The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

VERY seldom have you seen a parent and child combination reach the stage where they get to represent the country on a national team. Very seldom have you seen a scenario coming out of a Family Island.

The Perry family from Spanish Wells, Eleuthera celebrated over the weekend with the inclusion of mother Dorian and daughter Brandy on the women’s national softball team that represented the Bahamas at the English Speaking Association of Softball Confederation (ECASC)’s qualifying tournament for the World Championships in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

While Dorian Perry pitched in a few of the games, Brandy Perry played sparingly at second and third.

Manager Mario Ford said he was excited to have been afforded the opportunity to have them on the team after he first saw the in action at the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin Tournament that was played at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex last year.

“I didn’t know that they were mother and daughter until I spoke to them,” Ford said. “Actually there was another player from Spanish Wells, but we couldn’t get her on the team. It was a good experience for them and I’m glad that they got the exposure so that they can elevate their game to the next level.

“Hopefully other people can see this and be motivated by what they did. The mother is the type of player that is humble. I asked her to catch in game one and she was willing to do it, but I just let her pitch. She had about three hits in that game. And the daughter had about four or five hits total in the games she played. With a little more help, them can go a long way. So it was good for the island to exposure their players in the manner that they did.”

In just two years, Dorian Perry developed from scratch to a legitimate pitcher.

“I enjoyed being a part of the team. I didn’t pitch my best game, but I did alright,” said the 39-year-old mother.”This is just my second year pitching. This is my second year playing ball. I played when I was in school. But we don’t have any softball league in Eleuthera to play in.

“This was good. Everybody accepted me and my daughter. It was great. I really enjoyed playing on the team against the visiting teams.”

After getting the chance to bring a team to play in the round robin, the elder Perry said she decided to learn to pitch and she

Except for the round robin, the elder Perry said they never played in any tournaments before simply because they don’t have a league in Eleuthera.

“We play with the school girls just to stay in shape, so it’s great,” she said.

At age 16, Brandy Perry was the youngest member of the team, but she played as if she was a mature player.

“I was a little intimated at first, but I got it together,” said the high school student. “I think it was good that I had my mummy on the team. That was the best thing that could have happened for me.”

As for the performance of the team, Brandy Perry noted: “We played good. We hit the ball, but we just have to get our fielding together.”

Ford said hopefully the BSF will see fit to keep the Perrys in the system because they both can make a contribution.