07282017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

BUDDY HIELD TO HOST BASKETBALL WORKSHOP

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BUDDY Hield’s busy offseason will include several stops back home for a series of community outreach initiatives.

First on the schedule will be the inaugural Buddy Hield Workshop and Tournament today and tomorrow at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The workshop will facilitate hundreds of aspiring student athletes aged 10-17-years-old through a series of drills and skill position development hosted by Hield and his team of personal coaches from the United States.

Of the more than 300 participants, 200 will be sponsored by ALIV. The first session aimed at 1012 year olds will take place from 9am-1pm, while teens from 13-17 will go from 1pm–5pm.

The two-day event will also include a three-point shootout, slam dunk contest and a “Battle of Champions” in the senior boys division between the GSSSA champion Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves and the BAISS champion Jordan Prince William Falcons.

Hield arrived in the capital last night and said he is eager to get to work with as many young players as possible.

“I’m just excited to be in Nassau working with kids. I’m a big fan of giving back. My childhood was all about giving back wherever I can,” Hield said.

“The same way it was done for me as young kid growing up in Grand Bahama where people came and impacted my life I will be the same way, giving back, showing people we still care and helping the the community in some kind of way.

“With the workshop format it’s different, because we want to teach the kids something and have them walk away with some skills that can impact them for a long time.

These guys that are with me and helping me are the guys that really trained me to get where I am today and I want to teach these kids to get there.

Basketball is a sport that takes a lot of hard work, It takes more than going to the gym and dunking or shooting a few jumpers so if you really want it you have to go after it. We want to challenge them to bring out the best in them and that’s what we plan to do this weekend.”

Sam Grooms, a member of Hield’s coaching staff said the young players will get an idea of the dedication Hield has in his approach.

“I want to show them the environment Buddy had to go through. People love the progress but not the process. When Buddy first got to campus as a freshman he wasn’t what he eventually became as a senior. We just want to SEE PAGE FOUR

TEK TEAM KEEPS THINGS TICKING OVER AT CYG PG2

FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017

Bahamas sprinter ‘fails’ drug test

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A POSITIVE drug test of the A sample from one of the Bahamas sprinters on the men’s 4x100m relay team at the IAAF World Relays in April means there will be a change to the line-up at next week’s IAAF World Championships in London.

Two days ago, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations named a 21-member team for the championships, but excluded the men’s 400m relay team as they waited on the final conformation that they would be allowed to compete from the IAAF. That confirmation was given yesterday and the Bahamas will have all four relay teams participating in the event that will run from August 3-14.

BAAA’s president Rosamunde Carey said they are thrilled that the IAAF has granted the team permission to compete in the championships, despite the allegation of a positive test.

“I can’t confirm a positive drug testing because there is a procedure that we have to follow,” Carey said.

“There is an Athletes Drug Integrity Unit. All information will flow

But 4x100 team will be allowed to compete at IAAF World Championships through them because they have to notify any athlete if there is a positive testing.

“If there is a positive testing of an A sample, nothing can be done until they give you the opportunity to have your B sample tested at the athlete’s expense. Once that process is done, if the B sample is tested positive, then based on what the substance is, they would met out whatever punishment whether or not there is a ban, a suspension or just a warning.”

Carey said at this point, she can’t make a statement on any athlete testing positive because the athlete has to go through the process.

“We have a letter from the Athletes Drug Integrity Unit that oversees drug testing and disciplinary actions against athletes who have tested positive,” she said.

“We can’t say until the process is completed. Any and all athletes

have a right to privacy, until such time as the IAAF makes a public statement.”

The team of Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias and Adrian Griffith finished third in the B final behind winner Trinidad & Tobago and second place finisher Germany at the World Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on April 22.

The three teams were elevated to the sixth, seventh and eighth spots respectively, thus qualifying for London, after only five teams completed the A final.

The United States won the gold medal with Barbados taking the second and China getting third.

Australia and France were fourth and fifth respectively.

Canada, Great Britain and the Netherlands all failed to finish the race after they experienced difficulties on their baton exchanges.

BAHAMAS BEATEN BY MEXICO, 83-75

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEAM Bahamas suffered an 83-75 loss to Mexico in their second game of the FIBA Centrobasket Men’s U17 Championships in the Dominican Republic.

Trailing by two with just over two minutes left to play, the Bahamas squandered several opportunities down the stretch in their first loss of the tournament.

Both teams are now 1-1 in Group A. Dominick Bridgewater led the Bahamas with 31 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists, Raschad Greene had 12 points and 12 rebounds, Samuel Hunter added 15 points and eight rebounds.

“They’re really good rebounders and defenders so it was hard for us to grab rebounds and put it back up with all the fouling going on but we still did a good job on the boards,” Greene said, “We just have to tighten up everything we did it practice and execute what we learned.”

Javier Gonzalez led Mexico with 32 points and nine rebounds, Moises Andriassi scored 17 and Arturo Castillon scored 12.

With just over two minutes left to play in the fourth quar-

ter and the Bahamas trailing 72-70, Detarrio Thompson came up with a steal and chance to tie the game on a fastbreak layup but failed to convert. Mexico took advantage of the mishap with a layup to make it a two possession game, then a three pointer from Gonzalez and an Andriassi layup to give his team a 79-70 lead with 44 seconds left.

The Bahamas struggled from the field and shot just 29 per cent for the game. They dished just eight assists while 24 of Mexico’s 31 made field goals came off assists en route to shooting 51 per cent from the field. Mexico also outscored the Bahamas on fastbreak points (24-15), points in the paint (48-34) and bench points (23-4).

After his 27 point performance in the opening day win against Guyana, Bridgewater picked up where he left off with a three pointer for the first score of the game.

Hunter followed with a deep three as the Bahamas took an early 6-2 lead. Both teams went scoreless for just over two minutes before Bridgewater made another three to give the Bahamas a 10-4 lead.

Mexico was in the bonus early with just over four minutes left to play in the quarter and was able to keep pace at the SEE PAGE FOUR

Named to the Bahamas team for individual events in London are Shaunae Miller-Uibo (women’s 200/400m); Anthonique Strachan, Ty’Nia Gaither and Jenae Abrose (women’s 200m, although only three will be allowed to compete); Devynne Charlton (women’s 100m hurdles); Teray Smith (men’s 200m); Steven Gardiner (men’s 400m), Donald Thomas (men’s high jump), Bianca Stuart (women’s long jump), Tamara Myers (women’s triple jump) and Warren Fraser (men’s 100m).

Added for relay duties are Camiesha Cox and Keianna Albury (women’s 4 x 100m); Shaquania Dorsett, Lanece Clarke, Christine Amertil and Doneisha Anderson (women’s 4 x400m relay); Shavez Hart, Shawn Stuart and Joel Johnson (men’s 4 x 100m relay) and Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell, Kendrick Thompson, Ramon Miller and Ojay Ferguson (men’s 4 x 400m relay).

The IAAF has taken a hard stance against the use of banned substances. They will be awarding a number of athletes and relay teams with medals during the championships after they were elevated following various positive drug tests at the last championships in Beijing, China.

DETARRIO Thompson (left) in action for the Bahamas in the FIBA Centrobasket Men’s U17 Championships game against Mexico.

PHOTO: 10thYearSeniors

JAPAN CRUSHES THE BAHAMAS 17-0 IN WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE top ranked Japan team stomped the Bahamas 17-0 as the round robin segment of the XII Women’s Softball World Championship was completed yesterday in Clearwater, Florida.

While Japan emerged on top of the Section B standings with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record, the Bahamas dropped to 1-5 after losing four straight games since winning their opening match against Israel 10-0.

Ito Kiyomi fired a one-hitter with two strike outs in the 12 batters she faced in the abbreviated four inning affair. The only Bahamian batter to get a hit was second sacker Eilyah Johnson, who batted third in the lineup.

The Bahamian team, managed

by Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby and coached by Shane Albury and D’Kyle Rolle, made a couple of costly errors in the top of the first inning that the Japanese capitalised on by scoring nine runs to put the game out of reach. After getting shut out in the second, they added five more in the third and three more insurance runs in the fourth to secure the win.

Antonia Cooper went the distance for the loss. She gave up 14 hits and 13 earned runs, walked three batters and struck out two of the 27 batters she faced.

All but four batters in Japan’s lineup got at least one hit. Leftfielder Miyu Miyamoto led their offensive charge by going 3-for-4 with a double and home run, driving in four runs and scoring three times.

The Bahamas will now play Korea in the qualifying rounds of the playoffs today. If the team wins, they will play Guatemala at 5 pm.

PAGE 2, Friday, July 28, 2017

SPORTSNOTES

SWIMMING: CARGILL ELECTED TO FINA BUREAU BAHAMAS Swimming Federation president Algernon Cargill has been elected to serve as a member of the FINA Bureau.

The election took place at the FINA General Congress that was held in Budapest, Hungary over the weekend.

The Bureau will serve for 2017-2012.

“I am excited about this opportunity which positions me as one of the Global Leaders in Aquatics Sports,” Cargill said.

“The appointment evidences the leadership put into the Bahamas Aquatics Federation, CCCAN as well as results we have been able to deliver in The Bahamas.”

Cargill said the federation was recognised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture as the Federation of the year in 2015, the only time the MOYSC presented this award because of their success and the goals we have achieved over the term of my presidency.

“I am the outright appointee from the Central American and Caribbean Region, a division of the Americas, and Errol Clarke from Barbados was also elected today as the World at Large Nominee through an election process,” Cargill said.

“So, there are two of us representing the Caribbean on the FINA Bureau, and we are accompanied by one American, Dale Neuburger, one Canadian, Margo Montjoy, and one Paraguyan, Juan Carlos Orihuela Garcete.”

The appointment is the first in the region and it positions the Bahamas very positively in the global aquatic sports leadership.

BOWLING COORS LIGHT TOURNEY The Coors Light second annual Team Tournament got off to a great start last night at Mario’s Bowling Palace. Teams are battling for a first prize of $1100, a second place prize of $500 and a third place prize of $400.

Top player of the evening was David Slatter of the Pocket Crushers with a 257 high game and a 632 high three game set.

The top female bowler was Camille Burnside also of Pocket Crushers with a 503 high set. Uchenna Delva of Deloitte & Touché struck for the ladies high game of 188.

Standings for the top three teams after a closely contested first week are: Pocket Crushers - 2929 pinfall; Pin Crushers - 2916 pinfall and the Rum Runners - 2906 pinfall.

The team tournament runs for six weeks with play continuing next Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

THE TRIBUNE

TEK TEAM KEEPS THINGS TICKING OVER AT CYG

TECHNOLOGY played a major role in the success of the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games last week and a group of local experts led by Trevor Moss had a lot to do with it.

Moss spearheaded the Tek Team that served as the meet management for the athletic competition, but more importantly, he is also responsible for the team that dealt with the whole technical operation of the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games.

“The Tek Team is split into two, but they must work as one to ensure the success of the entire programme,” Moss said. “The team also works with the operational staff of athletics in the technical information centre.

“One aspect is the timing and placing system. That team deals just with the cameras and the clocks for track races. They’re responsible for the starting and the finishing of the race and sending that information onto the meet management.”

The Tek Team, who are directly involvement in the meet management, included Moss, Everette Mackey, Sandra Butler, Anthony Butler, Carlisa Miller, Betty Christie and Christine Cunningham.

For the CYG, Moss had to employ a lot more people because of the scope of work entitled.

Among those added to the Tek Team were Randy Cunningham, Latina Rolle, Thomas Ryan, Ashli Munnings, Scheme McKenzie, Antorio Riley and Antonique Butler.

Not only were they responsible for the setup of the laptop computers used, they also focused on the phone services and internet connection.

“We deploy all the computers, the printers, the scanners, the copiers and we serviced every division of the CYG,” he said. “We had to do that for every venue that the games took place and all of the hotels used as the designated games villages.

“That was Atlantis, Warwick, SuperClubs Breezes, Melia and Baha Mar. We also had to service the cycling venue at the Clifton Heritage site to make sure that they had all of the proper services to function. It was a tedious task, but we got it done.”

Moss said they were also responsible for ensuring that all of the sporting venues at the National Tennis Centre, the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the Betty

Kelly Kenning Swim Complex and the two Thomas A. Robinson stadiums were fully serviced.

“Technology itself had about 20 persons and the Atois team, who provided support for the CYG, including accreditation, had about 10 persons,” he said.

“We had some challenges, but every challenge was met and dealt with. The games got smoother as we went along. As each discipline came on, we were able to do our fine tuning.”

It took about two weeks to set up the entire system around the venues and hotels and about three days to get the operation up and running at the national stadium.

The team that Moss is in charge of has been together since 2013.

They have worked at all three editions of the IAAF World Relays and their Tek Team also assisted the Cayman Islands when they hosted the Carifta Games.

“We are very careful how we respond to requests from our fellow counterparts in the Caribbean because if there is a group already there that uses the same system that we use, we don’t want to side step them,” he said.

“But for the most part, we are only responsible for the operation that takes place here in the Bahamas. We have had a lot to do over the past few years and I think we will be able to handle anything that comes up in the future.”

THE Tek Team at work during the recent Commonwealth Youth Games.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 28, 2017, PAGE 3

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES

DENVAUGHN WHYMNS and the Bahamian mixed 4 x 200m relay team of Kayvon Stubbs, Taylar Lightbourn and Shaquiel Higgs is congratulated by Minister of Sports Michael PIntard.

PHOTO: Patrick Hanna/BIS

LOW TURNOUT BUT A FIRST CLASS EVENT

eby BRONZE medalists Mya Ben h wit ate ebr cel na Han ra and Kar ming assistant coach Cynthia Rah the at n itio pet com o jud at the es.

Commonwealth Youth Gam BIS ith/ Sm ek Der Photo: THE WEEK THAT WAS FOR six days, top athletes from more than 60 countries participated here in the sixth edition of the Olympic-style Commonwealth Youth Games.

The only problem was that there were hardly any Bahamians in the stands cheering for them or the local athletes, who competed in the nine different sporting disciplines. Some have suggested that there wasn’t sufficient marketing of the event, but I beg to differ.

I think all of the summer camps should have closed shop and brought their campers – especially with the entrance fee waived for those 18-and-under. There were just too many other activities taking place when the focus should have been on the games.

Despite the low turnout from the community, the Local Organising Committee, headed by Rommel Knowles, should be commended for putting on a first class sporting event – the first in the region since the Commonwealth Games was held in Kingston, Jamaica 50 years ago.

Visiting delegates and athletes were quite impressed with the set up at the Queen’s Elizabeth Sports Centre where they got to witness or participate in tennis at the National Tennis Centre, judo and boxing at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, swimming at the Betty Kelly Swim Complex, athletics at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium and rugby at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

At the Malcolm Beach Soccer facility, beach soccer and beach volleyball were contested, while cycling was staged at the Clifton Heritage Park.

For those who missed it, there was some top notch competition as countries such as England, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Northern Ireland, Wales, South Africa, Singapore, India and Kenya, to name a few, put on a show.

While England topped the final standings with 51 medals, inclusive of 23 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze, the Bahamas had its best showing ever with one gold, two silver and 10 bronze for 13 medals and 16th place overall.

Not bad for a host country without a medal from any of the games held in the past.

Although many claimed that the $6.7 million it cost to put on the games might have been excessive,

“Although many claimed that the $6.7 million it cost to put on the games might have been excessive, it was worth every penny as the Bahamas got to gauge its progress in a number of sports.” it was worth every penny as the Bahamas got to gauge its progress in a number of sports.

Judo by far had to be the biggest benefactors, having produced two bronze medalists in Karra Hanna and Mya Beneby.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was in boxing, where the Bahamas was only able to field one boxer.

Lennox Boyce, who is being groomed by Ray Minus Jr for the 2020 Olympic Games, had the country’s top three coaches in his corner in Minus Jr, Valentino Knowles and Andre Seymour.

It would have been good to see some of that energy exerted in getting a few more boxers, including a female competitor, into the ring.

When analysing the performances of Team Bahamas, the three medals in swimming – two from Izaak Bastian and one from Lilly Higgs, who just fell short of obtaining her second with a fourth place – must be commended.

However, the highlight was Denvaughn Whymns in athletics.

Coming off a long journey from Nairobi, Kenya with other members who participated in the IAAF World Under-18 Championships, Whymns had two subpar performances to land a pair of bronze medals – in the men’s 110m hurdles and the long jump.

But in the mixed 4 x 200m relay, he powered from third place behind two females to to surge ahead of the pack on the anchor leg and finally get the Bahamas on top of the podium with a gold.

An honorable mention also has to go to the men’s beach soccer team that clinched the bronze.

Kudos to the organisers, officials, volunteers and the fans, for a job well done, considering the Bahamas only agreed to host the event over a year ago after St Lucia had financial diffi-

culties in hosting.

Belfast, Northern Ireland will host the seventh edition in 2021, although some are agitating for the event to be held every two years instead of the regular four.

THE WEEK AHEAD The team numbers are still be finalised, but the focus of attention will now switch to London, England where the IAAF World Championships will get underway on Friday, August 4.

The Bahamas team is expected to head to the championships on Monday and, even though there are only eight athletes who have attained the qualifying standards, all four relay teams are expected to suit up.

So over the next few days we should see the team’s entry list swell to about 26-30 athletes, an average of what we normally carry with a few more individual qualifiers.

This has been an unusual year for the country as basically only three athletes – Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner and Donald Thomas – have made any noise on the international scene.

But it could mean that if the right combinations are put together, the Bahamas could make its presence felt in the women’s 4 x100 and both the men and women’s 4 x 400m relays.

Although they qualified, the jury is still out on whether or not the men’s 4 x 100m team will actually travel after one its members tested positive for a banned substance during the World Relays.

If they don’t go, it will put a dampener on the team.

In the meantime, the rest of our athletes will get a chance to travel to London well in advance of their preliminaries to concentrate on getting together as a team.

Of course, all eyes will be on Miller-Uibo, who will have a hard task of trying to accomplish the sprint double in the women’s 200 and 400m.

BAHAMIAN LENOX BOYCE, the lone Bahamian in boxing, suffere d an opening round loss to Brian Galelkom ogwe of Botswana. Photo: Clarence Rolle/CYG

Izaak Bastian congratBAHAMIAN silver medalist l Houlie from South ulates gold medalist Michae gxian Khoo from Zon ist dal me Africa as bronze - Derek Smith/BIS Singapore looks on. Photo

THE BAHAMAS men’s beach soccer team celebrate their bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

PHOTO: Clarence Rolle/CYG

PAGE 4, Friday, July 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

BUDDY HIELD TO HOST BASKETBALL WORKSHOP FROM PAGE ONE take them through these drills and we just want to see their response. That will tell you who really wants it,” he said.

The Grand Bahama native and Sacramento Kings guard was named to the 2016-17 NBA AllRookie First Team this offseason.

Hield became the 16th player in Kings franchise history and the 11th during the Sacramento era to earn All-Rookie Team distinction, a list that includes teammate Willie Cauley-Stein (2015-16 AllRookie Second Team).

He played 57 games with the New Orleans Pelicans before he was traded to the Kings in February.

In 25 games for the Kings, Hield made 18 starts and averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and 42 per cent shooting from three-point range.

On the season he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds on 42 per cent shooting from the field and 39 per cent from three-point range. He finished fourth in 3-point and free throw percentage, eighth in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounding among all rookies.

“I encourage everyone to support the cause over these next few days,” Hield said, “It’s something I always liked, kids feed off the energy of bringing everybody back together, we want everyone to come out and enjoy this time that we have together.

Basketball will not last me for 30 years but the impact I can have within the community can go on and on through others and that’s what events like these are really about.”

Event organiser Dupree Smith said the workshop format gives the event an opportunity to impact lives both on and off the court.

“We really wanted to focus on giving back to the community so we partnered with Hands For Hunger who will receive proceeds from the camp.” he said. “We want to show kids what it takes to get better and that’s why we thought the workshop was so important this year.”

Hield’s time back in the Bahamas will also include a week of activities in Grand Bahama dubbed “Dream Week”.

Dream week will begin July 31 with a two day camp at the Jack Hayward Gymnasium and Pinedale basketball courts. Thursday and Friday will feature a tournament and the week ends on Saturday with a Hurricane relief concert.

“God has blessed me and put me in a position where I can help someone, where I can reach out and show someone somewhere that people still care. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my people.

This is going to be an annual thing every year,” Hield said.

“I grew up less fortunate, I know what it’s like and now I have it so I can help those in a position I was in. Right now we are just taking it step by step and eventually we can grow to get bigger and better.”

MEMBERS of Tanzania’s swim team pose above with one of their friends from England.

TANZANIAN SWIMMERS GET PERSONAL BESTS IN CYG SWIMMING

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EVERYBODY knows that their forte has been distance running, but Tanzania is also spreading their sporting prowess to swimming.

The African nation was in Nassau last week, where their youthful two-member swimming team tried their skills in the Betty Kelly Swim Complex at the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games.

Celina Itatiro, 14, participated in six events, improving on her personal best in one, while Collins Saliboko, 15, got his PB in two of his six events.

“Thanks for the oppor-

I met a lot of new friends and got a good experience. I really enjoyed The Bahamas. The beach was very nice, the hotel was fantastic.

I have to come back for a vacation.”

Collins Saliboko tunity to be here in The Bahamas and I’m looking forward to competing in the next games,” Saliboko said.

“It’s good to get all of the experience I can to help prepare me for the next one.”

Saliboko said the perfor-

mances he produced were not what he anticipated, but he felt the competition here was extremely hard, competing against rivals who were two or three years older than him.

“I met a lot of new friends and got a good experience,” said Saliboko as he summed up his trip.

“I really enjoyed The Bahamas. The beach was very nice, the hotel was fantastic.

I have to come back for a vacation.”

Over at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, another African country was in their element as Kenya celebrated gold medal performances from Emmaculate Chepkirui and Edwin Kipangat Bett, who dominated the women’s

and men’s distance races respectively.

Chepkitui won the women’s 3,000 metres in nine minutes and 25.20 seconds, ahead of New Zealand’s Katrina Robinson, the silver medalist in 9:27.40.

Canada’s Brogan MacDougall was the bronze medalist in 9:29.34.

“This was very good and I tried my best to win the two events,” Chepkitui said.

“I am very proud of myself.

I came here in the heat and I won.”

Chepkitui, however, was a disappointing 11th in the 1,500m in 4:28.83. Scotland’s Erin Heather Wallace took the top spot on the podium in 4:16.61, with Kenya’s Viola Chemutai getting the silver in 4:16.73,

and Robinson picking up the bronze in 4:17.19.

On the men’s side, Bett took the men’s 3,000m in 8:23.96 with Canada’s Joshua Desouza taking the silver in 8:35.15. Tanzania’s Francis Damasi settled for the bronze in 8:37.51.

“It was great,” said Bett of his performance.

It was very hot, but it was good to compete here. I’m glad I won. It was very hard in the heat.”

Bett also finished fifth in the 1,500m in 3:52.68, as his teammate John Mwangi Waweru took the tape in 3:48.86.

He held off England’s 1-2 punch of Joshua Lay (3:49.35) and Luke Gerard Duffy (3:49.70) for the silver and bronze.

TONGO’S TEAM DEFIES THE ODDS TO GET TO THE BAHAMAS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SOME countries have the luxury of picking and choosing where to take their national team to train and compete. Not so Tongo, who defied the odds to get their threemember team here for the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games.

Vila Day, the head coach of the team from the South Pacific, and north of New Zealand, said it took about two days to complete the journey to The Bahamas for the games last week.

But it was worth the trip.

“Tongo still does not have a swimming pool, so most of our training is done in the ocean and one of our swimmers swims on an island where his family works,” Day said.

“One of the local hotels allows us to use their pool about twice a week, but it’s only 25 metres and we only get to use it from 6-7am twice a week. At least we get to use it, even though it’s dark and there’s no lane or starting blocks.”

Despite their inefficiencies, Day said she felt the team performed very well, lowering their personal best times that they would have posted at a regional competition in Fiji to prepare for the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Out of the 14 events they competed in, Day said they had 12 personal best times, which was a remarkable achievement.

Noelani Day, 14, lowered her personal best times in four of the five events she competed in, while Finau Ohuafi, 16, improved his times in all of his five events and Leonaitasi Tuitavake, 15, surpassed his PB in three of his four events.

Vila Day summed up their trip here as a fantastic one for their swimmers, and solitary boxer.

MEMBERS of Tongo’s swim team. Photo: Derek Smith/BIS “It’s been a wonderful experi“It’s been amazing and, for the ence, wonderful for the kids,” she kids, I think this is something that lamented. “This is the first time for they will cherish for al lifetime. So the kids to be on the international thank you to The Bahamas and the stage, first time at this level of com- organizers for putting on a first class petition. event. We truly enjoyed it.”

“I think we are very humble for Day said what was so encourthem. We are a very humble people. aging was the fact that they got to So for them to be here performing assist the Sierra Leone team when was a very humbling experience.” they were training on the first day As soon as they return home, Day - and the Fiji team as well as The said they will prepare for another Bahamas assisted them in providing regional competition in September. them with swimsuits to compete in.

But she said coming from the isNoelani Day, speaking on behalf lands, they felt right at home. of her teammates, said this was the “The facilities and the treatment biggest competition she competed has been top notch,” she stated. in and she wanted to soak up eve“We have been very spoiled, so it’s rything she could to help her in the going to be very hard to go back to future. reality, but we all have to.

“Back home, we don’t have a pool

and we don’t have this type of competition, so it was good to get this experience and to learn from the other swimmers.

“As one of the youngest competitors, I wanted to look at how they train and compete.

“Very little things I processed and I took in. It was a good learning experience for me.”

Day, 14, said she expected to do a little better, but there were a lot of factors that she encountered. However, she said she has some good memories to take back with her.

“The Bahamas is so wonderful, I don’t want to leave,” she insisted.

“But at the same time, we have to go back home and share our experiences with the younger kids.”

BAHAMAS BEATEN BY MEXICO, 83-75

SAMUEL HUNTER (left) of the Bahamas in action.

FROM PAGE ONE free throw line.

A halfcourt trap forced the Bahamas’ three turnovers and Gonzalez tied the game from the line, 10-10. Davano Whitfield and Obrien Pearce made free throws late in the quarter and the Bahamas took a 16-15 lead at the end of the first.

Mexico then went ahead 2117, dominating the interior on both ends and reached their biggest lead of the game – 2818 – on a Gonzalez corner three and fastbreak layup. Bridgewater responded with the tip in and Grevaughn Goodman made a three to stop the run.

Bridgewater scored seven in row, including his third three

pointer of the game, as the Bahamas battled back. His runner regained a 34-32 lead for the Bahamas with 2:43 left to play in the half and they took a 3636 tie into intermission. The Bahamas shot just 29 per cent at the half but held a nine point advantage from beyond the three point arch.

Bridgewater drove to the basket for the opening points of the third. The game was tied at 38 and 40 before Hunter scored twice and Greene made a fast break layup for a 46-40 lead.

Mexico cut the lead to one on an Arredondo layup. Backto-back fast break layups and a 6-0 run gave Mexico a 57-53 lead heading into the fourth

quarter.

Mexico then went ahead by as much as eight, 62-55 on Castillon three pointer. Bridgewater trimmed the deficit to six on his put back and Hunter’s baseline jumper cut the lead to three, 65-62 with 6:26 left to play. Goodman tied the game at 65 on the next possession with a step back three. Mexico went ahead 72-68 with three minutes left. Hunter cut it to 72-70 on a turnaround jumper, but it was as close as the Bahamas would get down the stretch.

The team returns to action on Friday when they face Puerto Rico at 5pm local time. Puerto Rico leads Group A with a 2-0 record thus far.

THE TRIBUNE

JAGUARS OPEN TRAINING CAMP WITH AN EYE ON CHANGING CULTURE

By MARK LONG , AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars coach Doug Marrone had a predominant theme during his first team meeting of the season: Winning.

It hasn’t been the focus in Jacksonville for years and hasn’t been a reality in a decade. It’s the buzzword now as the Jaguars begin their first camp under Marrone and football czar Tom Coughlin.

“It’s the first message because, to me, it is the most important message,” Marrone said.

It’s been a welcome change for a franchise that has posted a league-worst 17-63 record over the past five years and hasn’t been above .500 or made the playoffs since 2007.

Players crave better results, which is why they gladly accepted stricter rules and increased accountability that come with working under a pair of old-school coaches.

“There’s a different feel in a lot of ways and in a very positive way,” veteran linebacker Paul Posluszny said.

“That alone should have an enormous impact on the way we play. We’re going to be very disciplined. We’re going to be very physical . . . I think training camp will be a great challenge for us this year to really grow and mature and transform this team into what we want it to become.”

Marrone and Coughlin have made a number of tweaks to the way Jacksonville operates, most notably by putting an increased emphasis on running the football. They drafted LSU star Leonard Fournette with the fourth overall pick, added Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson in the second round, traded for veteran left tackle Branden Albert and made Brandon Linder one of the league’s highest-paid centres by giving him a fiveyear contract extension worth $51.7 million.

Equally important to the change in philosophy, the Jags want to change the culture in the locker room.

Former coach Gus Bradley took an unconventional approach while rebuilding a roster that looked (and played) like an expansion team in 2013.

Bradley’s always-positive approach came with annual slogans like “get better” and “we believe in victory” and “do your job” and “trust the process.”

Winning was never the main topic of conversation in meetings or before games.

Criticising players publicly?

No chance. Benching guys for poor performances? Unlikely.

Practices were relatively easy. Rules were kind of lax.

“I’ll say this about Gus’ philosophy: You wanted his way to work because it was something I had never seen before,” said tight ends coach Ron Middleton, one of several holdovers from Bradley’s staff. “You busted your butt and did everything to help it to succeed because you wanted it to succeed.”

Owner Shad Khan fired Bradley with two games left in the season. Bradley went 14-48 in three-plus seasons, one of the worst coaching tenures in NFL history.

Marrone, the team’s former offensive line coach, served as interim coach the final two games.

Khan retained Marrone and hired Coughlin in January, and the former Buffalo Bills coach kept offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett and defensive coordinator Todd Wash a few weeks later.

The moves were a clear indication that Khan, Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell believe Bradley’s methods were among the team’s biggest problems.

Now, Marrone and Coughlin are tasked with winning — the lone goal these days.

“You can get yourself in trouble (with), ‘Hey, what do you think of the locker room?

Do you think it’s starting to change? Hey equipment room, what do you think?’

I’m more of, ‘Hey, listen, this is where we are going. This is how we are going to do it.

You are either on the bus or you are under the bus,” Marrone said.

“We know exactly what we want in this team and we are going to try to instill those values in the team and hopefully all the things that we do on the field and all of the competitive values we are able to carry that over on Sunday and win football games.”

Friday, July 28, 2017, PAGE 5

CONFIDENT BUCCANEERS REPORT FOR START OF TRAINING CAMP NFL PRESEASON TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are embracing heightened expectations created by the team’s first winning record in six years.

Veterans reported for the start of training camp on Thursday confident the Bucs not only have what it takes to end a decade of non-playoff seasons but also challenge for supremacy in the NFC South. The division has seen its last two champions wind up in the Super Bowl.

“Hopefully, it’s our turn, but it’s not that simple,” receiver Mike Evans said, reflecting on the recent success of the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

“I see why there’s a lot of excitement. We have a really good team, a really good roster,” the fourthyear pro added, looking ahead to the first practice on Friday. “Hopefully we all stay healthy, put in the work and reach our goal of getting in the playoffs. Then in the tournament, anything can happen.”

The Bucs haven’t made the playoffs since 2007, but are coming off a 9-7 finish that bolsters the belief the franchise is finally headed in the right direction with Jameis Winston at quarterback and Dirk Koetter entering his second year as coach.

Evans has established himself as one of the NFL’s top young receivers with 238 catches for 3,578 yards and 27 touchdowns over his first three seasons in the NFL. The seventh pick of the 2014 draft was well aware the Bucs have not appeared in the playoffs for quite some time, but had no idea until Thursday it’s been 10 years.

“Hopefully we can break that,” said Evans, who mistakenly thought

TAMPA Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans: ‘We have a really good team, a really good roster’.

Tampa Bay earned a berth in 2010 with a 10-6 record.

“We’ve got a lot to prove,” the receiver added. “We’re good on paper, but we’ve got to do it.”

Evans was a first-time Pro Bowl selection last season, when he had 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 TDs. He expects the Winston-led offence to be even better after Koetter and general manager Jason Licht signed speedy receiver DeSean

THE BUCCANEERS linebacker Kwon Alexander said the team aren’t worrying about what everybody else thinks right now. (AP)

Jackson in free agency and drafted tight end O.J. Howard and another potential deep threat, Chris Godwin.

“This is the best talent we’ve had since I’ve been here, by far,” Evans said. “I’m excited. We’re all excited.”

The continued development of third-year linebacker Kwon Alexander is one of the reasons the Bucs are also excited about the prospect for improvement on defence. Al-

exander was the leading tackler on a unit that rebounded from a slow start to help Tampa Bay remain in playoff contention until the final week of last season.

“We just all have to come together,” Alexander said. “We aren’t worrying about what everybody else thinks right now. If we come together, as a team and as a family, we can do a lot of big things. That’s all we are worrying about right now.”

ARE DOLPHINS’ NEW VIDEO BOARDS WORTH WATCHING? THEY THINK SO

MIAMI Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, right, crouches down as his son Steel Ryan and wife Lauren run to him after NFL football training camp, Thursday at the team’s training facility in Davie, Fla. (AP)

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Large new video boards stood on three sides of the Miami Dolphins’ practice field for the first day of training camp, a sign the team plans to be worth watching this year.

Looking at the big picture, expectations are up after the Dolphins made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008.

Second-year coach Adam Gase believes his team will benefit from better familiarity with his scheme than a year ago at this time, and that’s especially true for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

“He has already corrected me about three times on play calls,” Gase said Thursday after the first workout in feel-like temperatures of 100 degrees.

Tannehill wore the left knee brace that’s now part of his equipment following an injury that sidelined him for the final four games last season.

He reiterated he’s 100 per cent with no restrictions because of the knee.

“It feels good, just like it did in the spring,” Tannehill said. “No changes.

Even better. It has been a journey. Dealing with an injury like that for the first time was a tough process for me.”

Centre Mike Pouncey worked on the side after missing 11 games last year

MIAMI Dolphins head coach Adam Gase talks to players.

(AP)

MIAMI Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi runs through drills past running backs coach Danny Barrett during an NFL football training camp, Thursday. (AP)

because of a hip injury. To keep him healthy, Gase plans to give him only limited repetitions in training camp.

“I told him, ‘We have the best Jane Fonda workouts for you,’” Gase said.

“He’s dreading the cardio stuff.”

Said Pouncey with a smile regarding Gase’s

plan: “Me and him have a little bit of a disagreement with that. He wants to keep me in bubble wrap.”

But Pouncey conceded he needs little time on the field to be ready for the opener Sept. 10.

Receiver Jarvis Landry drew attention just by showing up, declining to make waves regarding his

desire for a new contract.

He’s set to earn a base salary of $893,852 this season in the final year of his rookie contract, which makes him one of the NFL’s best bargains.

Landry said he didn’t consider sitting out the start of camp.

“Having an opportunity to take another step, we don’t need anything hindering us from that path,” Landry said. “So for me to be here and to show the guys that it is about them and it’s about the team, that’s what I’m here to do.”

Team owner Stephen Ross declined to speculate on the chances of a deal with Landry anytime soon.

“I hope he stays here,” Ross said. “He’s a great player.”

Landry is part of an offence with plenty of talent at the skilled positions, but blocking is a question mark. There are also lingering doubts about a defense fortified in the draft and free agency after ranking fourth-worst in the league last year.

Despite the leaky defence, the Dolphins went 10-7 in 2016. Prognosticators peg them at around .500 this year, but for players, July is a time to be optimistic.

“Expectations are up,” Tannehill said. “That’s what you want. You want to be putting that pressure on yourself. We have the right people in this building to do what we need to do, and the mindset is right.”

Ross raves about his coach and quarterback but doesn’t want excessive expectations, and he recoiled from making any Super Bowl predictions.

“You take one step at a time,” Ross said. “We all have great expectations, but you’ve got to be realistic. We’re a young, growing team.”

Gase, looking for every possible edge, had the new video boards installed so players could see replays during practice.

“It’s just another tool for us to almost start watching film before we get in the meeting room,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 28, 2017, PAGE 7

LA GALAXY FIRE COACH CURT ONALFO AND RE-HIRE SIGI SCHMID

CARSON, Calif.

(AP) — The LA Galaxy are running out of time to save their season, so they’ve brought back a familiar face to lead their playoff charge.

The Galaxy fired coach Curt Onalfo on Thursday just 20 games into his first season and re-hired veteran coach Sigi Schmid to run the struggling MLS powerhouse.

The Galaxy (6-10-4) sit ninth in the 11-team Western Conference after losing six consecutive games across all competitions in July, including an embarrassing 4-3 loss to New England last weekend.

With just 14 league games left and mounting pressure to avoid missing the playoffs with a highpriced roster of international talent, Galaxy President Chris Klein scuttled his preseason plan with Onalfo.

He quickly brought back Schmid, the winningest coach in MLS history and a two-time league champion who spent the previous nine seasons with the Seattle Sounders.

AC Milan’s M’Baye Niang in action during the Europa League third qualifying round first leg match against U Craiova at the Municipal stadium, in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania. (AP)

BIG-SPENDING MILAN BEAT CRAIOVA WHILE ROONEY HAS QUIET GAME FOR EVERTON GENEVA (AP) — AC Milan’s offseason spending spree paid a quick dividend when new signing Ricardo Rodriguez scored in a 1-0 win at CSU Craiova in the Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday.

The Switzerland defender’s 44thminute free kick from the right flank eluded everyone in the pen-

zilian 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo, known as Rivaldinho, scored from distance in the 54th minute to level the match and earn Dinamo Bucharest a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao.

Wayne Rooney had a quiet first competitive game for Everton in 13 years after rejoining his boyhood club from last season’s Eu-

EUROPA LEAGUE Q3 alty area to find the net.

After a three-season absence from European action, Milan have invested around $250 million in strengthening their squad and are expected to advance from the second leg at San Siro next Thursday.

Also in Romania, the son of Bra-

ropa League winners Manchester United.

England defender Leighton Baines scored the only goal against Ruzomberok, a deflected shot in the 65th, to give Everton a 1-0 lead for the second leg in Slovakia.

Valere Germain scored a hat trick in Marseille’s 4-2 win over visiting Oostende.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partly sunny, a t‑shower in spots

Partly cloudy with a shower

Some sun with a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

High: 93°

Low: 79°

High: 93° Low: 81°

High: 93° Low: 80°

High: 92° Low: 82°

High: 93° Low: 82°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

115° F

91° F

112°-91° F

112°-92° F

112°-91° F

109°-90° F

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

ABACO

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 83° F/28° C

6‑12 knots

S

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

E

tiDes

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

4‑8 knots

KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 83° F/28° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

N

nassau Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:03 a.m.

12:37 p.m.

3.1 2.9

6:27 a.m.

6:48 p.m.

0.1 0.5

Saturday

12:52 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

2.9 2.8

7:15 a.m.

7:44 p.m.

0.3 0.8

Sunday

1:43 a.m.

2:25 p.m.

2.7 2.8

8:05 a.m.

8:43 p.m.

0.5 1.0

Monday

2:36 a.m.

3:20 p.m.

2.5 2.7

8:55 a.m.

9:42 p.m.

0.6 1.0

Tuesday

3:31 a.m.

4:15 p.m.

2.4 2.8

9:47 a.m. 0.7 10:40 p.m. 1.0

Wednesday 4:26 a.m.

5:06 p.m.

2.3 2.8

10:38 a.m. 0.7 11:33 p.m. 1.0

Thursday

2.3 2.9

11:27 a.m. 0.6 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

sun

5:19 a.m.

5:54 p.m.

anD

Sunrise Sunset

moon

6:36 a.m.

7:57 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:41 a.m.

11:53 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Jul. 30

Aug. 7

Aug. 14

Aug. 21

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

4‑8 knots

S

6‑12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 84° F/29° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 15.68” Normal year to date ................................... 19.03”

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

For

High

almanac

E S

N

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

W

W

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

4‑8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N W

N E

W

E S

S

6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS S at 4‑8 Knots SSW at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 7‑14 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet

VISIBILITY 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 85° F 87° F 87° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

PAGE 8, Friday, July 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE NATIONALS HIT EIGHT HOMERS TO BLAST BREWERS 15-2

RAYS ACQUIRE DUDA FROM METS, JENNINGS FROM WHITE SOX

Washington tie franchise record WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals staged their own version of the Home Run Derby, with Michael Blazek serving as the unwilling batting practice pitcher.

Washington tied a franchise record with eight homers and matched two major league marks during a prolific third inning that highlighted a 15-2 rout of the fading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman each homered twice for the Nationals, who banged out 19 hits in reaching double figures in

BASEBALL

runs for the 18th time this season.

“We have a lineup that can do some special things,” Harper said. “Anything can happen.”

Washington equaled two big league records in a seven-run third: Most consecutive home runs (four) and most home runs in an inning (five).

“We had a big offensive barrage today,” manager Dusty Baker said, understating the obvious.

All the home runs in the third inning were hit off Blazek (0-1), who was

WASHINGTON Nationals’ Anthony Rendon (6) celebrates his home run with Jose Lobaton, back, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers. (AP)

making his first major league start following 108 appearances in relief.

“I felt like I made some decent pitches but they were locked in on everything,” the right-hander said.

“It’s not how I pictured it going.”

He could have hardly imagined becoming the first pitcher in baseball history to allow five home runs in an inning

Feat

MILWAUKEE Brewers starting pitcher Michael Blazek walks towards the dugout after he was pulled from the game during the third inning . (AP)

Only five other major league teams hit five homers in an inning, a feat that had not occurred since Milwaukee did it in 2006.

Washington became the eighth team to hit four in a row, the first since Arizona in 2010.

After Harper connected in the first inning, Brian Goodwin started the long-ball party in the third with a two-run drive after Blazek walked Washington starter Max Scherzer.

“The last thing I wanted

to do was lead off the inning with a walk, especially to a pitcher,” Blazek said.

“It just kept building and building from there.”

Wilmer Difo, Harper and Zimmerman followed with long home runs.

The streak was interrupted when Daniel Murphy flied out, after which some of the fans reacted with good-natured booing.

Anthony Rendon resumed the fun with a shot to dead centre that finally chased Blazek, who gave up seven hits — six of them long balls.

Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton both homered off Wily Peralta in the fourth for a 15-1 lead.

The eight home runs tied the franchise mark set in July 1978 by the Montreal Expos against Atlanta.

Pitching on his 33rd birthday, Scherzer (12-5) allowed one run over six innings and struck out nine to bring his total this year to 201 — his sixth consecutive season with

at least 200, the longest active streak in the majors.

He contributed offensively with two walks and an infield hit.

“What a birthday gift! I wanted to get a win and a knock,” he said.

“Fifteen runs, a pitcher’s best friend.”

Streak Harper chipped in with three hits and four RBIs while extending his career-best hitting streak to 19 games.

Travis Shaw and Lewis Brinson homered for the Brewers, who have lost nine of 11 to drop from first place in the NL Central.

“It’s on to the next challenge,” manager Craig Counsell said, referring to a weekend series against the division-leading Cubs in Milwaukee.

One positive for the Brewers in this one: Left fielder Hernan Perez pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Jennings walked into the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse, saw Logan Morrison walk by and gave his old Miami Marlins teammate a poke on the arm. Morrison did a double take and gave the pitcher a hug.

Rays reinforcements arrive daily.

Tampa Bay acquired Jennings from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday to boost the left side of the bullpen and obtained first baseman Lucas Duda from the New York Mets. The Rays sent first baseman Casey Gillaspie, the 20th overall draft pick in 2014, to the White Sox and right-hander Drew Smith, a third-round selection two years ago, to the Mets.

The Rays, 2 1/2 games out of first in the AL East, are trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They obtained infielder Trevor Plouffe from Oakland on June 17, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria from the Marlins on June 26 and right-hander Sergio Romo from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 23.

“This has been a great group to watch play and to play themselves into the position that we’re in,” Tampa Bay senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. “We believe in these guys and we really like these group, and we want to keep sending them reinforcements to show them that we want to do everything we can to help them get where they’re trying to go.”