The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CRAIG ‘Salty’ Kemp, already on the job preparing for his next tenure in office, was returned as president of the Bahamas Baseball Federation for the fourth consecutive time, beating out challenger Clarence McKenzie 5-4 in a closely contested voting procedure on Saturday.

The post or president and that of assistant treasurer were the only two positions that had any contenders during the federation’s annual general meeting. After the votes were tallied, Marsha Munnings emerged with a 5-4 decision over Terran Rodgers.

“It feels good to have another opportunity to serve. I’m appreciative that the membership saw the need for my leadership,” said Kemp, who has served for four straight three-year terms, but acknowledged that he won’t be looking for a fifth team in 2015.

On the close call this time around, Kemp said he didn’t expect it. “They did their job in getting to the members and selling their platform. I didn’t do anything,” Kemp said. “Some people didn’t know that I was going to run. I just decided to do it after some people approached me to stay on. But they did what they had to do in order to secure some of the votes.”

Immediately following the AGM and elections, Kemp was headed on a plane for Grand Bahama where he participated in a series of meetings on Sunday. He was due to have another meeting today with the Grand Bahama Port Authority before returning home tonight.

“We have a lot of work to do to keep the programme going,” Kemp said. “I’m just doing the job that I was elected to do.”

Kemp and Munnings joined the remainder of the election that went in by acclamation during the nomination process when Stephen Adderley, Alonzo Pratt and Jamal Moss, all from Grand Bahama and Bertram Murray were returned as vice presidents, Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting as secretary general, Dillon Dean as treasurer and Jeannie Scavalla as assistant secretary general.

Although 26 delegates participated in the AMG, only nine members were eligible to vote during the elections held in the Board Room at the Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture.

The members came from the Youth Baseball Association of Abaco, Freedom Farm Baseball League, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau, the Eleuthera Junior Baseball League of Rock Sound, the Grand Bahama Little League, the Grand Bahama Amateur Baseball Association, the Legacy Baseball League, the Inagua Baseball Association and the New Providence Amateur Baseball League.

“The AGM was a resounding success. We are growing by leaps and bounds. The involvement of the Family Island members in the electoral process and the direction for baseball in the country is very good.

“It was a close election in respect to president Kemp and Clarence McKenzie. We are growing and people want to see the progress of the federation continue. So we are pleased with how things turned out. We are moving in the right direction.”

During the AGM, the membership agreed to the following:

Hosting of the Little League Qualifier:

o 2014 Caribbean Regional LITTLE LEAGUE Qualifier

o Dates: July 18-27, 2014

o Location: Freeport, Grand Bahama

o Bahamas will have two teams in the qualifier tournament

Affiliate Members – receiving Full Membership & Voting Rights in 2014

o Community Baseball League

o Exuma Baseball League – Present 2013 AGM

o North Abaco Baseball Association

National Baseball Championship (NBC)

o Dates: Wednesday June 18-22, 2014

o Location: Freeport, Grand Bahama

BBF Mini Tournaments:

George Town, EXUMA – Coach Pitch Challenge

o Dates: Friday March 14-16, 2014

Rock Sound, ELEUTHERA – 11/12 Division Challenge

o Dates: Friday May 2-4, 2014

Marsh Harbour, ABACO – 9/10 Division Challenge

o Dates: Friday May 16-18, 2014

Also, four (4) constitutional additions were unanimously agreed by the executive body and added to the BBF Constitution for 2013. And in 2014, the federation has decided to honour four lifetime members - Pat Ingraham, Jeff Albury, Bernie Turnquest, Jason Moxey and James Gardiner.