The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Freedom Farm Farmers took their game international and emerged with a pair of championship teams at the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League Inner City Classic.

At the 23rd edition of the tournament hosted in Richmond, Virginia, in which more than 1,500 players took part, both the under-8 and under-10 teams claimed tournament titles for the Farmers.

The under-8 team won 12-5 for their second championship in the organisation’s participation in the MJBL Classic.

Manager Dion Munroe said the team performed exceptionally well as many of the players were playing against international competition for the first time.

“They performed above expectations. When they were challenged, they answered the call and they played very well. Our season started all the way back in January and most of these guys don’t play on the same team. While it is disappointing they didn’t get to play for the national championship, this title, it was a good way to end a fantastic season,” he said.

“We want to continually test them and I believe the preparation to get ready for this classic, it really made them gear up for this next season. Most of these guys will be going up a level in the 9-10 division so I believe what they went through this year really helped them for the next level. Most of the guys, this was their first year representing the country.”

The under-10 team won the third title for the Farmers in tournament history, with a 14-0 win in their divisional championship.

The under-12 team came up short in their championship bid, losing 5-3 in their division final.

The tournament is the oldest and longest running inner city baseball tournament in the United States.

Players aged six to 19 competed in six age divisions from 17 states and the Bahamas was the only international team.

Freedom Farm has been a part of this international organisation for the past eight years and captured its first championship in the eight-and- under division in Orlando, Florida, during the 21st edition of the tournament.

According to league executives, Freedom Farm delivered its “best performance in the history of the classic this year, dominating the competition throughout” in the event known as “The Black World Series.”

The 10-and-under team managed by Stephen Burrows finished at 6-0. They secured a spot in the championship by defeating the state champions Mosby Spartans out of Virginia to advance.

The 12-and-under team, managed by Patrick Moss, went undefeated in their pool with a 4-0 record to make it into the playoffs. They then defeated the state champions Hampton Road Grays out of Georgia 8-4 in the quarter finals, and then also defeated the MJBL Heat 15-5, before they fell to the Mosby Spartans in the final.