The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN just a few swings, the inaugural Gatorade Maximum Development Sports Academy 12-and-Under All-Star Game went from a defensive struggle to a power-hitting display for rising star James Rolle.

Rolle claimed MVP honours with an awe inspiring three-home run, 11 RBI performance to lead Max D Orange to a 21-10 win over Max D Black.

Trailing 5-0 with two outs, Rolle ignited a rally with a three-run home run to plate Keithron Moss and Zion Bannister. Max D Orange tied the game at 5-5 on a two RBI double from Ian Lewis and took a 7-5 lead just moments later when Moss’ double drove home a pair of runs.

With the bases loaded, Rolle hit his second home run of the inning with a grand slam over the centrefield fence to give his team an 11-5 lead. Deashj Rolle followed with a two-run home run of his own to give Max D Orange a 13-5 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.

After Max D Black responded with a single run, Max D added another four runs in the top half of the sixth when James Rolle added an RBI single and Deashj Rolle followed with a two RBI double.

Rolle capped his MVP performance with another three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.

The game got off to a slow start offensively with both pitchers, Steffan McKenzie (Black) and Moss (Orange), controlling the game from the mound early on.

After McKenzie retired the first three hitters he faced, Moss struck out two of three to end the first.

In the second, Amagah McPhee’s single was the first hit of the game and an ensuing series of errors led to Javin Burrows and McPhee plating the opening runs of the game.

Orange would load the bases in the third with just one out, but was unable to score after hitting consecutive groundouts.

Tahj Burrows’ line drive plated Ethan Bain and Max D Black added two more runs to take a 5-0 lead after the third.

Neither team scored in the fourth before Max D Orange went on their rally in the fifth inning to take control for good.

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

Eight of the 24 players were from Family Islands.

Max D 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).

Sands addressed the crowd at the Freedom Farm Complex following the game and said the tournament is just one of many ventures to help baseball development in the country.

“We want to thank everyone involved with baseball, players, parents, coaches, fans volunteers, for helping something like this to come together. Events like this are all about exposure for our young players and creating an atmosphere where they can be recognised and play at a high level,” he said.

“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.”

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 and 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.