Champions emerge
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
The Ed Armbrister and Freedom Farm baseball leagues emerged as champions of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s sixth annual Andre Rodgers Senior National Baseball Championships over the weekend.
In the championship games played on Sunday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, the Ed Armbrister Baseball League routed the JBLN 11-3 for the under-23 title, while Freedom Farm squeezed past JBLN 2-1 for the under-16 crown.
The two winning teams showed off their championship rings they received, while the runners-up and third-place finishers took home medals.
The tournament, sponsored by the BruceNewball Foundation and A Sure Win, was carried live over ZNS television and honoured the legendary Fred “Papa” Smith for his long-time service to the sport of baseball.
EABL 11, JBLN 3
Farron Moss went 2-for-4 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted
CHARLTON LEADS OUR ATHLETES AT RACERS MEET IN JA
IT was a good weekend for Bahamian indoor 60 metres hurdles world record holder Devynne Charlton as she led a contingent of Bahamians in action at the Racers Grand Prix 2025 at the National Stadium in Kingson, Jamaica.
Coming off her repeat gold medal performance in the women’s 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, in March, Charlton ran the qualifying time for 100m hurdles for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
in to cart off the most valuable player award. Moss was a part of the onslaught that EABL came from a 3-2 deficit in the top of the fourth inning to erupt for eight runs to take an insurmountable 10-3 lead into the final two innings of the two-hour long game.
There was so much jubilation from EABL that left head coach Michael Butler singing the praises of his players after they dosed him with the drink from the water cooler.
“We are so elated. We’ve been knocking on their door for the last three years and we keep missing out on this gold medal game and it finally came,” said Butler, who along with his brother, Nathaniel Butler, coached the team, consisting of high school and collegiate players.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to ensure that we come back and defend the title next year because we know that they will be coming for us.”
In the rally that drove EABL to victory, Dominic Inniss was struck by a pitch, Robert Grant was struck by a pitch, Joey Miller walked and Farron Moss singled to centre field.
As they kept the bases loaded in the out-pouring of runs, Caden Walker walked, Andre Arthur singled to centre field, and each runner scored.
With such a big margin to work with, Grant added the fuel to the fire as he held the JBLN bats at-bat from the mound to seal the deal defensively. He allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings,
striking out eight and walking two.
Grant, who is preparing to head to Florida International University in August, said it was a fantastic way to close out the tournament.
“I want to thank God for the performance and for my teammates and our coaches as we executed the game plan,” Grant said. “I also want to thank my catcher. I knew once I put it in the zone, he would work with it.”
Max Gomez went 1-for-2 at the plate and led the team with one RBI for JBLN. Max Gomez, Aaron Knowles and Nathan Miller each collected one hit. Miller also stole two bases.
JBLN, however, saw their starting pitcher surrender two hits and eight runs (six earned) over
Michael Foster providing an avenue for those aspiring to be a pro baseball player
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
three innings, striking out four and walking two before Miller came in and tried to stop the bleeding, but it was a little too late.
“Overall in the tournament, the team played hard and they fought well, but we just didn’t come out and execute the way we should in the championship game and that was the difference,” said Romero Cartwright, the head coach for JBLN. “We gave up eight runs in one inning on ground plays. I didn’t expect that at all. With this type of ball players we have on this team, I know nine times out of 10, we would have played better than we did tonight.”
Cartwirhgt said JBLN will be back next year and hopefully they will get revenge.
The 29-year-old Bahamian national record holder did it with her second place finish in 12.65 running behind American Alia Armstrong in a meet record of 12.54, both surpassing the WC qualifying time of 12.73.
American Alexandra Webster took third in a personal best of 12.95 and Jamaican Kerrica Hill was fourth in her season’s best of 13.06 with fellow Bahamian Charisma Taylor coming in fifth in 13.09. Like she did at the WC Indoors for the first time, Charlton and her younger sister Anthaya Charlton have now qualified to compete in the WC outdoors as well.
Anthaya Charlton, 21, has hit the WC qualifying standards in a pair of events. In her specialty in the long jump, she soared 22-feet, 10 1/4-inches or 6.98 metres on January 31 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to surpass the WC standard
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
final for a shot at representing the Zone in the World Series in Indianapolis, Indiana, in August.
contracts. “I
WHILE many players are looking to become the next professional baseball player, Michael Foster is providing an avenue for those who wish to go through the collegiate ranks. For the fourth consecutive year as the Bahamas Baseball Association hosts its Andre Rodgers National Championships, Foster has staged a College Showcase for those players who have not had the opportunity to go to the professional ranks. This year’s showcase was held on Saturday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium and was dubbed a huge success by visiting coaches Wilberto ‘Coach Willie’ Ramos and DJ Price with more than 20 youngsters participating. Foster, an architect who developed the plans for the ARBS, said after his son got involved in baseball, he decided to provide an avenue for those who didn’t get to go to the Dominican Republic on signed pro
THE Bahamas national team advanced to the playoffs of the Pony Baseball Caribbean and Latin American Under-16 Championships in the Dominican Republic. The Bahamas team, managed by James Clarke, finished the pool play with a 3-1 win-loss record and will play the Dominican Republic today to get into the
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
SOFTBALL NPSA
ACTION AFTER taking a break for the long holiday weekend, the New Providence Softball Association is scheduled to resume its regular season this weekend in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
Tonight 7:30pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs Titans
June
9pm - Ballers vs Black Scorpions
Thursday 7:30pm - Gremlins vs Titans
9pm - Platinum Food Services vs Sunshine Auto Wildcats
Saturday 6pm - Bowe vs Reloaded Players
7:30pm - Renegades vs Chances Mighty Mitts
SEE PAGE E2
FREEDOM Farm Baseball League players celebrate as champions of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s sixth annual Andre Rodgers Senior National Baseball Championships over the weekend.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
SOME of the key people at the BBA’s baseball showcase on Saturday. Shown, from left to right, are Judith Charlton, visiting coaches DJ Price and Wilberto Ramos and coordinator Michael Foster.
Foster providing an avenue for those aspiring to be a pro baseball player
FROM PAGE E1
Bahamas,” said Ramos, who just completed his first year at FMJ.
“The year before I was there, he made it to the All-Star game and this year, his senior year, he was one of the leaders for our team. We have been very impressed with his leadership.”
Ramos, a former member of the MLB Elite development programme as an MLB consultant since 2022, said one of the reasons he came to the showcase was to see if he could find the next player to replace Charlton in his Lions’ lineup in the future.
“I got to see the young talent that the island has. We also got to see some of the older talent,”
Ramos said. “But we were impressed with the talent here.”
Ramos said he definitely saw an abundance of talent from the young players whom he hoped he would be able to recruit to FMU in the next year or so.
“They are well-coached and they are very alert and baseball sound,” Ramos pointed out. “I was very impressed with the 16U and 14U and how good they are and the baseball mind that they have.
“With the right coaching here, I think I can see some of them getting the opportunity to play college baseball. I know I have my eyes set on a few.”
With the support of the BBA, Foster and the parents, Ramos said he’s now looking into the possibility
of FMU bringing their Lions’ team to the Bahamas to play a few games, giving more exposure to the local players as they host nother showcase.
“Pheron is coming back to play another year and we hope to get another kid on our roster, so we’re looking at how we can get a game in here,” Ramos said.
“The facilities are here. So anything I can do to show the other universities what you have here, I will definitely try to see what can be done.”
Ramos said he’s been to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and other South American countries where they’re playing high level baseball, but none could compare to what he has experienced so far in The Bahamas.
Price, here on his fourth trip to the showcase, said Foster has done the right thing in exposing the players to what they need to do to get to college and he’s willing to support him in that regard.
“We want to see more of the players go to college, get a degree and then go to college,” Price said.
“I think that plan and that idea is amazing. A lot of kids could develop from that.”
One of those who have benefitted from the showcase is Malik Foster, the son of Foster, who now attends Barry University and plays for Price on their Buccaneers baseball team.
“The four years that I’ve been here, the one thing that I’ve noticed is that the kids’ athleticism has always
been very strong,” Price said.
“The baseball talent has gotten better every year. I think this is definitely the place to come and try some baseball talent.”
As a pitcher, Price said Foster is still growing and learning the game as he adapts to his environment, but they are eager to help him as well as they do with any other player that they get to recruit.
“The young players in the 16U are very strong. I think the game has progressed here. The first time I came here, we went to Freedom Farm. But the growth and the talent of the game has increased.”
Price said he too is impressed with the Andre Rodgers stadium and would like to consider it
being used in the future for a collegiate baseball tournament.
“A stadium like this is a gem. It’s a diamond,” he said. “So with a couple of college teams coming here for a tournament, this is a diamond in the rough. I think more people need to see it.”
Foster said he was impressed with the knowledge that both coaches left with the players and hopefully there will be some more players who will opt to go to college and get a degree before they venture into the pro ranks.
He noted that plans are also in the making for the possibility of bringing a collegiate tournament to the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium in the future. Stay tuned.
TEAM BAHAMAS ADVANCES TO PLAYOFFS OF PONY BASEBALL CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FROM PAGE E1
play. The winners of the two semifinals will go on to play the championship game today as well.
“I’m very impressed. The boys are playing really well,” said Clarke, who is being assisted by Norman Bastian and Donovan Cox from Grand Bahama and Temico Smith. Terran is head of the delegation.
Team Bahamas, made up of players from the Junior Baseball League of Nassau, Freedom Farm and the Grand Bahama Little League, the players are Liam Smith, Josiah Filterman, Gianno Newball, saac Richardson, Tyler Smith, Xavier Thompson,
Bossfield Butler III, Jaden Liberal, Waiden Bain, Geralle Gabriel Jr, Reid Ingraham, Jaycob Clarke, Carmelo Wallace, Ethan Burnside and Xavier Pettite.
As they prepare for today’s game, Clarke feels that as long as Team Bahamas’ pitchers show up and the players execute the game plan, they have a chance to qualify.
“I think it will be a real dog fight, but if the guys come out and execute, I think we have a real good chance,” said Clarke, who noted that the players are loose and ready to play.
CHARITY GOLF
9pm - Sunshine Auto Wildcats vs Black Scorpions
BASEBALL
NPBA ACTION
AFTER taking a break for the long holiday weekend, the New Providence Amateur Baseball Association will resume the return of its first regular season in almost 20 years this week. Here’s the fixture on tap:
Wednesday
8pm - Outlawz vs Community Baseball League
Friday
6:45pm - Reapers vs Blue Power
9pm - Sharks vs Community Baseball League
Sunday
3pm - Outlawz vs Blue Power
5:15pm - Repeaters vs Sharks BASKETBALL
SMILES
IT’S that time again as Basketball Smiles returns to The Bahamas. Scheduled for June 16-18 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the basketball clinic conducted by veteran American basketball coach Sam Nicholls is designed for boys and girls between the ages of seven and 17 years old. The girls’ clinic is slated to run from 9am to noon and the boys will follow from 1-4pm. Interested persons are urged to contact coach Patricia “Pattie” Johnson at HO Nash Junior High School or call 565-3675 for more details.
INVITATIONAL THE Pilot Club International is scheduled to hold a XCharity Golf INvitational Fundraiser on Friday, June 20 at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island.
The event will get started with a shotgun start at 8am, followed by the awards luncheon. The donation is $1,000 per foursome. For more information. interested persons can call 557-9049.
BASKETBALL MHB CAMP
THE Marvin Henfield Basketball Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled to run from June 23 to July 11 for players aged 6-17 years old. The camp will be held in the gym in the back of the old Coca-Cola headquarters, now Love 97, on Thompson Boulevard. There is limited space. To register, persons can visit www/marvinJHenfield. com or contact Henfield at 828-2353.
BASKETBALL
BOWLES ELITE SKILLS CAMP THE International Basketball Association is set to hold the 12th annual Denykco Bowles Elite Skills Basketball Camp at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium from June 23 to July 18. The camp, held under the theme “Developing Champions on all levels,” is designed for boys and girls between the ages of four and 18 and will be held from 8am to 2pm. Interested persons can call 466-0049 for more details.
“Our pitchers just need to implement some more off-speed pitches and our batters need to cut down on the strike outs and put the ball in play and put more things in motion and utilise our speed.”
On day one of the tournament on Saturday, Team Bahamas blanked El Salvador 21-0, but lost 7-6 to the Dominican Republic in their second match. On Sunday, Team Bahamas pulled off a 9-4 win over Panama, thanks to a pair of home runs from Wayden Bain, including the game-winning, three-run shot.
VOLLEYBALL
SUMMER FEST
TOURNEY
THE Crusaders/ Warhawks Volleyball Club, in conjunction with the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, is slsated to host its inaugural Summer Fest Beach Volleyball Tournament from July 10-13 in Rolleville, Exuma. The tournament, sponsored by Fidelity and Rubis, will feature a men’s 2-on-2 and women’s 3-on-3 format. Cash prizes of $1,000 will be awarded for the winners and $500 for the runners-up in both divisions. Interested teams are urged to call 422-4550 or 801-3131 for more details.
PEACE ON DA STREET
FAMILY NIGHT
PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence. The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” will be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center.
The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm. There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest. The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up.
TEAM Bahamas at the Pony Baseball Caribbean and Latin American Under-16 Championships in the Dominican Republic.
MARLINS, PANTHERS CLINCH TITLES IN GB VOLLEYBALL BATTLE OF THE ISLANDS TOURNAMENT
THE Bimini Marlins and the Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers clinched the men’s and women’s titles in the Grand Bahama Volleyball Association’s Battle of the Islands Volleyball Tournament held over the weekend at the Eight Mile Rock Gymnasium in Grand Bahama.
In the men’s championship game, the Bimini Marlins swept the Unruly 7 in set scores of 25-22 and 25-16.
The other teams participating in the men’s division were the Exuma Enforcers, Grand Bahama Hawks, Nassau Technicians, Abaco Strong Alpha and Abaco Strong Beta. And in the
ladies’ championship game, the Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers repeated as champions with a 25-18 and 25-22 decision over the Abaco Strong Alpha. Jannelle Curtiss was named the MVP.
The Abaco Strong Beta, Abaco Kady Rebels, Grand Bahama Hawks and the Lady Technicians also participated in the ladies’ division.
Panthers’ coach Jason Saunders said Curtiss along with Je’Nae Greene, Khalea Johnson, Eunice Johnson, La’Tavia Braynen, Leandrea Johnson, Sari Albury, Skai Albury, and Shantia McPhee represented themselves and the club well and
won the championship in two straight sets.
“Abaco A team must be commended as they were the top seed after having won all of their matches without losing a set during the round robin part of
the tournament,” Saunders said. “The coaches in Abaco are really doing an awesome job, especially with the junior athletes and should be recognised for the hard work that they are putting in.”
Saunders said Johnson, a 17-year-old Panthers’ player, “proved herself to be one of, if not the best under 20 players that we have and is easily able to compete against senior level competition, as was
evident by her play. “Panthers are now the two-time defending champions and are looking to continue with its mission by allowing championships to be a byproduct of the work put in,” Saunders summed up.
Poitier sisters leading by example
OLDER sister Zaire
Poitier led by example for her twin siblings with the top performance over the weekend as they continued to compete in the US Kids Sarasota Tour at the Heritage Oaks Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.
Poitier shot rounds of 41 at the Heritage Oaks Country Club, 44 at the Lakewood National Golf Club, 41 at the Laurel Oak Country Club and 46 at Myakka Pines Golf Club to finish in fifth place for the US Kids Sarasota Tour.
As they closed out competition over the weekend, twin sisters Zion and Zeden scored 41 and 45 for fourth and sixth place respectively.
On Saturday, they were tied for fourth with 44.
“So we have completed five events so far and got medals or trophies in all so far,” said proud mother Denise Poitier of her three daughters, who are performing exceptionally well on the tour.
The Poitier family is now heading to Illinois where they will compete this weekend at the Pepsi Little People Championship.
TOP PERFORMERS IN THE BAAA AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
MIKYLA Sears, Aiden Knowles, Jazae Johnson and Emmile Higgins all emerged as the top performers in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Age Group Championships.
The quartet all accumulated a total of 10 points to win their respective divisional titles in the two-day event that was held on Saturday and Sunday at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
Based on their finish, the athletes were awarded points towards their rankings from 10 for first place to one for eighth place in each of their age groups.
Mikyla Sears of Speed Begins captured the under13 girls’ divisional title with 2,653 points as they competed in the 60m, 800m, long jump, high jump UNK.
Kian Duncombe of the T-Bird Flyers trailed with 2,395 and Waynedeisha Douglas of Kids Athletics
Academy had 2,330 for third. Hardassah McCoy of Xtreme Athletics was fourth with 2,264 and Dazariah Bullard of Kids Athletics Academy finished in fifth with 2,232. Aiden Knowles, representing Xtreme Athletics, secured the under-13 boys crown with 2,544 points from their five events, including the 60m, 1,000m, long jump, high jump and the UNK. Antonio Hanna, also from Xtreme Athletics, had 2,466 and Terrell Wray, of Speed 365 Athletics, rounded out the top three with 2465.
Jordan Brown of Sunland Baptist Academy was fourth with 2,440 and Kaydin Thompson, unattached, was fifth with 2,436. In the under-15 division, which featured the 80, 1,000m, 60m hurdles, long jump, high jump and the UNK, Jazae Johnson of Leap of Faith clinched
her title with 4,197; Symiah Strachan of Red-Line Athletics came in second behind 3,998 and Inaya Nesbit of the Grand Bahama Heats picked up the third place with 3,772.
Tia Thompson of SPIA got fourth with 3,124 and was followed by Chyanne Hepburn of the Road Runners completing the top five with 3,052 for fifth place.
And Emmile Higgins of Fast Track was the champion with 4,952 points in the under-15 boys’ division that consisted of the 80m, 1,200m, 80m hurdles, long jump, high jump, UNK and shot put.
Justin Shepherd of Bahamas Speed Dynamics came in second with 4,412.
Travon Moncur of CH Reeves completed the top three with 4,392.
Shia Pratt of Bahamas Speed Dynamics was fourth with 4,369 and DeAntae Joseph of CH Reeves was fifth with 4,207.
THE Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers clinched the women’s title in Grand Bahama Volleyball Association’s Battle of the Islands Volleyball Tournament at the Eight Mile Rock Gymnasium in Grand Bahama over the weekend.
SHOWN, from left to right are Zeden, Zaire and Zion Poitier.
POITIER sisters enjoying a ride together.
ZAIRE Poitier with two of her rivals.
Ed Armbrister, Freedom Farm Baseball
Leagues emerge
as
champions of Andre Rodgers Senior National Championships
Freedom Farm 2, JBLN 1
With the game tied at 1-1, both teams attempted to squeeze in the game winning run in a tightly contested game for the under-16 title.
But in the end, it was Freedom Farm that got the job done with their walkof-the-field victory as coach Ray Stubbs said they will cherish the performance for a long time.
“A win is always good. I’m proud of my boys. They beat us earlier 1-0, so it was good to come back and beat them when it counted the most in the championship,” Stubbs said.
Freedom Farm secured the win in the bottom of the seventh as Elisha Butler raced home all the way from second on an overthrow attempting to get him at third into left field with Mark Gaitor at the plate.
Doyle Sears started the game for Freedom Farm and he recorded 14 outs before Cavian Robert cme in relief and tossed two and one-third innings of scoreless ball. He surrendered zero hits, striking out three and walking three.
Liam Eneas began the game for JBLN giving up one hit and one run (zero earned) over two innings, striking out two and walking none.
Ralph Burrows led Freedom Farm offensively with one run batted in. Blake Cartwright, Teron Davis, and Cavian Robert each collected one hit. Teron Davis stole two bases.
Freedom Farm played flawless baseball, not committing a single error.
Nathan Fernander led JBLN with an RBI. Nathan Fernander had a pair of walks and Javan Smith stole two bases.
Vince Seymour Jr, one of the coaches for JBLN, said they had their chances to win, but just couldn’t pull it off.
“We took a chance to send a man home on a mid shallow ball and that didn’t work out,” he said. “But the guys fought hard. they gave it their all. We just came up short.”
Seymour Jr said the tournament was really competitive and they have to tip their hats off to the Abaco
Youth Baseball League, who showed some vast improvements this year.
“They came a long way from last year to this year,” he said. “They played well, they pitched well and they hit very well. They scored the second most runs in the tournament. They looked great.”
GBLL 8, Abaco 3 In the battle for the consolation third place in the
under-16 division, Milique
Israel went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored and Tlyer Knowles was 1-for-3 with a RBI to pace Grand Bahama over Abaco.
Kaiden Knowles was 1-for-2 with a run scored; K’Shaun Mitchell was 1-for-1 with an RBI and Farris Nicholson drove in a run and scored another in his two at-bats to pace Abaco.
Brent Sands, one of the coaches for Grand Bahama, said there was no way that they were going to leave the tournament without taking home some of the hardware.
“Today we made some adjustments. The last game, we made some errors that caused us to be playing for the bronze medal,” Sands said. “We built from that,executed and played like we should to get the bronze.” Sands said he was extremely pleased with the way the tournament went and was even more impressed with the fact that there was a college showcase for the players to display their skills to the visiting scouts.
The showcase, organised once again by Michael
Foster, was staged on Saturday and featured American collegiate coaches Wilberto ‘Coach Willie’ Ramos from Florida Memorial University and DJ Price from Barry University, BBA president Clarence ‘CJ’ McKenzie said the tournament went very well with good competition over the three days they staged the event. He noted that if this event was any indication, they were looking forward to the junior nationals, set for Grand Bahama from June 16-19.
“We expect that to be a good as well,” said McKenzie, as he thanked the Bruce Newball Foundation and A Sure Win, ZNS and Insurance Management.
He also noted that the BBA could not have
picked a more deserving person to honour this year than Smith, who provided excellent leadership and is a great figure in the baseball community. Under-16 award winners
Most hits - Tyler Knowles - GABLL
Most RBI - Maleek Israel - GBLL. Most stolen bases - Ajay Knowles - JBLN. Best pitcher - Liam Eneas - JBLN.
MVP - Cavian RobertsFreedom Farm. Under-23 award winners
Most hits - Nathan Miller - JBLN. Most RBI - Jordan Miller - EABL.
Most stolen basesCaden Walker.Bestpitcher - Tyler Nairn - JBLN. MVP - Ferron Moss - EABL.
of 22-6 1/4 (6.86m). It’s still the fifth best mark for the year. And in the 100m, she ran the fastest time by a Bahamian in 11.01 in the women’s 100m in Jacksonville, Florida on May 31 to surpass the WC standard of 11.07.
Anthonique Strachan, one of two Bahamians training in Jamaica, came through in fourth place in the women’s 200m.
The 31-year-old ran 23.11 in the race won by her Jamaican MVP teammate Shericka Jackson in a World Championship qualifying time of 22.53.
The standard for the event is 22.57 with only Canadian Audrey Leduc getting second in 22.80 and American Caisja Chandler was third in 22.92.
Strachan, however, still holds the fastest time so far
this year by a Bahamian in 22.86 that she ran on May 17 in a previous meet in Kingston. Wendell Miller, at 22, and the other Bahamian training in Jamaica with MVP Club, was the runner up in the men’s 400m in 46.55.
Jamaica’s Jeremy Bemridge of the Racers Club won in a season’s best of 46.08. Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones, 22, rounded out the field of Bahamians on the track. The Bahamian conational record holder in the 100m took eighth in the men’s 100m in 10.44. Jamaica took the top two spots with Kishane Thompson of MVP winning in 9.88 and Oblique Seville of Racers second in 9.97 as they both surpassed the World Championships’ qualifying time of 10.00. Gift Leotlela of the Republic of South Africa was third in 10.04.
Carlos Brown Jr, who trains at home with coach Andrew Tynes, ran 10.04 at a home meet on April 4 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium for the fastest time by a Bahamian so far this year. On the field, one Bahamian competed with LaQuan Nairn, representing TrackWired, coming through in eighth place in the men’s long jump with his best leap of 23-4 (7.11m).
Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock led the international field of competitors with 26-1 3/4 (7.97m) for the win. Guyana’s Emanuel Archbald was second with 25-8 1/4 (7.83m) and American Jeremiah Davis was third in 25-7 1/4 (7.80m). The WC standard is 27-1 3/4
THE ED Armbrister and Freedom Farm baseball leagues emerged as champions of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s sixth annual Andre Rodgers Senior National Baseball Championships over the weekend. In the championship games played on Sunday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, the Ed Armbrister Baseball League routed the JBLN 11-3 for the under-23 title, while Freedom Farm squeezed past JBLN 2-1 for the under-16 crown.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
Alcaraz produces another major comeback to win French Open final in five-set thriller against Sinner
By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) — Bad starts in Grand Slam finals are nothing new for Carlos Alcaraz, and each time it’s happened he has won the tournament anyway.
But not in such dramatic style as Sunday’s French Open final, when the Spaniard rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) for his fifth major title in as many finals. It was Alcaraz’s second straight French Open title with a comeback, after trailing 2-1 in sets to Alexander Zverev in last year’s final, and a third major title from behind, following his five-set win against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final. “When the situations are against you,
then you have to keep fighting. It’s a Grand Slam final, it’s no time to be tired, no time to give up,” Alcaraz said. “Do I enjoy that? The real champions are made in those situations.”
In producing one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the clay-court tournament on Sunday, he emulated Djokovic’s feat from the 2021 final at Roland-Garros — when the now 24-time major winner fought back from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“Today it was all about the belief in myself,” Alcaraz said.
He became just the ninth player to rally from two sets down and win a Grand Slam final in the Open Era, which began in 1968.
The first was Bjorn Borg in 1974 against Manuel Orantes at the French Open, where Ivan Lendl
and Andre Agassi achieved the same feat.
Rafael Nadal also did so, at the Australian Open, and Sinner too. It was the first time that Sinner had lost a Grand Slam final, but the fifth time in succession he has now lost to Alcaraz, who clinched the 20th title of his career at the age of 22.
Unending drama
It was also the longestever French Open final — 5 hours, 29 minutes — in the Open Era. It was so tight that Sinner won 193 points, Alcaraz 192.
It might not have been close to those numbers.
For after 3 hours, 43 minutes, Sinner had his first match point. But with just over five hours since the match began, Alcaraz served for the title at 5-4 up. The drama was still not over. Sinner made a remarkable retrieve from
yet another superb Alcaraz drop shot. At the very limit he could stretch to, Sinner glided the ball over the net, with the ball landing with the softness of an autumn leaf and out of Alcaraz’s reach to make it 15-40.
When Sinner won the game to make it 5-5, it was his turn to milk the applause and he was two points away from victory in the 12th game, with Alcaraz on serve and at 15-30 and at deuce.
But Alcaraz made a staggering cross-court backhand to make it 6-6 and force a tiebreaker, with the crowd going wild when Alcaraz’s cross-court winner made it 4-0.
“Just amazing the support you have given me today,” Alcaraz said. “During the whole tournament.”
Little sleep for Sinner Alcaraz won the match with a superb forehand
pass down the line, fell onto his back to celebrate, then rushed over to dance and hug the team members in his box.
“I’m very happy for you, and you deserve it, so congrats,” the 23-year-old Sinner told Alcaraz. “It’s an amazing trophy, so I won’t sleep tonight very well, but it’s okay.”
Nightmare ninth Sinner may have nightmares about the ninth game of the fourth set.
Serving to stay in the match at 5-3 down, Alcaraz trailed 0-40 to give Sinner three match points. On the second match point, and with Alcaraz on second serve, he hit a hurried backhand which landed just out. He then hit a forehand into the net for another unforced error, making it deuce.
The crowd chanted “Carlos, Carlos,” and
roared when Alcaraz hit an ace, then gave him a standing ovation when his audacious forehand down the line went in — to win that game — and again when he broke Sinner’s serve to level at 5-5.
“That’s what the real champions have done in their whole careers. Not being afraid,” Alcaraz said. “That’s why I had my best tennis in crucial moments.”
Alcaraz hit 70 winners, compared to 53 for Sinner, who might have been feeling like it was a case of déjà vu.
Alcaraz beat Sinner in the French Open semifinals last year, coming back from 2-1 down in sets. He beat Sinner last month in the Italian Open final — the tournament where Sinner returned from his doping ban.
Alcaraz now owns a 22-1 record on clay this year.
COCO GAUFF EARNS HER FIRST FRENCH OPEN TITLE
By JEROME PUGMIRE AND SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) — Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years ago in the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she needed to win the clay-court major for the first time.
The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title, two years after winning the U.S. Open.
“I think (the U.S. Open victory) was more emotional but this one was harder,” said Gauff, who managed to handle the elements and the momentum swings better than Sabalenka. “I knew it was going to be about will power and mental (strength).”
The victory put to rest the bad memories of her 2022 French Open final loss to Iga Swiatek when,
as an 18-year-old, Gauff felt overwhelmed even before stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“It was a tough time, I was doubting myself,” Gauff recalled. “I was crying before the match, and so nervous, literally couldn’t breathe and stuff.”
Gauff said that the lopsided loss rocked her confidence to such an extent that she was left “in a dark place” and feared she was not cut out for winning major titles.
joy and relief, then got to her knees and crouched forward, continuing to cry as she savored the win. She hugged later film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage in her box before thanking the fans. “You guys were cheering for me so hard,” she said. “I don’t know what I did to deserve so much love from the French crowd.”
One thing Gauff could not manage — yet — was a victory speech in French.
“I completely tanked on that,” she said, adding that she will try in the future. “I don’t think I could do a whole speech but maybe a good something to say to the French crowd.”
“This one is heavy,” Gauff said. “It feels great to lift it.”
She is the first American woman to win at RolandGarros since Serena Williams in 2015.
“I thought if I can’t handle this how am I going to handle it again?” she said. She handled it just fine on Saturday. The second-ranked Gauff made fewer mistakes and kept her emotions in check to get the better of Sabalenka again at major final, having come from a set down to beat the Belarusian in the 2023 U.S. Open final. Gauff raised the winners’ trophy aloft, then kissed it several times. She held her hand over her heart when the U.S. national anthem played.
It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years.
After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff’s second match point, the 21-year-old American fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands as she started to sob, then got up and held her hand over her mouth. She continued to sob as she patted the clay with her left hand.
Sabalenka praised Gauff for being a “fighter” and said she deserved the win, but added that the windy conditions made for an error-strewn contest.
Gauff greeted Sabalenka at the net with a warm hug and thanking the umpire, Gauff screamed out with
“This will hurt so much,” Sabalenka said. “Coco, congrats, in the tough conditions you were a better player than me.”
Shedeur Sanders
Travis Hunter
SPAIN’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
UNITED States’ Coco Gauff celebrates after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in Paris on Saturday. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Intriguing Colorado Duo
Ayear a er quarterbacks dominated the top dozen picks, Miami s Cam Ward is the only sure re high pick among premier passers this year Bringing the intrigue into the dra are Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter, who aims to play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL like he did in B oulder Where will Shedeur Sanders land when teams gather in the land of Vince Lombardi to restock their rosters? at s the biggest stor yline of the NFL dra in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with mocks all over the map
Bypassing Colorado’s precision passer could lead to deep regrets among talent evaluators, suggested longtime ESPN dra analyst Mel Kiper Jr Sanders overcame a substandard ground game and at times poor pass protection to throw for 37 touchdowns and more than 4,000 yards last season while completing more than 74% of his throws.
Bypassing on-the- eld workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and the Big 12 pro day only added to the doubts that suddenly swirled around the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who dr yly wondered how his son ’ s stock could have slipped when he hasn’t thrown an interception since the Alamo B owl At the conclusion of the year a er 4,000-some yards, all of a sudden his arm is weak, Deion Sanders cracked I don t know when his arm got weak. But he protects the ball He had the highest completion percentage in college football this past year He s the pillar of consistency
Although Cam Ward the consensus pick to go No 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, arguably brings more electricity to the position, Sanders skillset merits no sco ng He s not creative like Cam He doesn t have the mobility of Cam He doesn’t have the rocket arm of Cam Ward ” Kiper said “But certainly Shedeur in the right o ense with the right personnel around him can be great ” Shedeur Sanders brings some of the same swag that his father, who coached him at Jackson State and Colorado, brought to the football eld in the 1980s and ‘90s when “Coach Prime” was known as “Neon Deion” or “Prime Time ” Some of that, like his ashy watch pose a er touchdowns, may turn o opposing players and fans – and even some NFL scouts -but it shows a bravado that pro teams want and
need in their quarterback. e Cleveland Browns own the second overall pick followed by the New York Giants. e Browns still need a franchise quarterback and the Giants could select their future signal-caller despite signing free agents Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this o season. Other wise LSU o ensive lineman Will Campbell and
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
But you ve got to understand when that last name is on your back you ’ re going to be attacked and ridiculed But we ’ re built for that. He was raised for this moment ” Kiper concurred saying Shedeur Sanders is accurate, he s precise –everything ever ybody wants. Decisionmaking, accuracy, toughness, he has Now, he’s 6-foot-and-a-half, can’t change that, right? But six-foot-and-a-half is more than good enough now in this day and age ”
OKLAHOMA CITY
(AP) — This has been Oklahoma City’s formula all season: Lose one game, respond in the next.
That’s exactly what the Thunder did in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, Alex Caruso added 20 off the bench and the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to tie these finals at one game apiece.
Jalen Williams scored 19, Aaron Wiggins had 18 and Chet Holmgren finished with 15 for the Thunder.
It was the franchise’s first finals game win since the opener of the 2012 series against Miami.
“We did some things good tonight. We did some things bad,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“We’ve got to be able to get better and be ready for Game 3.”
Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 for Indiana, which erased a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit in Game 1 but never made a push on Sunday.
Myles Turner scored 16 and Pascal Siakam added 15 for the Pacers, the first team since Miami in 2013 to not have a 20-point scorer in the first two games of the finals.
Game 3 is Wednesday at Indianapolis, in what will be the first finals game in
that city in 25 years. “A bad first half, obviously, was a big problem,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “And we just played poorly. A little better in the second half. But you can’t be a team that’s reactive and expect to be successful or have consistency.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s first basket of the night was a history-maker: It gave him 3,000 points on the season, including the regular season and playoffs.
And later in Game 2, he passed New York’s Jalen Brunson (514) as the leading overall scorer in these playoffs.
But the real milestone for the MVP came a couple hours later, when he and most everybody else on the Thunder got a finals win for the first time.
A 19-2 run in the second quarter turned what was a six-point game into a 23-point Thunder lead. It might have seemed wobbly a couple of times — an immediate 10-0 rebuttal by the Pacers made it 52-39, and Indiana was within 13 again after Andrew Nembhard’s layup with 7:09 left in the third — but the Thunder lead was never in serious doubt.
“They did a good job being disruptive,” Siakam said. “They got out in transition. ... They were super aggressive, which is what they do.”
With the noise level in the building often topping 100
Game 2: Thunder open another big lead and keep control, topping Pacers 123-107 to even the series
decibels — a chain saw is 110 dB, for comparison purposes — the Thunder did what they’ve done pretty much all season. They came off a loss, this time a 111110 defeat in Game 1, and blew somebody out as their response.
Including the NBA Cup title game, which doesn’t count in any standings, the Thunder are now 18-2 this season when coming off a loss. Of those 18 wins, 12 have been by double digits.
“That’s a long 48 hours when you lose Game 1 like that, coming into Game 2,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
Shedeur Sanders
Hunter
“The guys did a great job of just focusing on what we needed to do to stack to a win tonight. That’s how we got it.”
INDIANA Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, right, defends against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series on Sunday in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
OKLAHOMA City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) questions a call during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
(AP Photo/ Julio Cortez)
Teeing It O
Sche er has reasserted himself as the best player in golf
e one name that has ever yone ’ s attention at the U.S. Open: Oakmont
e course Henr y Fownes built is tough as Pittsburgh steel and always has been. e last winning score over 300 at a U.S. Open was by Tommy Armour in Oakmont in 1927. e last time anyone came close since then? Also at Oakmont in 1935.
e USGA doesn t have to do much to achieve what it wants: e toughest test in golf
Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open for the 10th time on June 12-15, and there’s a reason it keeps going back there more than any other course
ere are certain places in our game where you stand on the rst tee and you look out over the landscape, and it’s just meant to play the U.S. Open. Oakmont is that place It was built for a U.S. Open,” said John B odenhamer the chief championships o cer for the USGA.
at’s what awaits the best in the world, and a collection of dreamers willing to go through 36 holes of qualifying, just for a shot at Oakmont
Xander Schau ele has only nished out of the top 10 once in his eight U.S. Opens. He has yet to see Oakmont, but its reputation is enough for him to realize what to expect.
It s just a battle It really is Schau ele said Sche er made his U.S. Open debut as a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Texas. He shot 69 in the rst round, then missed the cut. Now he is a threetime major champion, fresh o his veshot victor y in the PGA Championship and facing the sternest test yet
SC H EFFLE R S O A R IN G e freak injur y Sche er su ered when he tried cutting ravioli with a wine glass and punctured his right hand might have set him back at the start of his season. He is in full stride going into the U.S. Open. Sche er has won three of his last four tournaments by a combined 17 shots. at includes the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow A victor y at Oakmont would send him to the British Open next month for a shot at the career Grand Slam.
B R YSO N I S B AC K
For all the talk about Oakmont s toughness, Winged Foot in New York is another brute of a U.S. Open test at’s where Br yson DeChambeau blasted away o the tee and powered wedges out of the rough. He set the scoring record at Winged Foot
(274) and won by six in the 2020 U.S. Open. Now he is the defending champion and ready to match muscles with Oakmont Only ve players in the last 100 years have won the U.S. Open back-toback.
TH E F IE L D
e U.S. Open boasts the most democratic eld of all the majors, with roughly 45 percent of players going through 36 holes of qualifying at includes Mason Howell, a 17-year-old high school junior who had rounds of 63-63 without a bogey to qualify It also features Harrison Ott at No 2,651 in the world rankings. And then there’s the Indianapolis dentist, Matt Vogt, a former Oakmont caddie e last player to win the U.S. Open a er having to qualify was Lucas Glover in 2009.
PHI L FAR E WE L L ?
Phil Mickelson made his U.S. Open debut in 1990, one year a er McIlroy was born. Only one of them has the career Grand Slam. Mickelson is 0-for-33 in the U.S. Open, and this might be his last chance at age 54. His ve-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship runs out this year He already accepted one special exemption from the USGA right before he won the PGA, and that counts. Seve Ballesteros is the only player to have received more than one special exemption without having won the U.S. Open.
Dates: June 12-15
Site: Oakmont Country Club, suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Length: 7,349
yards
Par: 70
Cut: Top 60 and ties
Playo (if necessary): Two-hole aggregate immediately after 72 holes are completed
Field: 156 players
Purse: TBA Last year: $21.5 million
Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau
Last year: Bryson DeChambeau got up-anddown from 55 yards away in a bunker, making a 4-foot putt for a 1-over 71 and a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2. McIlroy had the lead late in the round but bogeyed three of his last four holes That included missing a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole and a par putt just inside 4 feet on the last hole DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open
Last time at Oakmont: Dustin Johnson closed with a 1-under 69 to rally from a four-shot de cit and won his rst major in the 2016 U.S Open He won by three shots after getting a two-shot penalty after the nal round for his ball moving on the fth green U S Open champions at Oakmont: Dustin Johnson (2016), Angel Cabrera (2007) Ernie Els (1994), Larry Nelson (1983), Johnny Miller (1973), Jack Nicklaus (1962) Ben Hogan (1953), Sam Parks Jr (1935), Tommy Armour (1927) The money line (BetMGM Sportsbook): Scottie Sche er +300; Rory McIlroy +700; Bryson DeChambeau, +800; Jon Rahm, +1100; Xander Schau ele +1600 Grand slammed: This is Phil Mickelson’s nal year of eligibility for the U.S. Open It is the only major keeping him from the career Grand Slam and he has not nished better than a tie for 28th in his 10 previous attempts at getting the last leg
Key statistic: Only eight players have shot lower than 280 in the U.S. Open at Oakmont
Noteworthy: Oakmont is hosting the U.S Open for the 10th time the most of any course
Quoteworthy: “The cliche statement of golf is a marathon, it seems to be the most true feeling when you play at U S Opens You just feel like you re going to war every day -Xander Schau ele
Television (all times EDT): Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 5 p m (USA Network), 5 p m to 8 p.m. (Peacock); Friday 6:30 a m to 1 p.m (Peacock), 1 p m to 7 p m (NBC), 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday 10 a.m. to noon (USA Network), noon to 8 p m (NBC); Sunday, 9 a.m to noon (USA Network) noon to 7 p.m. (NBC) Xander Schau ele UNITED STATES
consistently better than the other three majors The only time he has nished out of the top 10 was a tie for 14th in 2022. He is starting to nd his form after missing two months with a rib injury
BetMGM odds: 16-1 Jon Rahm SPAIN Age: 30 World ranking: 76 Worldwide wins: 22 Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021) U.S. Open appearances: 8 Best nish: Won at Torrey Pines in 2021 Backspin: Rahm pushed Sche er down the stretch at the PGA Championship his rst time seriously contending in a major since joining LIV Golf He has yet to win on LIV Golf this year Rahm was low amateur at Oakmont in the 2016 U S Open BetMGM odds: 11-1 Rory McIlroy NOR THERN IRELAND Age: 36 World ranking: 2 Worldwide wins: 40 Majors: Masters (2025) PGA Championship (2012, 2014), U.S Open (2011) British Open (2014) U S Open appearances: 16 Best nish: Won at Congressional in 2011 Backspin: McIlroy achieved a lifetime dream by winning the Masters
Ror y McIlroy
Scottie Sche er
Phil Mickelson