The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas (Freedom Farm Baseball League) was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Cal Ripken Baseball Major 70 World Series but the team was still recognised for its efforts as a unit and with several individual awards.

Team Bahamas won the "Sportsmanship Award" and produced four All-Tournament Team selections - Andru Arthur, Lavardo Deveaux, Shimonte Bain and Cleve Sutherland.

They finished the tournament with a 2-2 win-loss record at the BallParks of Americas Field in Branson, Missouri.

The Bahamas was eliminated in the International semi-final with an 8-0 loss to Japan. Japan went on to defeat Virginia 6-2 to win the Cal Ripken Major 70 World Series.

The Bahamas opened the tournament with a 14-4 win over Australia. Cleve Sutherland and Brian Johnson each had three strikeouts on the mound in the win.

Daniel Gator drove in three RBI and scored one run. Deveaux had two RBI and scored three runs, Breyias Dean had two RBI while Kashon Conliffe and Arthur each scored two runs.

They moved to 2-0 after a dominant 12-1 win over New Zealand.

Arthur went the distance and pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts en route to the win.

Deveaux had a home run, drove in three RBI and scored three runs. Gator drove in three RBI and scored one run whole Arthur also helped his own cause with two RBI and one run.

They concluded the preliminary round with an 8-3 loss to Puerto Rico.

Arthur drove in two RBI and scored two runs with two stolen bases, while Conliffe added another RBI.

The Bahamas was one of 24 teams competing in the tournament.

Major 70 is a level of baseball beyond Little League but before professional that allows players to play on 70ft base paths with a 50ft pitching distance. It also allows runners to take leads and steal for the first time, playing mainly by official baseball rules.

This innovation helped to prepare the youth for better transition to the 90ft diamonds of the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 and 16-18 divisions of play.

Today, Babe Ruth League has more than 1,000,000 players on 56,000 teams in 9,000 leagues in eight countries and all 50 states.

Last month, Freedom Farm closed out competition at the Caribbean Regional Qualifier for the Little League World Series with a historic finish for The Bahamas. The team claimed the bronze medal at the event with a 6-1 win over Aruba at the tournament in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.

Radames Lopez (Puerto Rico) won the tournament 5-2 over Pabao Aruba) and will represent the Caribbean at the Little League World Series August 16-26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.