The Tribune

WHILE the Softball Division in the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) is doing wonders here in Nassau, the JBLN girls are now making their mark abroad.

“Over the last few years, a number of girls have been granted opportunities to continue their education in the United States. With good grades and dedication to softball, several of the girls are now studying and playing in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Vermont, Maryland and Florida.

“It was my husband’s dream from the start to give our girls an opportunity to get a chance to further their education abroad through softball. He is so very proud of his girls,” said Sherry Beneby of her husband Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby.

The following girls are now playing high school softball abroad and have been very successful on the field and in the classroom:

• Erin Johnson and Brenay Greenslade – both are JBLN Softball Division products and are attending St Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, Virginia, as sophomores. They are involved in volleyball and softball. They will be starting their softball season in the spring. Their grades are good and they are taking advantage of this opportunity.

• Kevique Ferguson and Kendalia Turner – both are JBLN Softball Division products and are in their first year at Lyndon Institute in Lyndon Center, Vermont. Both were exceptional players in JBLN and are doing well on the volleyball court and the classroom. Their grades are ‘off the charts’ good and looking forward to playing on the varsity softball team in the spring. They have also been chosen to participate with the Junior Olympic softball team at Lynden State College nearby to their school.

• Alexandra Gardner – She started playing baseball in JBLN at five years old and has been playing baseball and softball ever since. Alexandra started her freshman year last August at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. She immediately made it starting on second base on the varsity softball team last fall. She was a major contributor in the team’s success, making it to the Georgia State Regional Softball Playoffs. She is excelling in the classroom, sports and in her other passion, the piano. She is grateful to JBLN and all her past coaches, especially coach Bishop and Sherry.

• Richa Cartwright, a JBLN product, is attending The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. She is in her second year and played softball last spring and is looking forward to their 2015 season in March. She is grateful for the opportunity to attend school abroad, it has been a life- changing experience.

• Danielle Kallergis played in the JBLN Softball division for two years before leaving for South Florida last August. She is at Cooper City High School in Cooper City, Florida. She played on the varsity softball team last fall and is doing well at school.

• Keychelle Ferguson played in JBLN from the age of six. She is now at the Ashville School in Ashville, North Carolina. While the Ashville School does not offer softball as a sport, she is doing well at school and is looking forward to returning to Nassau in the summer and playing for JBLN in the Pony Nationals Tournament in Washington DC.

• Kayleigh Waters played baseball and softball at JBLN for a number of years before her family moved to Maryland. She is playing organised softball for Middletown High School and a softball club travel team.

The JBLN Girls Softball division is entering its fourth season as part of the Junior Baseball League of Nassau programme. Initially spearheaded in 2012 by the JBLN Board of Directors along with Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby and his wife Sherry, the league wanted to give young women a constructive and safe environment to pursue softball as a sport. The success of this division can be seen every Saturday and Wednesday evening at the Field of Dreams.

“It is wonderful to see some of the brightest and most talented Bahamian girls getting together and playing softball at a high level,” says Sherry Beneby. “The league is grateful for the assistance of company sponsors and local organisations for their donations making the softball division possible.

In November 2014, the Rotary of East Nassau donated $1,500 towards girls’ softball, according to a press release. “This money went directly to offset the cost of registration fees for girls in need. Many who could not afford to pay for the season were able to play thanks to Rotary of East Nassau and many other private donors and sponsors. JBLN looks forward in continuing its support of youth in the Bahamas.

“The organisation is very thankful for its sponsors and donors. Without their help none of this would have been possible. Rotary of East Nassau and all of the team sponsors have been so very gracious in their support.

“The success that these girls studying abroad are enjoying is in large part a result of past and present sponsors. The league is encouraged that a number of girls playing in the 2015 JBLN season are looking at credible opportunities to study abroad in the fall of 2015. On behalf of JBLN and the JBLN Girls Softball division, thank you sponsors,” said the release.