who came out were very excited about playing senior league baseball,” Francis said. “We had some very exciting games.” Francis’ Sharks won the tournament with a 14-0 shutout over the Reapers, managed by AJ Ferguson. A 15-year-old from Freedom Farm was the winning pitcher. The Blue Power, managed by Ken Adderley, won third place over the Da Boyz, managed by Winston Seymour Jr. With the pre-tournament over and done with, Francis said the focus will now switch to the formation of the league, which should start in about two weeks.
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COLLEGIATE GOLFER TYESHA TYNES LEADS HASTINGS COLLEGE By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN rising golfer Tyesha Tynes couldn’t ask for a better way to end her sophomore season for the Hastings College Lady Broncos women’s golf team. At the CPAC Championships at the Centura Hills Golf Course in Cairo, Nebraska, from Monday to Tuesday, Tynes and teammate Kya Shatzer led the Lady Broncos with an overall score of +36 through three rounds. Both of their best scores were 81 after
round three for 23rd overall as they helped Hastings College to finish 10th out of the 12 teams participating as they wrapped up their spring season. “For the spring season, my season has improved from the fall season,” said Tynes in an interview with The Tribune. “I think that was impressive for me, considering that the weather in the spring is a little more harsh than the fall. I adjusted to that so that was a big accomplishment for me in that condition. I ended up
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THE SPORTS May CALENDAR ROAD TO TOKYO THE Silver Lightning Track Club is scheduled to hold its annual Track and Field Classic on Saturday, May 10, at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, starting at 9am. The event, dubbed the “Road to Tokyo,” will be used as a qualifier for athletes wishing to make Team Bahamas that will compete at the World Championships
from September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan. Interested athletes can contact coach Rupert Gardiner at 821-2836 for more information. BOCCE SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas has announced that its National Bocce Championships is
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