The history of softball in The Bahamas is convoluted. This is the case in our society with just about every aspect. Softball's history has been difficult for players and supporters to follow. Particularly for those who have become associated with softball in recent decades, the information gotten has been somewhat twisted, depending upon the provider.

For instance, there has been very little documented about the old Garfunkel League and the switch to the night league at John. F. Kennedy Drive Park. In each case, the eras were exciting and noteworthy.

Unfortunately for the full story to be told, a lot of research will now be necessary. Accordingly, every bit of history documented, becomes more important as time goes by.

That's why I was so interested in reviewing material on the nation's softball history provided by sports historian Jeff Williams. What he has done is bring to light several dimensions of the game, important chapters, unknown by most and forgotten by many.

In the first part of this series, the focus was on the establishment of the Bahamas Inter-company Departmental Softball Association (BIDSA). Today, the series concludes with the role played by the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Softball team of the 1960s and the relationship to Eleuthera softball. Williams calls that element, the "missing link" to softball history in The Bahamas.

Completing the history of the BIDSA's development, Williams informed that while Richard David Thompson was the first president, largely, he as secretary and Treasurer Percy Hanna did much of the administrative work.

"At the start, we had our growing pains. The league was mostly recreational. After Whitfield 'Sheddie' Mortimer won the first two batting titles, there was a certain centerfielder from Navios Corporation, who also won two batting titles (reputedly without ever getting the ball out of the infield)," informed Williams.

This was the culture until 1963, when non-employees were allowed into the system. The competition got more serious and statistics became more of a focus. On board to replace founding president Thompson was Godfrey Pinder.

The BIDSA for a goodly number of years flourished before fading from the scene during the mid-1970s.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church team was another entity that made a significant contribution to the history of softball, before breaking up for varying reasons.

Williams said: "The next missing link was the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Softball Team. This team called the Eastern Parade its home. There were some outstanding players in the mix, such as the great pitcher, Charlie Mortimer (son of Whitfield, who was one of the team's patriarchs), George Johnson, Ed Knowles, Winston Gee Rolle, Harold Forbes, Daryl Johnson, Livingston Munroe, Godfrey Butler and Roscoe Rox. Other mainstays included Anthony Carey, Ronald Stubbs, Clifton Johnson, Spence Lynes, Dencil Johnson, Vincent Mortimer, Paul Greene, Anthony Capron, Michael Symonette and (a very young future media figure) Fred Sturrup. Several others from this special era of softball have slipped under the radar. I don't quite remember them.

"The interesting thing about this Catholic team was the link to Eleuthera," informed Williams.
This came about because of the close connection to Eleuthera of players Butler, Carey and Dencil Johnson. Sacred Heart arranged to play against the Governor's Harbour Hustlers. The team went to Eleuthera and then entertained the famed Hustlers in New Providence.
The Hustlers would become a noted franchise, well respected by the softball fraternity in New Providence. The Sacred Heart Team however was that initial link.

"A few years later, the Eleuthera players made all-star appearances at the Southern Recreation Grounds. I remember well that first game. As a leadoff batter, I promptly bunted my way on and watched Sonny Haven and Julian Glover strike out on six pitches. Against the wishes of our manager Russell Franks, I stole second base. To my dismay though, after completing my slide the shortstop put a late tag on me and the umpire (from Eleuthera) screamed 'EEEEEEE'SSSS Out!' Our inning ended and an unforgiving Franks benched the only player to put a bat on one of Glen 'the Master' Griffin's risers," Williams recalled.

Eleuthera remained a staple part of the nation's softball diet for quite a few more decades.

"Sometime between 1962 and 1963, David 'Billy' Mycklewhyte invited a group including Rodney Brennan, Preston Stuart (The Tribune) and me to Governor's Habour to form the Eleuthera Softball Association. The truth be told, Eleuthera and San Salvador were a good ways ahead of the rest of the Bahamas' Out Islands because the Americans at the U.S. bases were softball experts who taught the locals the fine art of pitching. Even today, Eleuthera is still eons ahead in pitching talent.

Some of the outstanding national players of that era were (not necessarily in order) Foster Bethel and Charles Moss of Bahamas Gas, Sonny Haven and Russell Franks of Batelco, Willie 'Zack' Patton of Customs, Harry Miller of the Ministry of Works, Whitfield Mortimer of Nassau Bottling and Francis Cancino and Ed Knowles of the Amoury Company.

o End of series. To respond to this sports feature, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.

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