The Tribune

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS

THE 14th annual Andre Rogers Baseball Championship is being held by the Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF) in Grand Bahama this week, with 25 teams from five islands competing to become national champions.

There are five age groups competing at this year’s event at the Emera Baseball Complex in Freeport - 7-8 years, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-18. Although there are 17 teams in the 13-15 group, the competition is fierce in all categories. The competition started on Thursday night and finishes on Sunday.

Theodore Sweeting, the BBF president, told The Tribune that the annual event “gives all kids the opportunity to go to different islands” to compete in the sport that they love. Additionally, he emphasised how important the competition is for Bahamian baseball players who wish to take their game to the professional level.

Professional scouts from Major League Baseball (MLB) teams like the Cincinnati Reds have been in attendance at the competition looking to find hidden Bahamian sporting talent. Mr Sweeting also said that on Friday, MLB hosted a morning tryout, which saw 20 young prospects show off their skills. A selection from them will be chosen for the MLB instructional clinic to be held in Nassau in July and August.

Two groups of prospective MLB stars will get a chance to perform at this clinic, with one session for the 11th-12th grade students and another for the 9th-10th graders.

This year, the championship has received sponsorship from local businesses, including the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Focol Oil and Pelican Bay. New Providence-based companies have also contributed, including Insurance Management, Summit Insurance, Gatorade and d;Albena's Agency.