Package Put Together for Antoan

Thu, Sep 15th 2011, 11:11 AM

The celebration for the country's newest professional baseball player continues, as the national flag carrier makes provisions for Bahamians to see the 'son of the soil', in action. Bahamasair has put together a special package, for locals, to watch Antoan Richardson and the Atlanta Braves take on the Florida Marlins. The three-game series will be played September 19, 20 and 21, at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. The package being offered by the national flag carrier, includes airfare, car and hotel, for $279. Hotel taxes and other fees will apply. The Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture are a part of the partnership, which was set up by Mike Sands, director of sales and marketing for Bahamasair.

"We saw this as an opportunity... you know that Bahamasair has call markets in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so it was only a natural fit for us," said Sands, who confirmed that the deal was sealed after discussions with BBF Secretary General Teddy Sweeting. "We sat our unit down at work and came up with this strategy, which we thought will make it attractive and economically feasible, during this hard economic time. The package is for family and friends, in particular persons wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to go on to Florida and support Antoan and his debut. It is an affordable package."

Richardson was called up by the Braves two Saturdays ago. A day after he was added to the roster, he was inserted into the line-up, pinch hitting for the pitcher, in the fifth inning. Richardson hit the ball over the second basemen's head for a single. It was the first pitch and his first swing in Major League Baseball (MLB). The hit was off veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw. It was one of 11 hits recored by the Braves, who went on to win the game 4-3 over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Richardson has played since the impressive debut. The Braves are 86-64 on the season and currently sit in second, behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East Division. The Florida Marlins are also in that division. They hold a 67-81 win/loss record and are in fifth place. The Phillies have already clinched a playoff spot.

Minister Charles Maynard said: "This partnership with Bahamasair and the baseball federation is designed to celebrate a Bahamian athlete who has done, what no athlete has done in a few decades - that is make Major League Baseball in the United States (of America). We have had tremendous success over the years in baseball. Bahamians have played at all the professional levels in the United States and Europe. We are very happy that we have a young man, who has come up through the system in The Bahamas playing, and is now playing at the highest level.

"He is someone who started out as a player in the Freedom Farm Baseball League, that is also a part of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, so he is home grown and now playing for the Atlanta Braves. We are trying to encourage Bahamians to go out and support our newest Bahamian sports icon, as they do a special series in Florida against the Florida Marlins."

The Braves recently completed a three-game set against the Marlins in Atlanta. Their won yesterday, 4-1, was victorious on Tuesday, 7-1, but lost on Monday, 5-4. Next week's three game series will follow a three-game series against the New York Mets, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Craig Kemp, president of the BBF, said that celebration plans here at home have been put on hold until the conclusion of Richardson's season.

Kemp said: "On behalf of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, our executives and member leagues, we would like to send congratulations to Antoan. He is a home boy, and we have all had the privilege to watch Antoan grow and mature from a young baseball player, to the player he is today. We are very, very pleased and excited about what Bahamasair has done.

"We hope many Bahamians, as possible, will take this opportunity and go to Florida, and show Antoan that we truly appreciate the milestone he has made for this country in baseball. Truth be told, Ed Armbrister was one of our last Major League Baseball players. He actually made it into the major leagues at the time when baseball in The Bahamas had made its decline.

"We have a lot of good players who are in the pipelines. This is just the beginning for many young Bahamian players to be seen in the very near future. We want to extend our gratitude to Bahamasair, and to the ministry for showing support for Antoan. We want the Bahamian people to support Antoan in every opportunity they have."
The Braves will have a one day break after the six games, then they will be on the road to play the Washington Nationals next week Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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