The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE I-BAP (Bahamas Athletic Pride) programme will host its fifth edition of The Show: All-Star Survival starting June 25 until July 2.

The event is set to commence with an opening church service on Sunday to kick off the series of events for the All-Star week leading up to the Top 100 combine and All-Star series.

The Top 100 combine and All-Star series will get underway at the Banker’s Field, Baillou Hill Sporting Complex for three divisions. This year’s divisions are 13 and under, 16 and under and 19 and under.

The Top 100 event will be a first for softball in the country and will showcase the prowess of athletes while raising more awareness for illnesses and social issues.

Dachye Stubbs, director of softball for the International Elite Sports Academy, talked about the importance of the top 100 combine set for June 29.

“The Top 100 combine or showcase is typically where athletes showcase their athletic skills, including speed, power, strength and agility to identify the top players for the sport and in this instance, The Bahamas,” Stubbs said.

She said it is also essential for softball players as it puts them in good standing for high-level recruiting, especially if their metrics are good.

Each of the participants will compete in a number of drills and based on the criteria and their performances will be ranked 1-100 overall per age division and island.

Although the event is staged to highlight the skills of softball players, since the start in June 2018 it is also hosted to bring awareness to illnesses and social issues in society.

The director of softball said bringing awareness to these things prompts the children to know more about them as well.

“We wanted to raise awareness to illnesses and social issues that affect women and children. As global minorities, there is a greater disadvantage for us, it prompts the kids themselves to do research about whatever they are representing,” she said.

Stubbs said it also gives individuals suffering from these illnesses or social issues a beacon of hope and a greater sense of knowing that they are sane.

Some of the team names this year will include teams breast cancer, lupus, autism, sickle cell, gender based violence, child abuse and mental health.

Despite the last hosting of this event happening in May 2021, event organisers said that fans will be in for a real treat as the talent pool contains softball players from high school, and college.

“Fans can expect high-level softball play and coaching as we move into the weekend where we play the talent filled all-star series…the talent pool is so good you can’t call it in advance each all star series comes down to the wire in determining a winner every year,” Stubbs said.

The I-BAP softball program is a part of the International Sports Academy and has been responsible for securing professional sports contracts and collegiate scholarships for athletes and assisted high-school student athletes with financial aid.

Over the years the program has expanded since its start with 26 girls and 6 coaches to 100 girls and over 20 coaches this year. The program has blossomed from New Providence to showcasing athletes from Grand Bahama, Abaco, Long Island, Exuma, and Eleuthera. The program aims to have at least one player and coach from each major island in the upcoming years.

Individuals interested in witnessing the best youth in softball can watch the Top 100 combine and all star series at the Banker’s Field at a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under.