By FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

The program cultivated by the Bahamas Baseball Federation is awesome. Between the Junior Baseball League of Nassau, Freedom Farms in New Providence, Legacy in Grand Bahama and about 11 other affiliated island teams, the BBF is indeed a grand organization.

Today, I use the JBLN as an example of the vastness of the BBF in the nation.

Commissioner Jeff Albury informs that 390 players from 30 teams were registered for the start of the current season which is drawing to a close. That's incredible. You would have to search far and wide in this country to find any sports league that compares with JBLN. Albury and his associates are doing a wonderful job and they exemplify what the BBF is all about.

The amount of teams in the JBLN has caused an exciting bottle-neck situation as, according to Albury, "numerous teams are fighting for playoff positions." This speaks to a rousing conclusion to the regular season and an even more enthusiastic post-season competition. There will be no action this weekend, but play will continue on May 3 and conclude over the May 17 weekend.

There is excitement throughout the JBLN.

Here's a summary of how the divisions are looking, as provided by Albury:

* TEE BALL

"With only one game left in the regular season, the Raptors have clinched the pennant. The Seadogs, Grasshoppers and Blue Claws are fighting for second and third places in order to get into the playoffs that will start on May 17. The second and third place teams will clash in a one-game elimination for the right to advance against the Raptors in a best-of-three championship series."

* COACH PITCH

"The Angels have clinched the pennant and will meet either the Blue Jays or the Diamondbacks in the championship series. The two latter teams are still fighting leading up to the elimination game on Wednesday, May 21."

* MINOR LEAGUE

"The Mets and the Red Sox are deadlocked in a tie for first place with identical 11-2 records. The pennant will most likely be decided when they meet on May 3. The loser of this game will play the Rays in the elimination game with the winner advancing to the championship series."

* MAJOR LEAGUE

"With two weeks left in the season, the Marlins hold a one-game lead over the Indians and Reds with the Braves two games back. Playoff and pennant positions in this division probably will not be decided until the last week of the season. The Marlins and Indians have two games to play while the Reds have one game and the Braves have three games left."

* JUNIOR DIVISION

" The Cardinals have clinched the pennant with the Nationals holding onto second place. The Twins and the Yankees are tied for third with identical records. All three teams have two games remaining in the regular season and are battling for second and third spots in an effort to get to the elimination contest and advance to the championship series against the Cardinals."

* SENIOR SEASON

"The Tigers have clinched the pennant and the Athletics and Orioles will be playing the elimination game to advance to the championship series."

The above summarized a thrilling and competitive program. The BBF through the JBLN and the other leagues stretched out around this beautiful archipelago of ours will undoubtedly continue to produce quality players who will earn scholarships and go on to play professional baseball. I think it would be safe to bet that from out of the womb of the BBF will come some more Bahamian Major League players.

Amazingly it has been some 30 years since the Bahamas has had a presence in the Major Leagues. Edison (Ed) Armbrister with the Cincinnati Reds in 1976 was our last hurrah at that supreme level in baseball. He makes up a list of five Bahamians who have played in the Major Leagues. The pioneer was Andre Rodgers who started with the New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) in 1958. Then, Tony Curry followed as those two late great Bahamians paved the way for Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Will Culmer.

Ironically, Armbrister, the only one of the lot, is still alive.

I believe the mantle will be picked up in the not-too-distant future.