The Elite Baseball Club, a 13-to-15-year-old baseball team from the Bahamas, traveled to Winter Haven, Florida for the International World Series Baseball Championships, July 22-30th.

Elite Bahamas Team with medals and trophy they won in Winter Haven, Florida.


The team went undefeated against their three opponents in the 15-and-under division. They won so convincingly that Elite coaches asked tournament officials for permission to play their final two games against 16-and-under division teams. Tournament officials granted the request, but Elite fell short against the older players and returned to Florida with a 3-2 overall record.

Sedale McKenzie scoops up the ball to make the play at first.


Coached by Ronnie Abila, Patrick Stevenson and Billy Stevenson, the team of 13 to 15-year olds were chosen from the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), Freedom Farm, and Spanish Wells, in early June.


Although the players from JBLN knew each other, most had not played on the same team. In addition, the players from Freedom Farm and Spanish Wells arrived to the team from completely different leagues, and admittedly didn’t know what to expect at all.

Lynden Pindling readies himself for a hit with a runner in position


However, Elite coaches scheduled two solid months of practice, workouts, and situational drills prior to the tournament to help the players bond with each other and form a solid team to compete in Florida.


This preparation served them well.


On July 24 the team played its first game against the LASERS from Florida, and won 14-2 in four innings. The game was called due to the 10-run Mercy Rule. David Sweeting got the win from the mound.

MVP of the tournament, Marcus Farrington, hurls another one at home plate


The team then beat the Wolverines, 8-3, on the next day, behind the pitching of Marinico Hanna.


Following a double-header format, the Elite Bahamas team played again immediately thereafter and trounced Puerto Rico, 15-2, in five innings for their third victory of the tournament. TJ Miller got the win for Elite.


After one day off, the Bahamas Elite team began a best-of-three championship series against the Lake Region High School Traveling Team, a 16-and-under squad. Elite lost the game 4-1 despite exceptional pitching from Jonathan Grosigner.

Richard Bain, who also won the 16-and-under Fastest Man Around the Bases competition, gets ready to take a swing


Although Elite defense was solid up to this game, several fielding errors during the contest resulted in three runs for the Lake Region Team and proved the difference in game.


In game two of the championship the next day, Marinico Hanna got the start on the mound for Elite. Once again, several untimely errors put Elite deep into a hole early into the game. Despite solid effort, Elite simply couldn't stop the Lake Region offensive juggernaut and lost the game, 11-1.


According to Elite coach Ronnie Abila, the coaches and parents who traveled with the team received many compliments on how well-mannered and respectful the Elite players were throughout the tournament.

Elite's Brandon Murray connects on a pitch


Abila thanked the sponsors of the new traveling team from the Bahamas for their support. Abila also indicated that Elite will stay together and continue to play in future tournaments in the United States, hoping to generate scholarships to high schools and colleges for Bahamian baseball players.


The Elite players helped their coach toward this goal right away, through their individual efforts during the tournament.


Of note:


Marcus Farrington received the Most Valuable Player trophy for the tournament, for his outstanding batting average and great pitching;


Brandon Murray, Corben Abila, Scott Brown and Jonathan Grosigner won the 14-and-under Fastest Around the Horn competition;


Although only 15 years old, Richard Bain won the 16-and-under Fastest Man Around the Bases competition.


Even more impressive, Jordan Gibson, only 14 years old, won the 16-and-under Home Run Derby competition.


The team roster consisted of the following 15 players, 12 from JBLN, 2 from Freedom Farm, and 1 from Spanish Wells:


JBLN:

Corben Abila, Brandon Murray, Scott Brown and David Sweeting from the Nationals
TJ Miller, Jay Stubbs, Marcus Farrington and Lynden Pindling from the Twins

Sedale McKenzie and Eugene Pratt from the Dodgers
Marc Culmer from the Royals

Marinico Hanna from the Mets


Freedom Farm:
Jordan Gibson and Richard Bain


Spanish Wells:

Jonathan Grosigner


Other Articles: Bahamas Junior Baseball | Bahamas Finally Wins in Puerto Rico | Bahamas Little League Baseball Registration