SPORTS SECTION E
WNBA
Sun, Page 5
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017
Shameko Smith selected by Rockies in 13th round By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net nother Bahamian baseball talent received an opportunity to further his career at the professional level through the Major League Baseball Draft. Shameko Smith was selected by the Colorado Rockies organisation yesterday, in the 13th round with the 386th overall pick. A right-handed pitcher at 6’1” and 190 pounds, he has been reported to have a 95mph fastball. Smith, an Abaco native, recently completed his freshman season with the Polk Community College Eagles in the NJCAA. In 14 appearances with 12 starts, he posted a 4-1 win-loss record with 67 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.48 in 61.2 innings. He earned a second team AllConference honour in the Suncoast Conference of the FCSAA and was one of nine Polk State players to have received 2017 Suncoast Conference recognition. Smith made his debut on January 28 and delivered six strikeouts to lead the Eagles to a 5-2 win over Eastern Florida State College. In five innings he allowed just two runs on four hits. He posted a season-high eight strikeouts on three occasions. The first was on February 11 in a 12-6 win over the University of Tampa JV, in a 3-2 win over South Florida State College on March 18, and again in a 7-1 win over Florida Southwestern on April 7.
JONQUEL SEEKS THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN HER ALL-STAR SELECTION
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SHAMEKO SMITH in action on the mound for the Polk Community College Eagles in the NJCAA. In MLB Draft yesterday, he was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 13th round with the 386th overall pick.
Carl Hield loses by unanimous decision in 1st round of AMBC Championships By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net IT was a disappointing end for Carl Hield’s bid toward regional qualification and ultimately a spot in the IBA World Championships. Hield fell in the first round of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite American Confederation Boxing Championships on Monday night in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Hield lost via unanimous decision to Jhonathan Concei de Oliviera de Soares of Brazil as the Welterweight Class opened competition. He needed a top six finish at the event to advance to the World Championships. “I have learnt in life that despite all things we must give God thanks,” he posted on Facebook, “Despite the competition not going the way that I have planned,
I have learned to understand that God does everything for a reason and he has a purpose and plan for my life. “It was important for me to understand that it was not my time, and to know that God has a specific time for me to shine and when that time comes no one can stop because He would have declared it my time. God is showing me every day that he is in control of my life and future.” Hield, who currently trains in Havana, Cuba, said his fight game has suffered from a lack of activity and exposure. “I have went an entire year with no fights and still ranked No. 57 in 69kg in the world rankings. Could you imagine if I were to have the opportunity to fight in more competitions to get the exposure? My ranking could be a lot higher,” he said. “To be ranked No. 57 in the
BOXER Carl Hield world is a great honour for The Bahamas. For a country of our size, we have made our presence felt in the boxing arena. I would like to thank God for the many blessings that he has bestowed on my life and will continue to bestow on my life because I know that with him
nothing is impossible. Thank you, Jesus, for the many blessings.” The AMBC was founded in an Extraordinary Assembly held in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 31, 2009. It emerged as a result of the merger of the Confederation of Pan American Boxing and the American Bureau of Aiba, according to Aiba’s new policy of recognising only one organisation per continent. The co-founders of the AMBC are Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Its current executive committee comprises eight members based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The main function is to govern and control the entire Olympic boxing on the American continent as well as having the representation of Aiba in America.
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JONQUEL Jones is having an All-Star calibre season for the Connecticut Sun and the second-year forward is seeking help from the Bahamian public in her selection bid. WNBA All-Star Voting 2017, presented by Verizon, opened Tuesday afternoon. Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 will be played on Saturday, July 22 at KeyArena, home of the Seattle Storm. The game will be broadcast on ABC at 3:30pm. Jones took to Facebook to garner support from local fans. “Its time to get in formation! This season has been great so far and while I’m never the one to boast, I’m playing at an All-Star level! The thing is I only become an All Star with your help! “Post a status with the hashtag #WNBAVOTE Jonquel Jones , to send me to the all star game! You can vote 10 times a day but each vote must have my name once! Please 242 I need y’all. Likes DO NOT count as votes so post a status if you want your girl in this year’s all star game! Let’s shoot for 10 status’ a day. Share it as well to get the word around!” The WNBA will take a three-tier approach to AllStar Voting this year which will include media, WNBA players/coaches and fans. Fan voting, an all-digital programme, will conclude on Thursday, July 6 at 9pm. WNBA fans may submit one full ballot each day through WNBA.com (desktop or mobile) or the WNBA App (available on Android and iOS). Fans may also vote for up to 10 players per day on Twitter and Facebook. In just under two weeks, the leading vote-getters in each conference will be announced Thursday, June 29 on ESPN2 as Jones and the Sun take on the Seattle Storm. All-Star Starters will then be announced live on ESPN on Tuesday, July 11 during the noon edition of SportsCenter. WNBA head coaches will select reserves for both conferences, which will be announced July 18, live on ESPN2 Jones posted another double-double last weekend and led the Connecti-
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Demi Rolle second recipient of The Pompey Scholarship A SENIOR at L N Coakley High School in Exuma became the second recipient of The Pompey Scholarship this week, with ambitious plans to study in Canada this fall and return to Exuma as a primary school educator. Demi Rolle, whose favourite subjects include English and history, will join her friend Troyann Forbes - the first winner of this scholarship - at Acadia University on the Canadian east coast. “I was really just stunned. Me? Really? When they called my name, I couldn’t believe it. It was really exciting,” said Rolle, who picked up her over-sized cheque at L N Coakley’s graduation ceremony, held at Sandals Emerald Bay on Tuesday. “I plan to come back home [to Exuma], but I want to get that experience abroad as well and then perhaps open up my own preschool when I return. I heard it
is very nice in Canada and I have friends over there.” Rolle’s big win is the end result of last year’s Run for Pompey, the second instalment in an annual event that is rapidly becoming a fixture on the sports tourism calendar. Race organisers say as the old saying goes, the third time’s a charm. The next Run for Pompey, taking place over National Heroes Day Weekend October 6-8 in Exuma, promises to be the largest yet, featuring a new collaboration with the National Family Island Regatta. On October 7, or race day, runners from The Bahamas and abroad will be treated to a festival atmosphere in the park with a full bar, food stalls, Bahamian entertainment and a mini-regatta in Elizabeth Harbour. Run for Pompey also announced telecoms company Aliv
DEMI ROLLE, a senior at L N Coakley High School in Exuma, with her oversized Pompey Scholarship cheque.
had signed on as a major sponsor along with another company that prefers to remain anonymous at this time. The event is led by title sponsor BAF Financial & Insurance (Bahamas) Limited and MRI Nassau. GIV Bahamas Inc., the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Grand Isle Resort, Sands Beer, Caribbean and Bottling Company, Ty’s Sunset Bar & Grill, Catch A Fire, Chat N’ Chill, BahamasLocal. com, SuperClubs Breezes and Diane Phillips & Associates round out Run for Pompey’s strong network of sponsors. Legendary “Golden Girl” Pauline Davis-Thompson will serve as Run for Pompey’s patron for the third consecutive time, draping medals around each and every neck at the finish line. She is also expected to provide a special key-
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