In honor of all presidents and founders of the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF), this year, the round robin and national championships will be billed as the 'President's Cup' in celebration of 40 years of existence.
Assembling at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, this year will mark the largest amount of teams to participate in the round robin nationals. There will be new champions in both the men and ladies divisions as the defending champions, the Proper Care Whirlpool Lady Sharks out of New Providence and the U.S. Gold Panthers out of Grand Bahama, have both been eliminated.
Islands taking part in the ladies division are Abaco, Andros, Spanish Wells, Inagua, Grand Bahama and New Providence. In the Men's division the islands are Abaco, Andros, Spanish Wells, Grand Bahama and New Providence. As a result of the number of teams this year, the tournament starts on Thursday, November 1. All teams are expected to arrive in New Providence on Thursday.
The technical meeting for league representatives, managers and coaches will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday. At that time, all rosters will be finalized, and rules and regulations will be discussed. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, the competition gets underway when Spanish Wells ladies go up against Andros. At 8 p.m., the same two teams will battle in the men's contest. At 9 p.m., the Grand Bahama ladies will tangle with the Inagua ladies, and the feature game on opening night will pit the New Providence ladies against Abaco ladies.
On Friday, action will pick up at 11 a.m., using three fields at the Baillou Hills complex. At 7 p.m., the official opening ceremony and induction for those selected to the BSF Hall of Fame will take place. Also, all former presidents who have served over the past 40 years, will be recognized, namely Michael Moss, Churchill Tener Knowles, Austin 'King Snake' Knowles, Neko Grant, Greg Christie, Romell Knowles and Burkett Dorsett.
Following the induction ceremony, what is expected to be two of the most exciting games of the tournament will be played when Grand Bahama ladies take on New Providence, and the New Providence men battle Abaco. Also on Friday night, there will be a display by a marching band, a live pop band, disco, fireworks, balloons and many giveaways. The night climaxes with a mix and mingle reception for all players and fans, a Junkanoo rush-out and dancing.
On Saturday, November 3, play resumes at 11 a.m. with a break at 3 p.m. The playoffs get underway on Saturday night at 7 p.m. On Sunday, beginning at 3 p.m., there will be four medal games, followed by the presentation of awards and the closing ceremony.
Those to be inducted into the BSF Hall of Fame under separate categories such as administrators, managers, coaches, umpires, and sponsors for meritorious services, are: Romell Knowles, Charlene Sturrup, Paula Johnson, Eric Williams, Eustace Penn, Vernon Farquharson, Gary Smith, Charles Johnson, Nigel Bootle, Leonard Newton, Michael Colebrooke, Yvonne Lockhart, Sam Knowles, Patrice Braithwaite, Edna Ingraham, George Mills, Alvin Smith, Suzanne Adderley, Brad Smith, Nancy Russell, Thora Sweeting, Lucy Wells, Kay Seiler, Rodney Gibson, Sue Roberts, Sherwin Smith, Cyril Smith, Anthony Weech, Marjorie Delaney, Arthur Johnson, Jeff Roberts, Rudy Gardiner, Eddie McSweeney, Spence Lynes, Joe Deal, Alphonso Albury, Pat Maynard, Bommer George Armbrister, Frank Forbes, Brusell Bradshaw, George Ferguson, Ronald 'Ding' Woodside, Clifford Scavella, Sherry Thompson (posthumously), Monica Woodside (posthumously), Paul 'Dingus' Thompson (posthumously), Bommer's Trucking and Sigma Management Ltd.

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