The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN preparation for their fifth annual invitational this weekend, the Reloaded Baseball hosted its ‘Diamond in the Rough’ baseball and softball skills training camps for boys and girls.

The camps were conducted yesterday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium just before the tournament kicks off today and wraps on Sunday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium for baseball and the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex for softball for the girls.

Yvanna McDonald, one of the lead instructors for the girls' softball camp, said it was important to provide the opportunity for the sport to continue to grow. "It's been a great experience, seeing girls who I haven't seen in three years, not being able to pick up a ball, to be able to have a full range of motion and love the sport they once most dreaded," McDonald said.

During the one-day camp for the girls, which included instructions from visiting coach Ali McKnight and local coach Stephen 'Bishop' Beneby, the campers were instructed on pitching and defensive strategies.

"We spent a lot of time on agility and speed and proper mobility and stretching," McDonald said. "They also will get to do some hitting to get them ready for the tournament."

McKnight, who coached McDonald during her collegiate career in Tennessee, said she's delighted to be reunited with her former player for the third consecutive year.

"This has been awesome. I love coming here and assisting the girls in trying to reach their dreams and aspirations in the sport," said McKnight, who owns a softball academy where she helps players to further their skills in the sport.

During the camp, McKnight pointed that they took the girls through all aspects of the sport and at the same time, get them ready for the tournament this weekend.

Both the girls and boys tournaments will get started today at 9am.

They are scheduled to play all day on Saturday and then wrap up on Sunday.

Caitlyn McWilliams, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Queen's College, is back for her second appearance at the tournament.

"Last year when I came, I learnt a lot. I developed my skills and I want to get better," she said. "I also want to continue to have fun and make no friends during the tournament."

With the experience she gains, McWilliams said she hope to display it on the field for the Comets when their senior girls team play in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools' league.

Christina Cargill, a 13-year-old ninth grader at Windsor School, said she only started playing softball about three weeks ago and she wanted to broaden her horizon beyond soccer and tennis.

"The camp has been nice. I've learnt how to field the ball," she stressed. "But I'm looking forward to the tournament because I will get a chance to hit the ball more."

Garjae Green, a 13-year-old 10th grader at Tabernacle Baptist Academy, said she is thrilled to be able to come in from Grand Bahama to participate.

"It's a very entertaining camp and you can learn a lot from it," she stated. "It's also a lot of exercises, which should get you in shape.

But it's really hot here, compared to Grand Bahama where it's much cooler."

As for the tournament, Green said she's looking forward to playing her best.

Beneby, one of Reloaded softball mentors, said thew camp is a yearly thing to get the players prepared for the three-day tournament this weekend.

"We're happy to once again have McKnight come over from the United States, but it just shows that softball is softball, no matter where it is played," he proclaimed.

"At Reloaded, we don't have teams. We have a developmental program. We develop the girls and they branch out and play for whoever they want to play for.

"We only care about the development of the sport. For the tournament, we just want the girls to go out there and have some fun and display the skills they were taught."