Famous Bahamian sports personalities recently gathered together with officials from the Ministry of Education to announce the commencement of the Ed Armbrister Summer Baseball League, and a program to teach and develop baseball through the government schools physical education departments and its male student bodies. Lionel Sands, Director of Education, commended the group for taking the initiative to enhance the growth of students through sports by willingly agreeing to share their knowledge and skills of baseball. Sands indicated that the inner city boys from ages 10 and above who are being targeted for the league will benefit greatly from the discipline and character values that they will receive. The Director of Education thanked sports personalities in the persons of Ed Armbrister, Michael Butler, Tommy Stubbs, Mario Ford, and Pauline Davis-Thompson, who he hope would continue the wonderful partnership that has been formed. He further expressed interest in having more children become knowledgeable of the sport itself and about the country's own heroes in baseball. Bringing remarks also, was former major leaguer Ed Armbrister who expressed how happy he was that his dream of sharing his knowledge with the youth has finally come to fruition. He indicated his desire to have a baseball program in all of the schools that would not only teach the students about the game itself, but would also have the added component of focusing on reading and writing. Armbrister encouraged parents to bring their children to the summer camp which he indicated would be a safe learning environment. Evon Wisdom, Administrator of the Sports Unit at the Ministry of Education, stated that the program will provide: (1) Training for Physical Education teachers and coaches; (2) Competitive well organized games; (3) Equipment, water and nutritional snacks; (4) T-shirts and caps; (5) Security; and (6) Possible referrals for scholarships. Registration for the camp will commenced this past Saturday at Windsor Park. The newly formed league is being used a vehicle to start baseball in the school system for boys. It is named after the only Bahamian to play in the World Series as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, in 1975 and 1976. A week-long baseball workshop, supervised by Ministry of Education senior officer Dawn Knowles, looks to attract about 40 Physical Education teachers. It runs through July 4-8 at Stephen Dillet Primary School and Windsor Park, off Wulff Road. The baseball workshop will runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, from Monday to Wednesday at Stephen Dillet, and Wednesday and Friday at Windsor Park.

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