The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS a landmark day for the Maximum Development Sports Academy when three of its graduates - Lucius Fox Jr, Jasrado Chisholm and Larry Alcime Jr - were signed to Major League Baseball contracts yesterday.

Known as “MaxD”, the academy was founded by Geron Sands, Greg Burrows Jr and current professional players Antoan Richardson, of the Texas Rangers, and Albert Cartwright, of the Ottowa Champions in the Can-Am league.

The academy was created with several goals in mind, most notably to prepare aspiring student athletes for scholastic and professional opportunities through baseball.

Burrows placed the achievements of the young athletes in perspective by explaining the origin of MaxD. “We are witnessing a historic day,” he said.

“I thought it was important for people to understand the story behind Max D. It was Christmas of 2012 when me and my partners got together to talk about what we can do for baseball in the Bahamas.

“There have been guys that have come before us, like my father, Senator Greg Burrows Sr, Freedom Farm Baseball and all the leagues. They have done great things to this point, but we wanted to figure out how we can take it to the next level.

“How could we help our kids be seen more and have better opportunities than they were previously afforded? Like us, we went what was considered the normal route and we decided we were going to change the status quo and train guys right here in the Bahamas.”

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

All four came up through the Freedom Farm Baseball League and received scholarships to play at American Heritage High School in Delray Beach, Florida.

“We were not happy with Bahamian athletes just going off to school and not getting the opportunities they deserve. We know they have the talent and some guys just we’re being showcased and having that opportunity. All of us have pretty good baseball backgrounds playing in college and pro baseball,” Burrows said.

“We believe in our Bahamian athletes and the talent they bring to the table. We believe we can develop our athletes at home. We figured we had to do it right now because we did not want to let another year go by the wayside with another Bahamian baseball player not receiving that opportunity. The next step was to figure out how we were going to find the time for them to train to compete with everyone on the world stage. Once the Leadership Academy came on board, we were able to solidify the classroom aspect.”

Max D opened its doors in September 2013. It provides an avenue for players between 11 and 17 to hone their skills with the view to achieving scholarships in the United States, possibly with the opportunity to play eventually at the professional level.

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

The remainder of the afternoon is spent weight training or on the baseball diamond.

“We wanted these young men to have better opportunities than we had,” Richardson said. “If we had left this earth without using our networking ability to help someone else then what was it all for. Yeah, its cool I got to play with the (Atlanta) Braves and with the Yankees but if I don’t do anything with it, does it really matter?

“And I think that’s what it came down to for all of us. If we don’t do anything with what we have we would be just like anybody that didn’t do their part in baseball for the past however many years.”

MaxD hosted its inaugural 12 and under National All Star Game and several academy members were influential in the Freedom Farm team which narrowly missed a Little League World Series berth. Burrows was the manager of that Little League squad. They also hosted more than a dozen scouts from 10 Major League teams in February at the MaxD Pro Day.

“I would like to thank God for the opportunity he has given these young men and allowing us to be here for this historic day,” Sands said, “It’s a dream come true for most of us. The MaxD family wishes to congratulate them on their big day for them, for the country and for our organisation.”