SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
Minister makes his contribution to Budget Debate By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net SEVERAL significant initiatives took centre stage for Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard, as he addressed the impact his ministry will have on his administration’s budget. In his contribution to the 2017/18 Budget Debate yesterday, Pintard addressed several issues in the local sporting community which will be affected by the budget, most notably the improvement to infrastructure and seeking new revenue sources to assist the continued developments of sports tourism. He noted the government has invested millions in hosting marquee international events, however, he insisted that the current model must change and alternative funding sources must be utilised
to defray cost. “We have focus will be not merely over the course of the to provide government last year had two of the funding for internalargest sporting federational events as we are tions in the world come now expected to do and to the Bahamas to comwill continue. With the pete - the IAAF and of Commonwealth Youth course FIFA. We have Games what comes up contributed a tremenin a very short time, the dous amount of money government has comas a government to these mitted again, more than games - $7.6 million to $7 million to this enterthe IAAF and we beprise,” Pintard said. lieve that the World Re“The time has come lays was a magnificent for the Department of PINTARD event. Sports along with the “We also believe that Ministry of Tourism, the FIFA event was a wonderful to reach out both nationally and event, $5.8 million. At a later date, internationally and to work with we will offer deeper analysis and our federations so that we attract critique of those figures and what millions of dollars to help us to dewe got in return. While we cel- fray the cost of these international ebrate the fact that the country has events. We have not sufficiently, in this place on the global stage, we the Bahamas, taken advantage of know we can do better. This year television rights, of merchandising
rights. We have to move away from the government being the sole funder of these events, it is not a sustainable option for a country of this size with our budget. “The ministry with responsibility for staff understands it, the federations we have met with, we have shared this message as well, and so toward this end we expect over the course of this calendar year to work with persons of the financial services community, local and internationally, so that we are able to design a strategic plan to attract the millions of dollars we know are available and willing to come to the Bahamas if we are minded and ingenious enough, creative enough to reach out and make the case that this is a good place to invest.” With respect to the country’s sports tourism product, the Mem-
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‘You can expect great things’ at the Nationals, says Katrina By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net all her a woman of destiny because it seems as if no matter how difficult the setbacks she encounters, Katrina Seymour is still able to accomplish her goals along the way. From East Tennessee State University in her senior year, Seymour was able to close out her brief career as a Buccaneer with an appearance in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She ended up eighth overall in the final of the women’s 400 metre hurdles. But while it may have been disappointing for some, it was a triumph for Seymour. “So far, it has been a season full of ups and downs. I’ve been dealing with injuries, but I am just grateful that I was able to compete at the places that I got to compete, especially my last one at the NCAAs,” said Seymour last week on her return home. “I was very pleased with my PR (personal best). At the time that I did it, I was about 70 per cent or 80 per cent. I knew I could run faster than my PR or 56. It was the national record of the Bahamas so I am very happy with that.” At the NCAA East Regional on May 26 in Lexington, Kentucky, Seymour managed to lower the Bahamas national record in the 400m hurdles to 56.32 seconds as she clinched her berth into the NCAA Championships. At the NCAA Championships earlier this month at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Seymour placed eighth in 59.68 in a race that she felt was just a “bad one.” “I received the All-American award, so I was very pleased with how everything worked out,” Seymour stressed. She considers her appearance
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KATRINA SEYMOUR will have to surpass the qualifying standard of 56.10 in the 400m hurdles at the Nationals in Grand Bahama this weekend in order to book her ticket to London, England, for the IAAF World Championships August 5-13. at the NCAA Championships a blessing. She produced the highest finish by an ETSU track and field athlete since Heidi Dahl got sixth in the 1,500m at the 2009 championships. “I remember before I went to school, I gave you a quote in a story that I’m excited to go to this school because I’ve never had a college experience and I wanted to make it to the NCAA,” she reflected. “It’s just amazing that I was able to do those things that I had set out to do a year or two ago.” During the outdoor season, Seymour claimed four event victories, 13 top 10 finishes and set the ETSU school record in the 400mH four times. “Katrina has a future in the sport and we look forward to watching
her represent the Bahamas in future World Championships and Olympic Games. She will always be Buc,” said George Watts, the director of track and field/cross country at ETSU. While she was highly praised for her sting at ETSU, Seymour is now more eager to continue her life after college. It will begin this weekend in Grand Bahama when she competes in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Open Championships. “You can expect great things,” said Seymour of her expectations at the nationals. “My next race, I want to be able to qualify (for the IAAF World Championships) and compete to the best of my ability. I can definitely attain that.” In order to book her ticket to
London, England, for the IAAF World Championships August 5-13, Seymour will have to surpass the qualifying standard of 56.10. “I will always be a 400m runner and I would definitely like to help my teammates through the rounds,” she stated. “So I hope I can get a leg on the 4 x 400m relay. That’s all I want to do.” At age 24, Seymour’s eligibility for college is done, but she still has one more semester to go to secure her degree in criminal justice. Does that mean that in the meantime she will be turning pro? “Everything is pending right now. I don’t want to talk about it right now,” she said. “I just want everybody to keep watching and to see what is in store for Katrina Seymour.”
NPSA
Highlights, Page 12
PINTARD PLEDGES TO REFINE SUBVENTION FOR ELITE ATHLETES By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard pledged a more comprehensive approach as his ministry seeks to address the needs of each segment of the sporting community, ranging from elite athletes to the underserved youth of the inner cities. One of the focal points for the aforementioned elite athletes will be a refinement of the government’s subvention programme. “During the course of the next calendar year, we intend to do a variety of things that continue to build a strong infrastructure in sports throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. I have had the opportunity and great pleasure to meet a number of the federations both here in New Providence and in Grand Bahama. “There are so many amazing iconic figures who have dedicated their lives to sports in the Bahamas. Some have been recognised and celebrated and many have been overlooked. This is also true about our athletes,” Pintard said. “We have many elite athletes, some who are benefitting from subvention while others are languishing, wondering when their subvention will come through. In much of the same way I commit myself to respecting every staff member within the ministry to ensure that everyone feels valued and that their opinion matters, this is the same attitude I wish to engender among all senior staff members when interacting with federations, associations and athletes. “It is a tragic thing when an athlete who is preparing to compete with the best from around the world has to be preoccupied wondering that if he or she does not perform well at this one particular meet, are they likely to be at risk of losing their subvention.” In its current form, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, through the Department of Sports, offers assistance to developing, intermediate and elite athletes to assist with the development of sport. Its website states: “As an athlete progresses, the status is changed from developing to intermediate, and
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Coach says high jumpers Moss, Alcine ‘will only get better’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net CLAYTON Pritchard came to town and he liked what he saw from high jumpers Kyle Alcine and Daehja Moss as they competed in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Aliv Junior Nationals at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium over the weekend. Pritchard, an assistant coach responsible for jumps at NDSU, will be welcoming the duo in August when they begin their freshmen years as members of the Bison track and field programme. “I saw them compete very well,” said Pritchard, who also serves as the recruiter
for NDSU. “Their performances weren’t what they expected this weekend, but they competed very well. “They will only get better as time goes on. They are very young athletes and they are very talented young athletes with a lot of potential, so we are pretty excited to have them at North Dakota.” Pritchard, however, said he’s not sure who is more excited as he and the rest of the coaching staff, headed by Don Larson, welcome the two or whether the pair are more eager to become Bison competitors. “We’ll see what happens when they come to North Dakota,” Pritchard said. “We want them to come there and compete hard. We know that they will
HIGHER HEIGHTS: Kyle Alcine and Daehja Moss with Clayton Pritchard (centre), an assistant coach at North Dakota State University.
train hard and our goal for them is not just to become conference champions, but we want them to compete in the national meets and perform very well at the NCAAs. “I think we both have the same expectations for them and if they do what they are capable of, they can achieve those goals.” The two jumpers will take over from Olympian Trevor Barry, who not only competed for NDSU as a high jumper, but he was also on their Bison athletic staff for a short period of time as an assistant coach. Both athletes indicated that while they had the eyes of Pritchard in the stands, they knew they had to still perform. “My performance wasn’t that good today,”
said Moss, who cleared 1.65 metres or 5-feet, 5-inches to win the under-20 girls’ high jump. “It’s been a long season but it was a successful season, so I’m okay with my performance.” Moss, who is now preparing for the Junior Pan American/NACAC Championships in Lima, Peru July 21-23, said it was nerve wrecking for her, knowing that Prichard was in the stands watching. “I think that contributed to my performance,” she said. For Alcine, a 2.15m (7-0 1/2) was all he could muster to win the under-20 boys’ high jump. And while it was a qualifier for Jr Pan Am, Alcine said he was able to impress his new coach.
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PAGE 12, Tuesday, June 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
NEW PROVIDENCE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION REGULAR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Elite Warriors roll over Truckers 22-0 THE New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season action in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night. The Lady Hitters and BTC Elite Warriors both won big. The Lady Hitters won 11-6 over the University of the Bahamas Mingoes in the opener, while the BTC Elite Warriors stopped the Commando Security Truckers 22-0 in the men’s feature contest. The league is scheduled to be back in action with another double header starting at 7pm tonight.
Calling All High
SCHOOL STUDENTS
Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year. In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands. We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.
Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded
7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).
How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format. By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau. By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.
ON THE REPLAY: The BTC Elite Warriors stopped the Commando Security Truckers 22-0 in the men’s feature contest on Saturday night. Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 20, 2017, PAGE 13
Markelle Fultz trade may have ‘ripple effect’ on NBA Draft SINCE the Boston Celtics agreed to trade the No. 1 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 3 pick and future assets, as per ESPN... Markelle Fultz looks like he is heading to a new team, in the Eastern Conference, and the rest of the league needs to sit back and examine the fallout and the potential ripple effect it may have on the rest of the NBA Draft, the top 5 especially. According to ESPN’s Chad Ford’s latest mock draft, Fultz will remain the No. 1 overall pick to the 76ers, while Lonzo Ball stays at No. 2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The change comes with Josh Jackson becoming the No. 3 to the Celtics. Rumours continue to swirl, Jackson is secretly Boston GM Danny Ainge’s prize pick of the litter. If it turns out to be the case, then once again Ainge will have proven his prow-
ess as a GM, securing the player he really coveted at #3, and still securing a first round pick in next year’s NBA Draft. The rich get richer I guess. • Here’s the Breakdown: FULTZ The Celtics already with Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley in the fold, and starting at the guard spots as well as Marcus Smart also proving to be a useful back up for both, adding another player at the same position isn’t quite as necessary. Fultz is a much better fit with the 76ers, a squad that has spent early picks on big men in recent years but needs a lot of help in the backcourt. He can both run the offence and defend opposing point guards. BALL The Lakers haven’t quite guaranteed Ball will end up with the team, accord-
THE
PRESS BOX ZELAYA
BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA
ing to Shams Charina of The Vertical. However, the latest reports seem to indicate they are now leaning toward Ball. At this point, it would be a significant surprise if he wasn’t taken No. 2 overall. According to ESPN, point guard Ball had a second workout with Los Angeles this week, attempting to quell any lingering concerns the squad might have. During the workout, Ball displayed his training schedules, further trying to ease the potential doubts of the franchise he obviously wants to play for after Lak-
ers brass had some doubts about his conditioning after his first workout. Ball is one of the best true point guards to come out of college in years, leading college basketball with 7.6 assists per game last season. He was the catalyst behind one of the top offences in the country. The Lakers already have a lot of young talent on the roster, but Ball - a California native - has the ability to get the most out of the people around him, and that hometown buzz following him around wherever he goes.
JACKSON Trading the No. 1 pick is always risky, but the Celtics could end up with a great player in Josh Jackson if everything goes well, and more importantly the one player Celtics GM Danny Ainge wants more than any other. Jackson is a versatile wing who knows how to score when either attacking the basket or knocking down shots from the perimeter (37.8 per cent shooting from three-point range last year). He has good athleticism at 6’8” that will allow him to remain a consistent threat at the next level. Jackson is an excellent passer for his size and is an elite defender who can match up against multiple positions. This, along with his Kansas Jayhawks pedigree, makes him a perfect addition for a ready-made contender that was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.
While he might not put up huge numbers in his first year, he might be the most valuable rookie in the class, because of his excellent defence. The Celtics have the luxury to select a role player with one of the first few picks of the draft - Jackson’s upside remains high. Even if he takes on a secondary spot in the rotation in his first season, he will be a star down the line. Disclaimer: Please bear in mind that all of this could be pre Draft posturing and rumour mongering. Who knows, my Lakers may shock us all taking Duke’s Jason Tatum at No. 2! • Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net
BASEBALL CAPSULES INDIANS 12, ORIOLES 0 BALTIMORE (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched a three-hitter for his fifth career shutout, Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana homered and the Cleveland Indians overpowered the Baltimore Orioles 12-0 Monday night for their season-high sixth straight victory. Santana and Austin Jackson had three RBIs apiece for the AL Central leaders, whose recent surge has lifted them to a season-best six games over .500 (37-31). Cleveland batted around in the fourth and fifth innings and sent eight men to the plate in a three-run sixth that made it 11-0. The Indians banged out a season-high 10 extra-base hits, including seven doubles. Kluber (6-2) struck out 11 and walked none in his 12th career complete game and second shutout this season. The right-hander scattered three singles and struck out the side in the ninth. Baltimore starter Dylan Bundy (7-6) allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Orioles have dropped nine of 12 and yielded at least five runs in 16 straight games.
MARLINS 8, NATIONALS 7 MIAMI (AP) — Marcell Ozuna singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning and Miami overcame an early sixrun deficit to beat Washington. Marlins slugger Justin Bour tied the game at 6 in the third with a grand slam, his 18th homer. Giancarlo Stanton also hit his 18th of the season to make it 7-all in the seventh. Bryce Harper hit his 18th homer for the Nationals. Anthony Rendon also went deep before leaving in the fifth inning with a neck stinger he sustained diving for a grounder. He is day to day Washington starter Tanner Roark squandered a 6-0 lead by giving up six runs in the third. Enny Romero (23) took the loss. A.J. Ramos (2-3) worked a scoreless ninth and the Marlins won for the 11th time in their past 13 home games. Miami lost to Atlanta on walk-off hits by Brandon Phillips on Saturday and Sunday.
ROYALS 4, RED SOX 2 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whit Merrifield drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer and Kansas City topped Boston for its eighth win in nine games. Jason Hammel (4-6) pitched seven sharp innings before turning it over to Mike Minor, who loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth. No. 9 hitter Christian Vazquez grounded out to end the threat. Kelvin Herrera worked the ninth for his 16th save. Red Sox reliever Blaine Boyer (0-1) gave up Merrifield’s bouncing RBI single in the seventh. Boyer was lifted after Lorenzo Cain added an insurance run with a single, the second straight night Boston’s stingy bullpen has allowed a pair of runs. Red Sox relievers had thrown 26 straight scoreless innings before the slump. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer for Boston. BLUE JAYS 7, RANGERS 6 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kendrys Morales hit a go-ahead single after a tying single by Josh Donaldson in the ninth inning, and Toronto edged Texas in a matchup of AL Division Series opponents the past two seasons. The Blue Jays won despite blowing a 5-1 lead in their first visit to Texas since last postseason, when they won the first two games in a best-of-five sweep that was their second straight ALDS victory over the two-time defending AL West champs. Donaldson’s single off closer Matt Bush scored Ryan Goins, who just beat the throw to second for a leadoff double. Morales’ hit to the gap in left-center scored Donaldson from second after a stolen base and a walk. It was the third blown save in 11 chances for Bush (2-2). Jeff Beliveau (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth, and Roberto Osuna worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save in 22 chances. Toronto’s Steve Pearce and Adrian Beltre of the Rangers traded three-run doubles in the fourth, with Beltre’s liner to right-center capping a five-run inning for a 6-5 lead that held up until the ninth. Jose Bautista homered for the Blue Jays and Justin Smoak had three hits, including a career high-tying 20th homer. CUBS 3, PADRES 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a tying homer, Javier Baez scored the go-ahead run on an error and Wade Davis worked out of a ninth-inning jam for Chicago against San Diego.
CLEVELAND Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of last night’s game. (AP) Anthony Rizzo thrived in the leadoff spot again, extending his career-high hitting streak to 13 games by going 2 for 3 with an RBI as the Cubs won their second straight to improve to 35-34. Jose Pirela and Yangervis Solarte each had a solo homer for the Padres, although Pirela’s error in left field allowed the decisive run to score in the seventh. Hector Rondon (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Davis struck out Wil Myers and got Hunter Renfroe to ground out with runners on second and third for his 14th save in 14 chances. Kirby Yates (1-1) allowed an unearned run but took the loss. PIRATES 8, BREWERS 1 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer, Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings and Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee. Travis Shaw’s leadoff homer in the second put the Brewers ahead 1-0 and set a franchise mark, with the Brewers scoring their 16th consecutive run via the long ball. The Pirates took the lead in the third on Adam Frazier’s two-run single off starter Matt Garza (3-3). Cole (5-6) held the Brewers to one run and three hits. BRAVES 9, GIANTS 0 ATLANTA (AP) — R.A. Dickey threw seven scoreless innings, Matt Adams hit another homer and Atlanta sent San Francisco to its seventh straight loss. The 42-year-old Dickey (5-5) escaped a jam in the first to turn in his strongest outing of the season. He gave up just three hits and retired 16 of the last 17 hitters he faced. The Giants’ skid is the
longest of a hugely disappointing season as they dropped to 26-46 and fell 20 games behind first-place Colorado in the NL West. Adams homered in the fourth off Johnny Cueto (5-
7) and added an RBI single in the eighth to key a sevenrun outburst that made it a rout. He has 10 homers and 27 RBIs since being acquired from St. Louis on May 20.
PAGE 14, Tuesday, June 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
MICHAEL PINTARD: MINISTRY INTENDS ‘TO REFINE THE SUBVENTION PROGRAMME’ FROM PAGE 11
finally to elite status. It is the responsibility of the federation to supply the department with information regarding the development and progress of the employee. Any assistance received is directly related to the established status of the athlete.” A subjective process, the system constantly came under fire because of what many athletes considered an “unclear” determination of the criteria needed to achieve a particular status. There was also the matter of developmental athletes as subvention for them could conflict with the rules necessary for them to maintain their amateur status. Pintard said it is an issue that should be resolved succinctly to give athletes a greater opportunity to focus being ambassadors of the country. “As a people we are not
always good at celebrating people who pour out their lives out on our behalf as a nation, because when they don’t excel in a particular race, we become armchair quarterbacks assessing what they could have and should have done, when the truth is many of our athletes are ranked in the top 100, in the top 50, in the top 10, in the top four and have been ranked number 1 in the world. “If we are honest as a people we are to take our vocation, whatever our occupation is, most of us, including Bahamian politicians, are not ranked in the top 10, in the top 100, in the top 100, in the top 20,000 in their particular vocation around the world. It is important for us, in dealing with our athletes, not just as citizens, but especially as policy makers, to be careful of the mindset we put them in when they are training to be ambassadors for our country,” he said.
“It is our intention over this fiscal year to refine the subvention programme at the ministry with responsibility for sports - to reach out to our athletes and to have a very clear and transparent conversation with them about what our policy is going forward and how we might better serve them. To make this overture, not just directed to a select group of sports, but to demonstrate appreciation for the wide range of sports in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.” An emphasis on local development and previously neglected facilities will also be a focal point of the new administration. “One of the best ways to judge a government is how they deal with those that have been forgotten. In Grand Bahama, the Sporting Complex, which will be the site of the National Championships that begin in just a few short days, has been neglected over time. It
is our intention to do several things: One - Put in place dynamic leadership that will manage the entire process and the upgrade. Two: we will ensure that resources that are needed are provided as we work in partnership with the private sector and with various federations that use the facilities. As an addendum to this point, I had the opportunity to tour the South Beach Pools. It was a heartbreaking experience. It is in a near-dilapidated state. The staff has almost been forgotten. This is not an attempt to assign blame to anyone, it is all of our responsibility. It is important for us to show all of our team members that we value them and care about their welfare and so we intend to work with the ministry, the aquatic federation, the NSA and with the communities that surround the South Beach Pools to ensure that: one - we upgrade the facility, two - we consistently
maintain it, three - that we have a clearly defined policy on the use of the facility,” Pintard said. “I use the pools only as an example of the approach of this administration. We intend to reach out to those who have been forgotten. It is our intention to demonstrate respect for our people, concern and care, because it cannot be right that political figures live large and the people who gave us this right to serve them are suffering.” Pintard said his ministry seeks to encourage Bahamians to become more active in order to foster better community spirit and active family lifestyles. “Sports is not merely to create elite athletes in the Bahamas. It is also designed to create camaraderie among young people and there are thousands of them, many of whom have conflicts with each other. I grew up playing basketball under coach Moon McPhee
in Grand Bahama and the lessons taught by coaches to many of us that sit in this place made the difference in terms of the kind of people we turned out to be,” he said. “There are many inner city young people who do not have the benefit of being a part of any organised sport and it is our intention over the next calendar year to put in place a more vigorous outreach programme so that we might regain many of our young people. Our Minister of Health underscored the tremendous lifestyle health problems that we have in the Bahamas, so the department of sports will also play an active role in helping to promote a healthy lifestyle, encourage exercise and proper eating habits. Our role goes beyond merely creating a feeder system where we produce junior and senior elite athletes; we are interested in the development of all of our people.”
PALMETTO Point Legends - 9-12 age division champions in the Eleuthera Junior Baseball League of Rock Sound.
Palmetto Point Legends crowned champions in 9-12 age division THE Palmetto Point Legends were crowned the Eleuthera Junior Baseball League of Rock Sound’s 9-12 divisional champions. The Legends swept the Tarpum Bay Mosquitoes 2-0 in their bestof-three series recently in Tarpum Bay. In the best-of-three semifinals, the Legends also swept the Rock Sound Marlins 2-0, while
the Mosquitoes won 2-0 over the Green Castle Dragons. The Legends finished the season with a 6-2 win-loss record. The Dragons clinched second place with a 5-3 record, while the Mosquitoes and the Marlins were both 3-5, but were separated for third and fourth place based on their head-to-head competition. Larry Forbes, president of the
JBLRS, said he and their board members were pleased with the growth and development of baseball in the communities of Green Castle, Tarpum By, Palmetto Point and Rock Sound this season. “We look forward to further expansion next season to Governor’s Harbour and beyond,” he said. “An invitation is extended
to all settlements on Eleuthera to join this baseball movement.” Forbes extended congratulations to the league’s dedicated coaches and support staff of all the teams in the league, inclusive of Green Castle, coached by Donald Wright, Rock Sound, coached by Marco Bethel, Rev Lincoln Young and Larry Forbes, Tarpum Bay, coached by Sergeant Cyril
Dean, Stephen Moss and Morris Carey and Palmetto Point, coached by Wilson Cooper, Elline Sineus, Arnold Culmer and Laura Culmer. The league is now preparing to send an 11-12 All-Star team to the Bahamas Baseball Federation’s 15th annual Andre Rodgers Baseball Nationals in Grand Bahama this weekend.
Minister makes his contribution to Budget Debate FROM PAGE 11 ber of Parliament for Marco City called for a more symbiotic relationship between hosting international events and the development of local sports. “The Ministry of Tourism and the ministry with responsibility for sports will work in tandem with each other to ensure that two things happen: One - that we attract the international events, either amateur or professional but at the same time we do not disadvantage national sports,” he said. “It is a tension that exists in the country, there is view that local athletics scarcely benefit from the international events that come to the Bahamas. We will make sure that the connection between the two is clear, whether it is through scholarships opportunities, exchange programmes, coaching opportunities or further certifications or attracting many of the sponsors that assist those things. My colleagues
at the Ministry of Tourism and I will no doubt be collaborating very closely and demonstrating a commitment to make this a reality.” He outlined government expenditure in recent years, which included upgrades to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, facilitated by the National Sports Authority. “The NSA has been spearheading an effort to upgrade our facilities and we have seen steady progress. In excess of $10 million has been spent to improve sports facilities, however, the one component of the NSA that has not been fully activated, if at all, is the sports fund. The role of the sports fund is to prove resources to do much of what central government still has the burden to do every day, every year. It is our intention in looking at new board for the NSA is to retain talent, introduce new talent to supplement in order for us to be entrepreneurially minded as we proceed in raising funds to energise sports even more so in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” Pintard said. “The Kendal GL
Isaacs Gymnasium has upgraded with a new floor, lighting, and AC to the tune of some $400,000. The Thomas A Robinson stadium has been refurbished to the tune of $1.2 million, the construction of a new 6.5-acre multi-use facility to the tune of $700,000. There is a long list of upgrades that have taken place with the corresponding figures. I believe it appropriate, as we are new in these positions to say, we have been advised that all of the previous figures have been used to do exactly what was stated. Of course, within the next month or so whether it is related to the NSA or any aspect of governance will have the benefit of the auditor general and a team of forensic auditors to determine how the people’s money has been spent.” Pintard gave assurances to various sporting federations that despite the recent upgrades to facilities, no organisation will be prohibited from their use once the protocol is followed. The ministry over the past year has spent a tremendous amount
of money upgrading the sporting complex at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. We have provided through subvention 1.4 million to many of our athletes, but the bigticket item has been providing far more in upgrading the facilities that will give them an opportunity to come home and train in worldclass facilities,” he said. “I wish to assure all of the federations and associations that we will make sure that you are not disadvantaged by any person, or any aspect of the ministry or any authorities that may be set up. We are confident that the National Sports Authority will function in a manner that is beneficial to the upkeep and further development of the facilities, while at the same time making available at cost effective rate for all of our federations to practice and to function. You will not be disadvantaged any longer as federations and associations with any sporting facility controlled directly or indirectly by the Ministry responsible for Youth, Sports and Culture.”
HIGH JUMPERS
FROM PAGE 11 “It was great. I could really say that,” he stressed. “I really wanted to put on a show for him so that he could actually see me jump over seven feet and he could see what I have to do to improve.” While here to view the pair in competition, Pritchard said he also took the time out to look at other potential athletes that he could recruit for NDSU. “We are always looking for athletes who can help the team out,” he said. “Our immediate goal is to get them to become conference champions and the long time goal is to get them to perform at the NCAA. “We come down here because there is a lot of good talent here. So it’s always fun to come here and watch them compete. It’s pretty exciting because these athletes here love to compete.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 20, 2017, PAGE 15
CELTICS TRADE NO. 1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK TO 76ERS
MARKELLE FULTZ speaks with reporters after his private workout with the Los Angeles Lakers in El Segundo, California. Fultz is expected to be a top pick at the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 22. (AP)
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have traded the No. 1 pick in this week’s NBA draft to the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston will get the Sixers’ pick, No. 3 overall, and another first-rounder in 2018 or 2019. The teams agreed to the deal over the weekend, hours after expected top pick Markelle Fultz worked out for the Sixers. Philadelphia will select first for the second straight year. In 2016, the Sixers picked Ben Simmons, who didn’t play at all during the season after breaking a bone in his foot. The Celtics could be gearing up for more moves. After finishing with the No. 1 seed in the East this
season, they are trying to package some of their picks for an established star that could help them close the gap on NBA finalists Cleveland and Golden State. The deal was first reported by TheVertical.com. With Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is looking to make a deal like the sevenfor-one trade in 2007 that brought Kevin Garnett — and an NBA-record 17th championship — to Boston. “We’re thrilled to be able to select what we expect to be an impact player with the third pick in this year’s very talented draft class, while also adding a highly valuable future asset as we
continue to build towards Banner 18,” Ainge said in a statement. If Boston holds onto the pick, it would have seven first-rounders in the next three years. The 76ers have a chance to add a point guard to the roster of big men they’ve assembled through their years of returning to the draft lottery. Fultz would join Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid and Simmons. Fultz’s rise to stardom has been rapid. In 2014, he was playing junior varsity basketball in high school in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 25
games during his lone college season at Washington, excelling on a team that finished 9-22 and lost its final 13 games. Fultz led the Pac-12 in scoring and finished No. 6 among all Division I players, and was the top freshman scorer in the country. Philadelphia went 28-54 this past season, after winning 19, 18 and 10 games respectively in the previous three seasons. Barring any other changes before Thursday, the first four spots in this year’s draft order would mirror the first-four from last year: Philadelphia at No. 1, the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2, Boston at No. 3 and Phoenix at No. 4.
KOEPKA CAPS A RECORD WEEK WITH US OPEN TITLE By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Brooks Koepka received a short piece of advice from a valuable source on the eve of the final round at the US Open. Defending champion Dustin Johnson was doing most of the talking. “It was a long phone call for us — it was like two minutes,” Koepka said. “But he just said a few things, and just stay patient. And I’ll win if I stay patient and just keep doing what I’m doing.” What he did looked awfully familiar Sunday at Erin Hills, minus any mess involving the rules. With athleticism and power, and four straight putts over the back nine that allowed him to pull away, Koepka capped off his hardscrabble journey around the world and found stardom at home as the US Open champion. He closed with a 5-under 67, only realising after his par on the final hole that a birdie would have set yet another US Open record in
a week filled with them. Koepka finished at 16-under 272, matching the lowest score to par first set by Rory McIlroy six years ago at Congressional. Tied for the lead with six holes to play, Koepka holed an 8-foot par putt on the 13th hole that gave him confidence with his stroke and momentum to pour in birdies on the next three holes to turn the final hour into a celebration of another young star in golf. The 27-year-old Koepka wound up winning by four shots over Brian Harman, who was done in by backto-back bogeys right when Koepka was making his run, and Hideki Matsuyama, who closed with a 66. “That’s probably the most emotion I’ve ever shown coming down the stretch,” Koepka said. “It feels amazing to get my name on this trophy with so many other great names. It’s truly an honour.” Emotion? The most he displayed was a light fist pump, his hand clenched a little tighter with each birdie, and a double fist pump
on the 18th when he tapped in for par. It’s not much different from Johnson. They are close friends on the golf course and in the gym, and they play a similar game of power off the tee, a clean strike with the iron and a knack for looking calm even as the pressure is ramping up. And now their names are on the US Open trophy, one after the other. It capped quite a journey for the Floridian. Without a card on any tour when Koepka got out of Florida State, he filled his passport on the Challenge Tour with stamps from Kazakhstan to Kenya, Scotland and Spain, India and the Madeira Island. One night in Scotland, he called his agent and wanted to come home, even though he was leading the tournament. He had been on the road for so long, in so many different countries, and was feeling lonely. He won the next day to graduate to the European Tour. The next year, he earned a spot in the US Open through a quali-
fier in England, and his tie for fourth at Pinehurst No. 2 helped him earn a card on the PGA Tour. Koepka took it from there — a victory in Turkey against a strong field, his first PGA Tour victory in the Phoenix Open, his first Ryder Cup and now a major championship. Koepka became the seventh straight first-time winner of a major championship, and it was the first time since 1998-2000 that Americans won their national championship three straight years. Tommy Fleetwood, who played alongside Koepka and closed with a 72 to finish fourth, played the Challenge Tour a year before Koepka arrived. “It gives you a good grounding,” Fleetwood said. “Obviously, Brooks dealt with it amazingly. He came and kicked everyone’s (behind) over there, didn’t he? But he’s proven for a long time how good he is. Now he’s done it in a major.” It was only fitting that Koepka left Erin Hills with
yet another record matched or broken. McIlroy finished at 16-under 268 when he won on rain-softened Congressional in the 2011 US Open. But the low scoring went much deeper than that. Only six players had ever reached double digits under par in the previous 116 times at the US Open. McIlroy and Tiger Woods (12 under at Pebble Beach in 2000) had been the only players to finish there. This week alone, nine players reached at least 10 under and seven finished there. Xander Schauffele, a rookie on the PGA Tour playing in his first US Open, birdied his last hole for a 69 to tie for fifth at 10-under 268 along with Bill Haas (69) and Rickie Fowler (72), who was poised at yet another major to win only to fall back. Fowler started one shot out of the lead at the Masters this year and shot 76. He was only two behind when he made the turn, but bogeys on the 12th and 15th holes — and no birdies until No. 18 —
BROOKS KOEPKA poses with the winning trophy after the US Open golf tournament on Sunday. (AP) ended his hopes. Justin Thomas, coming off a 9-under 63 that matched the major championship scoring record and was the first 9-under round at a US Open, went out in 39 and closed with a 75 to tie for ninth. The week ended with 31 players under par, breaking the US Open record of 28 players at Medinah in 1990. There were 133 sub-par rounds, nine more than the previous record in that 1990 USß Open.
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THE TRIBUNE