The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

USING the opportunity to never give up on your dreams, Anfernee Seymour is going back to his roots this weekend to share his experience as a professional baseball player at Freedom Farm.

And while he will be hosting sessions on Saturday and Sunday for boys, he’s providing an avenue for girls to improve in softball with American Olympian Natasha Watley coming to town to share her expertise.

“I decided to put this one to give back to the kids at Freedom Farm,” said Seymour, who got started in the organisation there and went on to play for St Augustine’s College before he left to complete high school at American Heritage in Delray Beach, Florida.

Seymour, now in the Miami Marlins organisation, said there are some big plans in store for the future. “I’m also opening up the Anfernee Seymour Foundation, which will provide kids to get seen by college and professional scouts for those players who are less fortunate, but still have the ability to play the game.”

During the camp, which starts at 10am on Saturday and continues at 12:30pm Sunday, Seymour said the campers will be taught the basic fundamentals of the game.

Watley is in the same MVP Sports Group as Seymour.

Having celebrated her 37th birthday yesterday, Watley can be remembered as a former softball player for the UCLA Bruins, USA Softball Women’s National team and the USSSA Pride.

She helped the Bruins win a national college championship title and Team USA to the gold medal in softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

At 5-feet, 10-inches, Watley was the first African-American female to play on the USA team in the Olympics and she is the career batting average leader in the National Pro Fast pitch where she played with the New York Juggernauts, Philadelphia Force and USSSA Pride from 2005-2015.

She was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on October 11, 2014 and officially retired in 2017. Seymour, 23, said he’s delighted to be able to host Watley in a co baseball/softball camp this weekend. She will be introduced to the public at a press conference today at Baha Mar.

“Honestly, it’s something special and hopefully not only the media take note of her being here, but also the powers that be,” he said. “It’s a honor to bring someone with all of her accolades here is special.”

Next year, Seymour said he intent to travel to North and Central Andros, Bimini and Abaco to assist in the opening of leagues on those islands.

Additionally, Seymour said his agency are looking to improve on this year’s clinic.

Seymour, a 5-11, 165-pound right fielder, was signed by the Marlins to as free agent to a minor league contract on May 10, four days after he was released by the Florida Fire Frogs.

On June 2, he was assigned to the Double A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and spent time with that team and the Jupiter Hummerheads as he completed his fifth sting in the minor league in September.

“The only way up for me is Triple A or the Major League,” Seymour projected. “I am hoping that I will get that opportunity next year.

“I think I had a pretty good run so far in the league. Last year, I started off pretty slow I ended up getting released by the Braves, but after I got picked up by the Marlins, I decided that I had to pick it up and do the things that I have been doing all along.”

Since he completed his season, Seymour has been at home enjoying a relaxing atmosphere with family and friends.

“It’s always good to be back home,” he insisted. “It’s good to be around people who just light up my life, especially coming off the rough year that I had at the beginning of the season.

“I ended it strong, so it’s good to be around family and friends.”

This weekend will indeed be one of those special moments.