Almost 500 youngsters are registered to play baseball and softball in the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) this year, and many of them got a taste of action over the weekend at the JBLN Field of Dreams Complex at St. Andrew's School in Nassau East. The league, one of two prominent baseball/softball leagues in New Providence, got its 2016 pre-season underway last Wednesday. A slew of games followed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"I think the opening of our season went very well," said league commissioner Jeff Albury. "The major focus right now is to train the young athletes properly, and get them in the right frame of mind. The pre-season gives them an opportunity to do that. It's important that they get in game time situations before the regular season gets underway. There were a few errors out there, but this is just the first week of the pre-season, and that is common. We are going to proceed as usual."
A total of 491 youngsters have registered for the 27th season in the JBLN. They will compete on 35 teams in seven divisions in baseball and girls softball. The tee ball division accommodates youngsters from five to six years old; coach pitch from seven to eight; minor from nine to 10 years; major from 11 to 12 years; junior from 13 to 15 years; the senior division is 25-and-under; and girls' softball will accommodate girls and women from 12 to 19 years.
"There are a number of scouts who look at our kids during the season, so it's important to get our kids in game shape, and ready to play," said Albury. "We have a program set up with Trinity Christian School in Boca Raton in the Florida area, where our young kids get to go over there and play baseball, so they could set up opportunities for themselves. Scouts come in and try to identify these kids early. Every year, there are about eight to 12 kids who go over to high school in Boca Raton. We have a program set up where they go over there and live with the parents of high school kids over there. It allows them to be seen by college scouts and coaches."
Trinity Christian is currently one of the top Class 2A baseball schools in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). The Trinity Warriors have won numerous state championships in Class 2A Baseball in the FHSAA, and Bahamians have been an integral part of that process.
As for the second week of pre-season games in the JBLN, it will get underway this Wednesday with the Yankees taking on the Reds in a Major League game. That game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the JBLN Field of Dreams Complex. Both teams lost to the Giants in the opening week of the pre-season. The pre-season will run for five weeks, and then the regular season will get underway.
According to league commissioner Albury, this season is expected to be truly exciting. The new season will kick into high gear on Saturday, January 16, 2016 with a brief opening ceremony, and a number of games scheduled. The first game of the new season will actually be played Wednesday, January 13 though.
There will be five teams in the tee ball division, five in coach pitch, five in the minor division, four in the major division, five in the junior division, five in the senior division and six in girls' softball. Games will be played Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the regular season.
Junior Baseball League of NassauPre-season
Week One results
Tee Ball
Blue Claws 22, Hornets 9
Hot Fries 22, Raptors 21
Coach Pitch
Marlins 15, Padres 6
Cubs 15, Athletics 13
Minor League
Tigers 22, Pirates 12
Astros 13, Royals 7
Major League
Giants 17, Reds 7
Giants 23, Yankees 11
Junior League
Dodgers 12, Mariners 8
Orioles 18, Rays 8
Senior League
Nationals 5, Brewers 5
Rangers 13, Braves 1
Girls Softball
Crushers 19, Distributors 6
Spice Girls 25, Shippers 24
Oilers 14, Players 4
Crushers 14, Spice Girls 4
Week Two
Wednesday, November 18, 2016
6:30 p.m. Yankees vs. Reds (Major)
Friday November 20, 2016
6:30 p.m. Reds vs. Giants (Major)
Saturday, November 21, 2016
10:00 a.m. Cubs vs. Marlins (Coach Pitch)
10:00 a.m. Royals vs. Tigers (Minor)
10:00 a.m. Orioles vs. Dodgers (Junior)
10:00 a.m. Crushers vs. Shippers (Girls Softball)
11:00 a.m. Hot Fries vs. Blue Claws (Tee Ball)
12:30 p.m. Padres vs. Athletics (Coach Pitch)
12:30 p.m. Pirates vs. Mets (Minor)
12:30 p.m. Mariners vs. Phillies (Junior)
12:30 p.m. Spice Girls vs. Oilers (Girls Softball)
1:00 p.m. Hornets vs. Bears (Tee Ball)
3:00 p.m. Braves vs. Blue Jays (Senior)
3:00 p.m. Players vs. Distributors (Girls Softball)
Sunday, November 22, 2016
2:00 p.m. Brewers vs. Rangers (Senior)
2:00 p.m. Shippers vs. Players (Girls Softball)
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