The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MAXIMUM Development Sports Academy was a trailblazing concept when it was established less than a year ago and the institution continues its effort in creating avenues for young baseball players to showcase their skills.

Maximum Development is scheduled to host the inaugural 12 and Under National All Star Game 7pm April 25 at the Freedom Farm Baseball Complex in Yamacraw.

The All-Star contest, presented by Gatorade, will feature 24 of the best players in that age group throughout the country including prospects from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma and Spanish Wells.

Affectionately known as “MaxD,” the academy was founded by Geron Sands, Greg Burrows Jr and current minor league prospects Antoan Richardson (New York Yankees organisation) and Albert Cartwright (Philadelphia Phillies organisation).

The quartet were a few of many players who have benefitted from their involvement in the junior programme by going through the ranks of high school, college and the professional circuit, and now making an even greater contribution with the establishment of MaxD.

Sands said the tournament is just one of many ventures to recreate that success for a new generation on a larger scale through the game of baseball.

“Our aim is to create a professional baseball environment that our country is in need of. We have a tremendous amount of talent here, it just needs to be honed properly and the players need as many opportunities as possible to play at a high level,” Sands said. “This is the best group of players at that age group in the entire country coming together to represent their league and their islands so we know it will be an incredibly competitive atmosphere, which we expect will bring out the best in our players.”

Tickets for the game are available at Crave Deli, Dowdeswell and Deveaux streets.

Sands said the group anticipates hundreds of spectators for the game as they aim to recapture the excitement for the game at the local level.

“We want to give these guys a chance to play in a professional atmosphere, under the lights at night, with the entire country focused on them and recognition for being selected as one of the best in their division,” Sands said.

“This is the most competitive age group in the Bahamas so we saw fit to start here and put them on centre stage. The reception for it has been tremendous and we look for the park to be filled with spectators eager to see baseball played at a high level.

MaxD is located in the former Tropical Shipping building on East Bay Street.

It provides an avenue for players between the ages of 11-17 years to hone their skills with the view of achieving scholarships in the USA, possibly with the opportunity to eventually play at the professional level.

Under its unique concept, MaxD has opened its door between the hours of 7am to noon for the students to be tutored in on-line home-based educational classes conducted by the Leadership Academy.

There are future plans for the construction of a baseball field with an artificial turf in Tropical Shipping’s abandoned warehouse on the waterfront overlooking the Atlantis resort.

The venue will be ideal with its background to attract teams - high schools, colleges and pros - to come to the Bahamas to compete.