The Tribune

By LEESHAN MORLEY

Tribune Intern

NOW that the Bahamas Games are over, another tournament is preparing to grace the Bahamas shores.

The Babe Ruth Caribbean Championship and Invitational is set to take off at 8am on Thursday and will continue until Monday the following week.

The venue: The Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium and The Baillou Hills Softball Complex.

Greg Burrows, commissioner of the Babe Ruth Baseball Caribbean Region, was able to elaborate on the number of teams coming and preparations being made for the championship games.

A total of 18 teams are scheduled to start arriving today and four more teams are expected to come in on Wednesday.

Burrows was also able to confirm that The Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium will be ready for this year’s championship after not having it completed from the following year.

“I am proud to say yes they will be able to play baseball in our stadium.”

The competition has been divided into two divisions. The first one being 16 and under division which is an invitational including teams from outside of the Caribbean.

The second is the 12 and under division which is the road to the World Series.

The champions of this division will be representing the region.

In team member selection, all small countries were able to create an all-star team selecting the best of the best.

Burrows is confident in the players selections. Burrows stated, “We have the strongest we believe that’s available from which we can select.”

Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, spoke on how this event is more than just a competition. “It is more than baseball; this is life for many people, communities to come together, and the potential for our youths to get exposed so they can fulfil their full potential.” Lightbourne further went on to encourage Bahamians to come out and support the country in the championships. “I am encouraging our people in this country to get ready to come and support your people, support your country, support sports in this country.”