The Tribune

THE prominence of the Bahamas in the region as a softball power will hopefully again be realised as the country prepares to host the initial English Caribbean Ladies Softball Championship and World Games Qualifier in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The event is set to be held in the softball stadium of the Grand Bahama Sports Complex January 23-27.

The class of English Caribbean Women’s Softball, namely Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Aruba, and Belize have been attracted to the Bahamas for this special event after the original host had to withdraw its offer and the event was in danger of being cancelled. It would have been an opportunity lost for women’s softball in the Bahamas and the English Caribbean region.

“This initial, rare opportunity is one in which the Bahamas feels its women’s team can be successful and go on to represent the country in Colombia in July in the International Softball Federation’s World Games. Hosting the championship in Grand Bahama became an option when the Bahamas Sports Authority advised that repairs needed to the facility in New Providence could not be affected by the proposed dates.

“For Grand Bahama this date is real, and with the needed corporate and community support the event could assist the island’s economy with almost 400 hotel room nights, as nearly 200 visitors shop in our stores, enjoy our restaurants, rent cars, and just experience a taste of Grand Bahama island. The BSF thanks those corporate entities that have already given their ECASC press release support and look forward to others doing the same. A special press conference is to be held soon where they will all be recognised.

“The event will offer a wonderful opportunity to see the top female softball players in the English Caribbean in action day and night through the support of the corporate and sporting community which we hope will again see the Bahamas as a major player in regional softball,” according to a press release.

Aside from the tournament, a clinic for softball pitchers and pitching coaches, to be conducted by Softball Canada, will be held prior to the event and is open to high school coaches and pitchers as a dedicated event and will also involve coaches and pitchers from some of the English Caribbean countries.

Youth pitchers and pitching coaches are asked to confirm their interest by contacting, in Freeport, Yvonne Lockhart – 533-7989, or in New Providence, Burkett Dorsette, 565-5095.

The date will be confirmed within the next week.

The BSF looks forward to the full support of the Grand Bahama community and the country’s corporate community as this is the first of an annual ECASC championship event and a good showing now can lead to attracting other ECASC disciplines as they come on stream, said the release.