The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE not having the proper size field to play on, the Bahamas Government Departmental Softball Association kicked off its 2022 season over the weekend.

It was the first time that the league, now under the presidency of Dwayne Stevens, played since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that halted local sporting activities in 2020.

“We are happy to say that softball is back,” said Stevens after watching the series of games played on opening weekend on Sarturday and Sunday.

The games were staged at the Bankers Field in the Balliou Hills Sporting Complex. “We had some very good games and it showed that both the players and the fans are all eager to see softball back. We had only standing room in the stands.”

The league, undoubtedly the largest that exists on the island, is normally played at their home at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

But because their four fields are being renovated to accommodate the upcoming Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Tournament in June, the league had to move their games to the modified pitch field.

Stevens said they hope that once the tournament is completed, they would be able to return to their home facilities as the modified pitch field is not as acommodating in terms of the size.

He noted the league lost more than 20 balls being hit out of the park as a result of home runs that they were not able to retrieve.

He noted that the cost of softballs is extremely high and would add to the expenses in the option of the league as long as they use the Bankers Field.

In the ladies games played on Saturday, the Bahamas Departmental of Corrections Keepers roughed up the Royal Bahamas Police Force Interceptors 18-10 and the Royal Bahamas Police Force Enforcers blanked the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Waves 7-0.

The men’s games saw the PMH Medics blast the RBPF Enforcers 17-10, the PHA Rookies knocked of the BDOC Reformers 27-20, the RBPF Interceptors pulled off a 28-22 decision over the RBDF Floaters 28-22 and the BTC Lasers routed the RBDF Cannons 27-9.

On Sunday, the Electrotelcom Invaders ladies won 23-9 over the BTC Dials and in the men’s action, the PHM Rookies out-slugged the BTC Ringers 29-24 and the BDOC Reformers did a number on the RBDF Floaters 25-9.

Stevens noted that over the weekend, they also got to witness the first home run ball hit out of the park by a female player.

He said it bodes well for what is to come because the competition is extremely tough and the players are eager to play, even though many of the teams didn’t have sufficient fields to practice.

In addition to slowpitch, Stevens also serves as the president of the New Providence Softball Association.

He noted that the fastpitch league is expected to start in June, once they have completed all of the necessary transfers of documents from the previous administration.

It’s not yet certain how many teams will be participating.

“We are trying right now to galvanise the teams because as you would have realised, with no games played since 2020, a lot of the managers have lost interest and it’s a matter of trying to get them to reorganise their teams,” Stevens said.

“So once we can ascertain which teams will be available, then we can make a determination on exactly when we can start playing,” he added.

In reference to organising the two leagues, Stevens said he doesn’t foresee any problems because the two leagues are separate and apart, although there are some players who play both leagues.

He noted that once the BGDSA returns to their home site, the NPSA will look at the possibility of playing more games on the weekends on Saturday and Sunday. He said no decision will be made until they would have discussed the way forward with the team representatives.