The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Baseball Federation continues the celebration of its 10th anniversary with the highlighting of a decade of successful accomplishments.

The Federation continued its series of little league openings this weekend with the Grand Bahama Little League Saturday in the nation's second city.

February 4 will be the opening ceremonies of the Legacy Baseball League followed by the All Abaco League February 11 and Eleuthera Baseball February 18.

BBF 2012 patron is the legendary Ed Armbrister - a member of the two-time World Series Champions - the "Cincinnati Reds."

Armbrister has been the guest of the BBF at the first three membership league openings in January.

Dan Weightman, president of Long Island Baseball Association, credited the executives for bringing together each of the islands to honour Armbrister and 10 years of excellence.

"On behalf of the Long Island Baseball Association, I would like to thank all those who made this day a great success. Much thanks to the executive board, coaches, sponsors, and parents.

"Special thanks to the BBF executive committee members (President Craig Kemp / Secretary General Theodore Sweeting) who came to assist and support our opening. Also, a special hats off to Ed Armbrister (former major league player) for the encouraging speech he delivered to our league at the opening ceremonies. With this strong start to our league, we are poised for another great season."

Secretary general Teddy Sweeting said members are looking forward to some great things in the sport.

"This is the start of the baseball season," said Sweeting, who noted that the federation will play a vital role in highlighting the success of its organisation over the past decade.

"During this year, as well, we have selected legendary Ed Armbrister as our patron. He will accompany us to all of the opening of the leagues under her umbrella throughout the year."

The first league opening ceremony was January 7 at Freedom Farm in Yamacraw, followed by January 14, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau.

"We have a lot of high expectations," said Sweeting, who noted that they have been proud of the achievement of the various high school, college and professional baseball players in the United States.

"We are preparing the list of the young men who have gone off in August and January this year and we will be highlighting them whenever we get an opportunity to do so."

Additionally, Sweeting said the federation will be launching its website in short order, which will highlight all of their players abroad and give the public a view of everything that is happening in the sport.

"Once everything is finalized, we will make an official release on it. But we are looking at playing senior baseball this year.

"That is most definite, while we wait for the plans for the new stadium to be approved and the construction started."