The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Baseball Federation’s 2017 Grand Bahama Port Authority National Baseball Championships concluded on Sunday at the EMERA Baseball Stadium with the Junior Baseball League of Nassau taking four of the five titles back to New Providence.

The only crown that stayed in Grand Bahama was the high school (16-18 years old) division that saw the Grand Bahama Little League emerged as the champions over JBLN. In the other divisions, JBLN won the Coaches Pitch, Minor and Major

Coach Pitch 7-8 Championship

The JBLN made sure that the title didn’t slip out of their grasp again. After losing to Freedom Farm last year, JBN secured this year’s title they won 12-5 over Legacy.

The MVP was first baseman Shamari McKinney.

“It feels good. These guys are really determined,” said JBLN manager Felipe Sweeting. “Leading up to the tournament, we had some good practices. They were focused. They wanted it more than the coaches.

“So they came out this morning, well rested. They played very well.”

Sweeting said they had to keep their players motivated because they were anxious to get into the pool at the hotel. But he said playing the championship in the morning made all the difference in the world.”

Sweeting said his only regret is that Freedom Farm isn’t here to defend their title.

“They won last year, but they’re not here. That’s water under the bridge,” said Sweeting, who noted that they had something for their arch rivals in Nassau.

In their series of games, JBNL ended up 3-1, while Legacy Baseball League was 2-2 and the Grand Bahama Little League was 1-2.

Scores posted from their games are as follows: JBLN def. Legacy Baseball 15-5; Grand Bahama Little League def. Legacy Baseball 9-6; JBLN def. Grand Bahama Little League 10-0; Legacy def. Grand Bahama Little League 11-7; Legacy def. JBLN 11-8 and JBLN def. Grand Bahama 14-6.

Minor League 9-10 Championship

JBLN clinched another title with their 8-7 nipping of Legacy in one of the most exciting games played in the tournament. Alex Eneas was named the MVP.

Eneas, the son of former swimmer Geoffrey Eneas Jr and grandson of Geoffery Eneas Sr, won three of their five games played as a pitcher.

He also had a batting average of .250 after he produced three hits with three RBI and scored three times.

“I was very impressed, especially with our nine-year-olds,” said Elvardo Miller, manager of JBLN. “Our pitcher is actually nine years old and he’s going to be back next year. But I must commend the team we played.

“They played clean baseball in the tournament. We beat them once and tied them once. They are a very good team. They are a very good team. It came down to who had the most heart and who wanted it the most. These guys were determined to go back home with these medals.”

Earlier in the day, Legacy won the bronze medal after they held of the Community Baseball League 4-3.

In games played, JBLN def. Legacy 10-0; Legacy def. Grand Bahama Little League 9-5; Grand Bahama Little League def. JBLN 17-8; Legacy and JBLN played to 3-3 tie; Grand Bahama and JBLN played to 6-6 tie and Legacy def. Grand Bahama Little League 9-5.

Major League 11-12 Championship

JBLN saved their best game for the last as they avenged their 2-0 lost to undefeated Grand Bahama Little League in their first game on the tournament, live on Cable 12 on Friday night to bounce back and avenge the loss on television again with a 6-2 decision to add to the New Providence championship haul.

Sebastian Walcott was the winning pitcher, but Norman Bastian came in relief in the sixth inning to close the door on Grand Bahama. Stefan Farquharson opened the game by hitting a solo homer in the top of the first inning.

Steffy Martin was tagged with the loss.

“This was a good feeling. This was a combination of a lot of hard work,” said former basketball player Jeff Walcott, manager of JBLN. “The guys came out and really got what they put into it. It was really a team effort. Hats off to GB. They have always been a pretty good foe. This was just your year, no matter who came and didn’t come. This was our year.”

Walcott said they suffered the opening loss because they didn’t hit the ball and they made a few costly mistakes, but they managed to regroup and win the way they know they are capable of winning.

Bastian was named the MVP after he ended up with a .429 batting average. He had three homers, scored four times and drove in five runs.

From the round robin play, Legacy def. Community Baseball League 6-4; Grand Bahama Little League def. Eleuthera Junior Baseball League 11-1; Junior Baseball League def. Legacy Baseball League 11-1; Community Baseball League def. Eleuthera Baseball League 15-0; Grand Bahama Little League def. Legacy Baseball League 17-0; JBLN def. Eleuthera Baseball League 11-0; JBLN def. Community Baseball League 21-0; Legacy Baseball League def. Eleuthera Junior Baseball League 19-3.

Junior League 13-15 Championship

JBLN held of the Grand Bahama Little League 3-2 in their best-of-five series as Owen Taylor finished with five hits, including two doubles and as many triples with five RBI for the MVP. He finished with a .455 batting average.

“The guys did what they had to do. They played simple ball. They made the plays they needed to make and eventually we won the game,” said JBLN’s manager Dominic Elliott as they avenged last year’s runner-up position.

“Winning is always good, but the main thing is you could see the progression of the kids and that is more important. Winning is always good, but to see the development of the kids in the end is even better.”

Elliott said they came here with a pretty good team and so it was good to see them put it all together in the long run.

With only two teams entered in the division, their series went as follows: Grand Bahama Little League def. JBLN 3-2; JBLN def. Grand Bahama Little League 3-1; JBLN def. Grand Bahama Little League 6-4; Grand Bahama Little League def. JBLN 8-6; Grand Bahama Little League def. JBLN 8-5.

High School 16-18 Championship

With only two teams entered, the Grand Bahama Little League knocked of JBLN 3-1 in their best-of-five series as Warren Saunders was named the MVP. The shortstop had six hits with four RBI for a batting average of .600. He also had seven stolen bases.

“They were very strong, they were committed and they played very hard,” said Keel Pinder, the manager of Grand Bahama Little League. “I had a good squad coming in. The guys played together and they jelled.

“Even though some of them are off to school and we only had about a week to practice, the team chemistry was there. We had a good team.”

Pinder, however, said he was disappointed that they only had two teams, but on the flip side of the coin, he was delighted that it was two really competitive teams.

They were the only two teams in the division. In their games played, Grand Bahama Little League def. JBLN 8-6; JBLN def. Grand Bahama 6-4; JBLN def. Grand Bahama 3-1 and Grand Bahama def. JBLN 8-3.