New Pony division increases Bahamas' chances

By SHELDON LONGLEY,NG Sports Reporter

With an objective to have at least one team in the Pony League World Series in California and Pennsylvania, the Bahamas Baseball Federation is taking full advantage of the benefits offered to them.

As the host country for this year's Pony Caribbean Zone Championships, The Bahamas has the freedom of placing two teams in each age category, and that is exactly what they are doing. 'Bahamas Area' and 'Bahamas Host' will represent the country in both the 13-year-old age group and the 13-14 group.

"Today is an exciting day for the federation as we now try to display the teams that are going to be represented in this tournament," said Teddy Sweeting, General Secretary of the federation and also tournament organizer.

"All of the technical part that is needed to be done is already completed and we are ready to go. We just want the people out here and support these young guys. We want them to come out here with the Junkanoo music and cheer on these 13- and 14-year-old young men. We talk so much about baseball in this country and this is what is positive about this game."

The 13-year-old group is a new age category that is being implemented by Pony League this year and its World Series will be held in Chico Hills, California. Meanwhile, the 13-14 Pony League World Series will be held in Pennsylvania.

Not wanting The Bahamas to automatically represent the entire Caribbean in the 13-year-old group, Puerto Rico, who hadn't initially planned on fielding a team in that category, decided at the last minute to send one down.

With St. Martin also coming down to compete in the 13-14 group, the team breakdown is as follows:

13 year olds 13-14 year olds

Bahamas Area Bahamas Area

Bahamas Host Bahamas Host

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico

St. Martin

Puerto Rico and St. Martin will arrive in town this morning and competition will get underway tomorrow afternoon. The Opening Ceremony is set for Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., and the feature game that same night, will pin arguably the two best teams in the tournament against each other - Bahamas Area versus Puerto Rico in the 13-14 category.

"Puerto Rico is the defending world champions in the 12-year-old age bracket so they are going to be very strong and we have to come out with everything that we have to be able to compete with them," Sweeting said.

The gold medal games for the right to represent the Caribbean at the Pony League World Series will be played Sunday evening at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Diamond and the Closing Ceremony will be immediately afterwards.

As far as The Bahamas' chances are concerned, Greg Burrows Jr., who will coach the 13-14 Bahamas Area team said that it is as good as it has ever been.

"These guys this year are relaxed and excited at the same time because this is a big tournament," Burrows Jr. said. "I try to get them relaxed before practice and get them to be confident in themselves. We are practising on the field that we are actually going to play on and I think that is going to work to our advantage. We know every nook and cranny of the field and that is definitely going to work to our advantage. We have definitely taken the necessary steps to be successful in this tournament."

Last year in Puerto Rico, The Bahamas was represented by 'Legacy' out of Grand Bahama, and they gave a remarkable showing before falling to the host country 2-1 in the championship game.

Anjoun Armaly Jr., 14, played on that Legacy team last year, and as a member of the Bahamas Area 13-14 team this year, he is out for revenge.

"I am very excited and proud that we are in this tournament," Armaly Jr. said. "We are working together everyday and we are willing to do whatever it takes to win this time. All of us are close and we communicate well on the field. The pitching on the team is excellent and we just need to execute when the ball is in play."

Patrick Knowles Jr., 13, is also playing in the 13-14 age group and will also be a member of the Bahamas Area team.

"I feel good because we have a very strong team," he said. "We have strong pitching and everything. We are not worried about the other teams because errors cause us to lose, so if we can eliminate them, we will be alright."

Both the north and south fields have been renovated in preparation for the biggest Pony League tournament to ever be held in The Bahamas. Even the Andre Rodgers stadium has been upgraded for the hosting of the tournament.

"The fields are just about completed. We are now finishing the laying of the clays on each of the fields," tournament organizer Sweeting said. "The two outside fields will be very much ready to go and then there will just be some minor stuff to be done to the stadium to get that ready for the opening ceremony."

BBF President Greg Burrows Sr. said that the federation is in total support and they are eagerly anticipating a very competitive tournament.

"We think that a tournament like this is needed to take us to a higher lever in baseball in this country," Burrows Sr. said. "Before just guys from Freeport or guys from Freedom Farm used to go to these tournaments, but we have finally put it all together and we are hoping that we have put together the right formula to make this thing happen. We are going to see what the results of our labour are after this week."

Shayne Russell, facilities officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said that they were approached by the BBF in connection with the tournament and that they were willing to facilitate them.

"We just wanted to make sure that everything was in place for them," Russell said. "Fortunately we were able to get them a baseball grant and that helped them out a lot. It was very expensive but it was worthwhile. I think that it is going to be a very good tournament and I am proud to say that the baseball federation is doing a very good thing in bringing these foreign teams over here.

"Hopefully a tournament like this will put Bahamians on the map and give us an idea of what can happen with our youth if we put them in different areas instead of just focussing on track and field."