Sports Scope

Fred Sturrup

Guardian Columnist/Sales Executive

There has been an interesting development in the sport of baseball for The Bahamas.

Three Bahamian players have been invited by Great Britain to compete for that nation in World Baseball Classic qualifying action.

They are Antoan Richardson, Albert Cartwright and Lynden Pindling III.

Way back in 1948, Bahamians competed for Great Britain at a high profile sports competition, the biggest of them all, the Olympic Games.

The representatives were Durward Knowles and Sloane Farrington in the Star Class sailing category. Then, however, The Bahamas was one of the many colonies of Great Britain.

Also, there was no National Olympic Committee (NOC) in the country.

Now though, The Bahamas is an independent country and affiliated with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). Unfortunately, the local parent body, accepted by the IBAF, is The Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA).

That body is stagnant and not capable of putting forth a team that would be anywhere near competitive enough to compete at the World Baseball Classic.

Ironically, the three aforementioned players, Richardson, Cartwright and Pindling III, all came out of The Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF).

The BBF is that other group. It is the vibrant organization that has been driving the development process of the sport in this country for more than a decade.

If the BBF had a connection to the IBAF, a team worthy of World Baseball Classic status, would certainly be produced.

Quality infielders, outfielders and pitchers have been developed by the BBF. Thus, there is the conundrum for The Bahamas.

We have Bahamian players capable of playing on the biggest stage of baseball in the world. Great Britain thinks enough of Bahamian players to add them to its national roster.

Yet, this country isn't able to "get it together" and resolve the baseball issue in the country so that representation could be at that level as well.

It's a travesty.

Indeed, the decision by Great Britain to include Bahamian players on its baseball roster is reason enough for a greater focus on our baseball dilemma. Concerned about the situation here, the IBAF communicated with the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC), I understand.

As such, the BOC has been authorized to sort out the matter so that baseball in The Bahamas could be played under one banner.

Until that happens, rather than baseball players representing their very own country in the World Baseball Classic qualifying rounds or the actual tournament, they will have to hope to be selected by Great Britain.

This situation badly taints the sports power image we have worked so hard to build and maintain.

* To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.