09212016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

BASEBALL CAMP

Mario Ford, Page 8

GROWING POTCAKEMAN TRIATHLON ADDS OLYMPIC DISTANCE RACE PARTICIPANTS from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama will join many locals in the fourth annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon hosted by BAARK! on Saturday at Jaws Beach, Clifton. The Potcakeman is now the largest triathlon event in the Bahamas, with over 200 participants, and all proceeds each year goes towards BAARK!’s (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness) spay/ neuter and education programmes across the Bahamas. This year, for the first time, an Olympic distance event has been added to the regular Sprint race - a 750m swim, 21km bike and 5km run - while both the male and female winners of the triathlon will be given the opportunity to participate in The Island House Invitational Triathlon’s Fittest CEO Challenge on October 29.

Big Red Machine roll over Saints, 13-0 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

he combination of Shante Curtis and Mechelle Moss was a little too much to handle for the Kingsway Academy Saints as the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine rolled to an easy senior girls softball victory yesterday. In the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ openers for senior girls, the defending champions Big Red Machine steamrolled past the Saints, marching out of Kingsway Academy with an impressive 13-0 whitewashing. Curtis, getting the starting nod on the mound, allowed just two batters to get on base as she tossed a no-hitter and Moss, starting in shortstop, led the potent offensive attack with a pair of lead off in-the-park home runs. “I think it was pretty good. Being our first game, but didn’t have a lot of practice, but we executed our game plan,” he said. “We came out with the game plan, executed, had fun and came

SAC senior girls earn easy win over Kingsway Academy

PLAY BALL: Senior girls in action yesterday during their BAISS opener. The defending champions Big Red Machine steamrolled past the Saints, marching out of Kingsway Academy with an impressive 13-0 whitewashing. Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune

out with the win.” Curtis, however, said it was a great feeling to have posted the shut out. “I haven’t been pitching that long. I just got back on the mound so, for my first game, it was good,” she said. “We hope that we can have another great season and come out with the victory.” In the first inning, Curtis watched as Marissa Brown got on base after she got struck out, but reached first safely on a wild pitch after SAC’s catcher Shara Sweeting couldn’t hold onto the ball. After striking out Saints’ catcher Tanecia Simmons, Jordan Khalfani was walked and she and Brown moved to second and third respectively, but they were left there stranded as Curtis struck out the next two batters. By then, the Big Red Machine

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Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producer and distributor of CocaCola products, will be the presenting sponsor of the event for the third time with sports drink Powerade. Sarah Kennedy, Event Director, said that Powerade’s support has been vital to the success and growth of the event in becoming the biggest triathlon in the Bahamas. “Rehydration is extremely important when competing in endurance events so we are very pleased to have high quality hydration options like Powerade and Dasani available for all athletes again this year,” she added. Athletes choose to compete all three disciplines or form a relay team. Following the adult race is a shortened Puppy Triathlon for children aged six to 14. “BAARK! is doing tremendously good work across the Bahamas with their Spay/Neuter and education programmes,” said Cara Douglas, CBC’s Marketing Manager. “We are happy to be able to support their efforts, while supporting our local athletic base here in the Bahamas.”

Best of the Best Sloop Sailing Regatta to hit Montagu in November By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHEN the Star Sailors League came to the Bahamas last year, they forged a relationship with the local sailing community and now they are looking forward to putting on a mega sailing event in Montagu Bay called the Best of the Best Sloop Sailing Regatta. The event is scheduled for November 26 to December 5. “After they got an opportunity to sail our sloops, they decided that they want to make it an annual event in the Bahamas,” said Rev Dr Philip McPhee, the consultant at the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources. “This year, they came up with a plan on how they would want the Best of the Best to take place. That was important because im-

mediately, our Minister, V Alfred Gray and our permanent secretary, Renee Glinton, myself and the Regatta Desk, got together with them and we liaisoned over the year and came up with a plan for that event.” McPhee said they agreed to use the criteria of allowing only those sloops in the A, B and C Classes who have won a regatta during the course of the year to be able to compete in the Best of the Best Regatta. So far, all of the boats have been selected for both the A and B Classes, but McPhee said they will complete the final two spots for the C Class at the end of the Rock Sound Regatta that will take place in Eleuthera this weekend. Qualified for the A Class are the Running Tide, Courageous, Lady Muriel, Tida Wave and the Red Stripe.

McPhee said they are the top five boats in their class in the Bahamas and they will get an opportunity to determine who is the best in their class. Jeb Munroe, representing the Courageous, said they have one thing in mind and that is to win the title. “I can take you one thing. Everybody can expect the unexpected,” he said. “They all know what to expect, but they can expect the unexpected. I feel good. All the hope and pray for is the good Lord will send down some breeze and we’re taking it from there. Brooks Miller, Steve Smith, Stefan Knowles, Lundy Robinson, you better come ready because the Courageous will be ready.” As for the B Class, Susan Chase, the Barbarian, Queen Drucilla and Ants Nest have earned the rights to compete in the Best of

the Best Regatta. McPhee said they would look at the possibility of adding one more boat following the Harbour Island Regatta in October. In the C Class, the excitement is starting to brew with a total of 10 boats scheduled to compete. So far, there are a total of eight boats that have already booked their spot in the Best of the Best Regatta. When the regatta takes place, McPhee said only three boats in each class will compete in the final for the coveted trophies that will be presented to the eventual winners. “We will drop two boats in the A Class, two in the B Class and seven of the C Class,” McPhee said. “The finals will only be between three boats in each class.” As an added incentive, all of the sailors from the SSL will get an

opportunity to sail in the other C Class boats that will not be a part of the final. “The prizes are very good, some of the best prizes that we have had in the history of sailing,” he said. “It is going to be ran by professionals. It’s a regatta that we are placing a lot of emphasis on because we want to let the world know that we are capable of having professional races in the Bahamas.” McPhee stressed that the Best of the Best Regatta has certainly brought the local sailing community closer together and they hope to improve on some of the things that have hindered the sport in the past, including establishing their own Regatta House where they can meet on a frequent basis to discuss the affairs of the sport.

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THE TRIBUNE

BEST OF THE BEST SLOOP SAILING REGATTA AT MONTAGU IN NOVEMBER FROM PAGE 1

SAC senior girls earn easy win over Kingsway Academy FROM PAGE 1 had already put five runs on the scoreboard in the top half of the frame, highlighted by Moss’ first lead off in-the-parker. With one out, SAC got four more runs from Sweeting, Mechael Russell, Kyra McKinney and Curtis. Then in the second, the Big Red Machine extended their lead to 10-0, thanks to Moss’ second inthe-parker. She was followed by two consecutive round-theplate trips by Taylor Wallis and Sweeting in the same fashion. Before they were done, Russell and McKinney

tacked on two more unearned runs. “I think we went out there and we played a pretty good game,” said Moss, who is also expected to do some pitching for SAC. “This was just our first game, but I think we played as well as we expected.” SAC went on to score three more runs in the third inning to secure the abbreviated win. Sweeting, a second year player for Kingsway Academy, admitted that they could have worked harder. “We were a little off today, but the next game we will be better,” she projected. “We just need to work a lot more on our team work and being more focused.”

“This is a new day in sailing,” McPhee stated. “The younger sailors are making more of an impact and the elderly ones are standing around and giving directions so that we can accomplish much of what we want to do.” With just about every island that hosts a regatta being represented, McPhee said the Best of the Best Regatta is going to take on a mini Bahamas Games concept and they are looking forward to interacting with the SSL.” The SSL is bringing in sailors from all over the world as they participate as well in the final of their sailing competition for the year to determine their overall champions. All of the races will be streamed live around the world. While there will be a number of international entertainers coming in, McPhee said they are also planning to host a church service for all of the local and international competitors to attend.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016, PAGE 3

Michelle Hope to make history in the Potcakeman Triathlon MICHELLE Hope has swum, cycled and run her way through 10 triathlons but the mother of two will make history on Saturday in the Potcakeman Triathlon as the first competitor to take part in athletic gear provided by the official trade association dedicated to pet wellness, the Pet Food Institute (PFI). Hope, a civil, structural and environmental engineer, won the right to have the triathlon outfit designed especially for her by winning the PFI’s Facebook contest answering the question “Tell us why nutrition is important for pets”. She also had to demonstrate a passion for pets. “If I didn’t have a stream of bad luck, I’d have no luck at all, so I’m really excited about this because I already feel like a winner,” Ms Hope said. “I’m really grateful to the Pet Food Institute. I think what PFI is doing is very important for the pets of the Bahamas” She is not joking about the streak of bad luck. Always strong academically, she began athletic training as a way to overcome tragedy. “My mom died and my husband left in the same year. I had watched my mother’s strength as she battled cancer and her courage inspired me,” she said. “She kept reaching deeper and I realised we

MOTHER OF TWO WILL BE 1ST TO COMPETE IN PET FOOD INSTITUTE ATHLETIC GEAR can all do that. Sometimes you have to push yourself to find that strength, but we all have it and when you need it, you find it. Even her relationships with dogs have not left happy memories. “I have had many lovely dogs but when I was young, we had a dog that beat up on my brother and another that was stabbed to death,” she said. “I did try getting a dog not too long ago, a rescue dog, but it had distemper and died.” Now she says they look after six family and friends’ dogs regularly and hope to get another dog soon but for now she and her children consider their cat an important part of the family. Her daughter, Lily, 8, and son, Luke, 6, will be participating in the puppy triathlon on Saturday, their first. Olympic division participants will swim 1,500m, cycle 42km and finish with a 10km run. Sprint division participants will do half the distances in each leg. Proceeds from the Potcakeman Triathlon, sponsored in part by PFI, go toward spaying and neutering

by BAARK, the Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness. Since its founding seven years ago, the all-volunteer organisation has spayed or neutered more than 5,200 dogs and cats in its efforts to reduce the homeless animal population and end the suffering of animals in the Bahamas. Using internationally accepted statistics that one female dog can produce up to 67,000 puppies in six years, BAARK estimates it has prevented as many as one million unwanted animal births. “We are pleased to support BAARK in The Bahamas and its efforts to reduce the homeless animal population,” said Nat Daniels, Executive Director of PFI, a non-profit organisation that promotes initiatives to advance pet nutrition and the quality of pet care and wellness. The Washington, DC-based association that falls under the Department of Agriculture supports education in the US, Mexico and four regional countries - the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and Jamaica.

TRI-OUTFIT: Sarah Kennedy (left), BAARK triathlon co-ordinator, and Sandra Kemp (right), Pet Food Institute co-ordinator, present Michelle Hope with the athletic gear she will compete in during the Potcakeman Triathlon provided by the Pet Food Institute. Photo: Cay Focus Photography

Ministry of Tourism inks five-year deal with Washington Redskins THE Ministry of Tourism recently inked a deal with a major National Football League (NFL) team - a move that will undoubtedly lead to increased exposure to the Islands of The Bahamas. The five-year partnership with the Washington Redskins was sealed last month just ahead of the start of the NFL season. As a result of the partnership, the Washington Redskins will hold an annual ‘Washington Redskins Weekend in The Bahamas’ featuring Doug Williams and other legendary players for its fans, friends and families. The Redskins will also hold a flag football game with its alumni against top Bahamian officials at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, as well as a youth football and cheerleading clinic in The Bahamas. The team will also put on a golf and fishing tournament as well as participate in other destination experiences. As a part of the promotions, colourful Bahamas banners and paraphernalia depicting the beauty of The Bahamas will be strategically placed in the Redskins FedEx Field. Greg Rolle, senior director of sales, marketing and sports, said the Ministry of Tourism is excited to partner with the Redskins. “We know it will prove to be mutually beneficial, especially at this juncture, where there is an increased interest in sports tourism,” he said. “We believe that our strong and vibrant Bahamas brand fits perfectly with that of the notable Washington Redskins, one

BIG DEAL: The Ministry of Tourism recently entered into a five-year partnership with the Washington Redskins – a move that will undoubtedly lead to increased exposure to the Islands of The Bahamas. of America’s top rated professional teams and most influential organisations within the NFL,” he said. “The opportunity for us to market and present our unique, multiple island destination and showcase our natural beauty, rich culture and friendly people to such a wide and influential audi-

ence, using the vast media assets of the Washington Redskins, is phenomenal. “This co-branding partnership provides great exposure for The Bahamas, including millions of listeners on its ESPN 980 radio and television broadcast networks, in arena billboards and displays, inter-

SPORTS NOTES

TIGER WOODS (AP)

HERO WORLD CHALLENGE IN THE BAHAMAS THE US PGA Tour Championship at East Lake, Atlanta, this week is the final event before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas goes to the world ranking to fill its 18-man field. Russell Knox, the world No.19, headed to South Africa at the end of last year to play the Nedbank Challenge in an effort to make the

net and social media platforms, and to hundreds of thousands of loyal fans who attend their games annually,” Rolle added. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism also enjoys sports partnerships with the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, the Florida Panthers, Tiger Woods Hero World Chal-

field at Albany. He probably won’t have to go as far this year, even with Nedbank moving up a month into the European Tour schedule. Knox is certain to get in because of the number of players who won’t be there, such as Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. Scott lives at Albany, but he’ll be going home for the Australian Open, World Cup and Australian PGA Championship. A year ago, the field went into the mid-20s in the world rankings. Among those in need of a good week at East Lake if they want to

lenge, Pure Silk Ladies Professional Golf Association, IAAF organisation and Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. But Rolle said the partnership with the Redskins opens The Bahamas up to another lucrative market. “This partnership further causes us to be positioned in a primary key market

play in the Hero World Challenge from December 1 to 4 are Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Kisner and Justin Thomas. The tournament is allowed two exemptions, provided they are among the top 50 in the world. There also is a provision for an exemption to go to the tournament host - Tiger Woods. ROTARY PEACE WALK TODAY, starting at 6pm at Salem Union Baptist Church, the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas will host a “Peace Walk.” The event will begin at the church on Taylor

for us, the tristate beltway, comprising Washington, Maryland and Virginia, and in the forefront hearts and minds of these residents, that The Bahamas is not only the premier vacation destination in the Caribbean but the official island destination for the Washington Redskins.”

Street between East Street and Market Street with a short “important meeting” in the church on Rotary’s Road to Peace initiative to try and help in the fight against crime. Following the meeting, the walk will leave the church and travel north to Lewis Street, west to Market Street and then south back to the church on Taylor Street. At 6:30pm, there will be a moment of silence in memory of persons who have lost their lives due to violence.

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Chelsea and Liverpool stay on course in English League Cup By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — With no European competitions clogging up their schedules, Chelsea and Liverpool are placing more importance on the English League Cup than usual this season. They both advanced to the last 16 yesterday — but took different routes. Chelsea came from two goals behind at Premier League champion Leicester, taking an end-to-end game to extra time at 2-2 thanks to goals from defenders Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta before Cesc Fabregas’ double clinched a 4-2 win. Liverpool had it much easier, dispatching secondtier Derby in a 3-0 victory with Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi scoring the goals. Chelsea and Liverpool both rested key players but still fielded strong lineups in a bid to stay alive in one of three competitions they’ll enter this season. Liverpool is a record eight-time League Cup winner, while Chelsea is joint-second in the all-time list of trophy winners with five titles. Leicester has much bigger priorities this season. Aside from attempting to retain its Premier League title, Claudio Ranieri’s team are in the Champions League for the first time and likely will not be too concerned about exiting a competition of the least importance. Japan forward Shinji Okazaki took advantage

CHELSEA’S CESC FABREGAS, left, celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the English League Cup, Third Round soccer match between Leicester City and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Tuesday Sept, 20, 2016. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) of defensive errors to score twice for Leicester at King Power Stadium, but the hosts were undermanned in extra time after Marcin Wasilewski collected his second yellow card in the 89th for elbowing Diego Costa in the face. Fabregas’ two goals send a message to Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who has marginalised the Spain midfielder at the start of the season. • A look at other results in the third round yesterday, as Premier League teams fared differently against lower-league opposition after rotating their starting lineups:

EVERTON 0, NORWICH 2 Everton failed to transfer its strong Premier League form to the League Cup by losing to second-tier Norwich, which played almost a complete reserve team. Steven Naismith, a former Everton player, and Norwich double their lead in spectacular style as one of the Murphy twins, Josh, spins with his back to goal maybe 18 yards out, unleashes a left-footed strike that whizzes in off the underside of the bar!Josh Murphy were the scorers. Everton has been the surprise of the Premier League so far, currently sitting in

2nd place after an unbeaten start that includes four wins from five games. The team’s last piece of major silverware came in 1995. NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0, ARSENAL 4 Lucas Perez, a recent signing from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, scored twice in the second half for his first goals for Arsenal. Granit Xhaka scored from long range — as he did against Hull in the Premier League on Saturday — to put Arsenal ahead and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wrapped up the victory for a visiting team featuring a

mix of youth-team players and fringe squad members. BOURNEMOUTH 2, PRESTON 3 Bournemouth joined Everton in exiting the competition, meaning six Premier League teams have been eliminated so far. Danish striker Simon Makienok scored a hat trick for second-tier Preston, with his second goal coming in the 85th minute to take the game into extra time and his third clinching the win in the 111th minute. Fresh off a heavy defeat at Manchester City, Bournemouth played an entire second-string team.

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AC MILAN WINS CONSECUTIVE GAMES FOR 1ST TIME SINCE FEBRUARY MILAN (AP) — AC Milan has won consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since February. The Rossoneri beat visiting Lazio 2-0 on Tuesday to follow up a 1-0 win over Sampdoria on Friday. Carlos Bacca opened the scoring in the first half and M’Baye Niang converted a penalty after the break. Milan moved within one point of Serie A leader Napoli, which visits Genoa on Wednesday. Lazio, which is winless at the San Siro against Milan since 1989, remained three points back. After Lazio midfielder Danilo Cataldi gave the ball away, Juraj Kucka’s through ball left Bacca with only the goalkeeper to beat and he easily slotted the ball past Serie A debutante Thomas Strakosha. Strakosha, a 21-yearold Albanian, was filling in after regular Lazio starter Federico Marchetti injured his calf during the warmup. A hand ball by Stefan Radu led to Niang’s penalty after good work from Bacca, who joined Napoli’s Jose Callejon atop the scoring chart with five goals each. Milan’s previous consecutive wins came against city rival Inter Milan in the derby and Palermo on Jan. 31 and Feb. 3 of last season. Milan finished seventh last season, missing out on European football.

PSG IN TOP SPOT WITH 3-0 WIN AGAINST CAEN SEVILLA TOPS REAL BETIS 1-0 IN SPANISH DERBY By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Edinson Cavani scored his sixth league goal of the season and teammate Lucas netted his fourth as Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the French league with a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Dijon yesterday. Following a stuttering start to the season, the four-time defending champions followed up their 6-0 rout of Caen with a convincing win at the Parc des Princes. Cavani, who hit four against Caen in the space of 45 minutes, doubled PSG’s lead from the penalty spot in the 26th minute after Hungarian defender Adam Lang scored an own goal when he deflected a cross from Maxwell. The Uruguay striker is now the league’s joint top scorer with six goals, the same as Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette. Lucas completed PSG’s win in the 67th minute with a header past goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet from Maxwell’s cross. The win provisionally lifted PSG to the top of the league standings. Level on points with PSG but with a match in hand, Monaco can claim back the lead when it travels to Nice today.

LILLE 1, TOULOUSE 2 After not scoring in the French league for 15 months, Swedish striker Ola Toivonen ended his goal drought in style, netting twice as his new club Toulouse won 2-1 at Lille. Toivonen spent last season on loan from Rennes at Premier League side Sunderland and joined Toulouse this summer. Toivonen’s goals, combined with another superb performance from teenage goalkeeper Alban Lafont, helped Toulouse to its first win at its northern rival in 10 years. After Toivonen put the visitors in front in the 12th minute with a clinical finish past Vincent Enyeama, Lafont denied Younousse Sankhare’s header. He was powerless when Marko Basa headed the ball home form a free kick to level in the 35th but kept out a close-range effort from Nicolas de Preville just after halftime. Toivonen scored the winner with 13 minutes left, connecting with a cross at the penalty spot and sending Enyeama the wrong way. Toulouse moved to a provisional third place, two points behind PSG.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Sevilla provisionally moved to second place in the Spanish league after defeating Real Betis 1-0 in the Seville derby yesterday. Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado scored the winning goal from a free kick delivered by midfielder Samir Nasri in the 51st minute at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. Mercado redirected the ball just enough to beat goalkeeper Antonio Adan. “It was a great atmosphere,” Mercado said. “I’m incredibly happy to have experienced this, scoring a goal and helping the team earn this victory.” Sevilla reached 11 points with its third win in five games, moving to within a point of leader Real Madrid, which hosts Villarreal on Wednesday with a chance to win its fifth match in a row. Third-place Barcelona, three points behind Madrid, plays fifth-place Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. Just two minutes after Sevilla took the lead, Real Betis had a goal by Alex Alegria disallowed because of offside, although replays indicated it should have counted. “We didn’t deserve to lose this match,”

Real Betis midfielder Joaquin Sanchez said. “We played with intensity and had our chances, but we let them score on a set piece. A lot of times matches like this are decided on details. We didn’t have luck on our side.” Betis stayed with five points, dropping to 13th in the standings. MALAGA 2, EIBAR 1 Teenage Moroccan striker Youssef EnNesyri scored a 76th-minute winner to give Malaga its first league victory. Nano put the visitors ahead from inside the area in the 42nd but Sandro equalised for Malaga two minutes later and EnNesyri sealed the win by curling a left-foot shot into the far corner after a breakaway. The 19-year-old Moroccan, one of Malaga’s most promising players, was making his first-team debut at home. Malaga had lost two in a row after consecutive draws in its first two games. It provisionally moved to 12th in the 20-team standings with five points from as many matches. Eibar hadn’t lost since a 2-1 result at Deportivo La Coruna in its opener. The Basque club remains seventh in the standings with seven points.

Dortmund notches another big win, beats Wolfsburg 5-1 By NESHA STARCEVIC AP Sports Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ousmane Dembele, the highly touted French teenager, scored his first Bundesliga goal for Borussia Dortmund in a 5-1 rout of Wolfsburg on Tuesday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored two goals but it was Dembele’s goal that broke Wolfsburg’s resistance. The 19-year-old Dembele is considered one of the biggest talents in Europe and his goal in the 59th for a 3-1 lead came at the time when Dortmund was under pressure. Wolfsburg had just pulled a goal back and looked close to equalising when Dembele struck. Raphael Guerreiro, another of Dortmund’s new signings who had scored the opening goal, fed substitute Gonzalo Castro with a through pass. Castro squared the ball to the onrushing Dembele for an easy finish. Dembele, who had lost possession in a couple of promising situations before the goal, appeared to

be slightly offside when he scored, according to television replays. He also struck the post later in the game. Aubameyang brought his season total to four goals in four matches and Lukasz Piszczek added the fifth in the 73rd minute. Dortmund now has outscored its opponents 17-1 in its last three matches in all competitions. “Another bunch of goals,” Aubameyang said. “A good game, we are pleased. It was not easy at the start of the second half. If we keep playing like this, I don’t think anyone can hold us back.” Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt won 2-0 in Ingolstadt, Hambrurger SV slipped to another defeat by going down 1-0 at Freiburg and Darmstadt clinched a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim at home. Dortmund and Frankfurt pulled level on nine points with Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin, which play each other today. Guerreiro put Dortmund ahead in the fourth, slotting home after a through ball from Marc Bartra. Aubameyang scored his first in the 17th, after collecting

a throw-in to slot inside the far post. Substitute Daniel Didavi scored in the 53rd as Wolfsburg stepped up the pressure at the start of the second half. And just as Wolfsburg was piling on the pressure, Dembele struck for the decisive lead. “We played on another level today, Wolfsburg is stronger than the previous teams we’ve played,” Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said. Germany striker Mario Gomez squandered several chances for Wolfsburg, including one from about one meter (yard) out, as his team lost its first match of the season. “We wasted too many chances,” Gomez said. • In other matches: FREIBURG 1, HAMBURGER SV 0 Nils Petersen scored less than a minute after coming on as a substitute, tapping the ball home after Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler could not hold on to a shot by Vincenzo Grifo in the 70th. Hamburg fell to its third

straight defeat, the last two against promoted teams and has only one point from four matches. Coach Bruno Labbadia’s future looks bleak, especially since Hamburg’s next match is against Bayern Munich. INGOLSTADT 0, EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 2 Eintracht confirmed its good start with goals from David Abraham in stoppage time of the first half and Bastian Oczipka in the 50th. Abraham connected with a header from Marco Fabian’s corner and Oczipka drilled home a powerful left-foot volley following a half-clearance from another corner. Ingolstadt has only one point under new coach Markus Kauczinski. DARMSTADT 1, HOFFENHEIM 1 Substitute Denys Oliinyk struck in the second minute of injury time to clinch the draw for Darmstadt. Hoffenheim had gone ahead through a goal by Andrej Kramaric in the 46th. Hoffenheim has four draws from four matches.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016, PAGE 5

Spotlight on concussion after head injury in Premier League By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Lying flat on the Vicarage Road pitch, it seemed Anthony Martial’s game could be prematurely over. The Manchester United forward had clashed with Watford defender Daryl Janmaat’s head as they both soared to reach the descending ball. While Janmaat made the connection for the header, Martial felt the full force of the impact with his Premier League opponent. But after receiving attention from United’s doctor, Martial was able to continue playing in Sunday’s game — for a short time, at least. Seven minutes later, Martial was off the field for good. Although it was a crunching tackle that brought Martial down again in the 34th minute, the Frenchman was still clearly disorientated from the earlier collision. After United’s medical team carried out further checks on the player’s vision, Martial left the pitch clutching his forehead with his left hand. It immediately raised questions

about why Martial had remained in the game, if concussion was suspected. The English Football Association’s guidelines , introduced in November, are clear: “There must be no return to play on the day of any suspected concussion.” United manager Jose Mourinho was vague after the 3-1 loss at Watford, saying he did not know if Martial was concussed. Martial’s only comments on the incident came through his social media accounts on Tuesday, writing alongside a thumbs-up emoticon: “Feel much better today.” The continued uncertainty about Martial’s condition has prompted scrutiny of United’s adherence to concussion protocols. Headway, a British brain injury association, called for an independent review into how concussion guidelines are implemented. “Too often over the course of the past few seasons we have seen players return to games following a head injury, only to be substituted a short time later showing more obvious signs of concussion,” Headway said in a statement, warning about the dangers of a player receiving a secondary

MANCHESTER United’s Anthony Martial walks off the pitch after he was hurt during Sunday’s match against Watford. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) blow. But Ian Beasley, who helped to create the FA guidelines, cautioned against a rush to judgment against clubs or his fellow doctors. “Things happen on the pitch that are easy to see from the stands and on camera but are not easy to see on the touchline,” Beasley told The Associated Press. “It’s like someone sprains their ankle. You see how it goes and within two minutes they put their hand up and say they can’t carry

on. You haven’t done any more damage it but at least you know what the situation is.” Snap assessments are required during matches, although precise tests for concussion don’t exist. Players are asked standard questions by the medic, including: — What venue at we at? — Which half is it now? — Who scored last in this match? “All the questions can be answered normally and later inside they start to feel the effects, five to 10 minutes later, sometimes two hours later,” said Beasley, who was England team doctor until June when he left the FA. Doctors like Beasley can receive calls from players long after a game suspecting concussion that wasn’t immediately obvious at the time. “Concussion is not a straight forward thing,” he said. “So people will ring you two hours after you have got home in the evening after the game and say, ‘I’ve got a headache and I feel a bit groggy,’ and they’ve got concussion. It’s an evolving condition.” FIFA allows matches to be

stopped for three minutes while team doctors assess players with head injuries. The FA protocols were introduced following a high-profile incident in the 2013-14 Premier League season when Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was allowed to return to the pitch by then-coach Andre Villas-Boas despite appearing to lose consciousness when he was struck on the head by an opponent’s knee. The FA only provides guidelines and cannot punish a club suspected of being too hasty in allowing a player to continue. There is no evidence United was at fault on Sunday. But it’s a reflection of the growing awareness of concussion that head injuries during globally-televised games, such as the Premier League, can prompt an immediate stream of comments online from fans and pundits debating medical procedures. “The more people who focus on concussion is fantastic,” Beasley said. “But I think our care of concussion is light years ahead of what it was two or three years ago. Everybody notices it more.”

AP POWER RANKINGS: PATRIOTS, STEELERS TIED FOR THE TOP SPOT By SIMMI BUTTAR AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Despite missing key players, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are off to fast starts so far this season. The Patriots are 2-0 while playing without Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. And the Steelers have the same record even without running back Le’Veon Bell, who is suspended for the first three games of the season. Pittsburgh and New England have something else in common: They also share the top spot in the

latest AP Pro32 poll released on Tuesday. The Patriots received five first-place votes and the Steelers earned three and both have 368 points from balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL. Each of the traditional powers also faces another unbeaten team this week. The Patriots begin the NFL’s Week 3 schedule when they host the Houston Texans on Thursday night. Jacoby Brissett, the rookie third-round pick, could start for New England after Jimmy Garoppolo injured his throwing shoulder in the second quarter against

the Miami Dolphins. “Not that you need any more proof that Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time — maybe the greatest — but a 2-0 start without Tom Brady, using both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett ... well, you get the idea,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said. The Steelers face Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and the surprising Eagles on Sunday in Philly. “A well-balanced attack and an improved defence stamp the Steelers as serious Super Bowl contenders,” said Ira Kaufman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Denver Broncos, who are also 2-0, got three first-place votes and are No. 3 overall with 365 points. The Broncos will have their first road game of the season on Sunday when they travel to Cincinnati. “Life’s good for a first-year starting quarterback when you play for a team with a defence for the ages,” Glauber said of Trevor Siemian. “Denver’s D does it again against Colts, as Aqib Talib’s interception return for a touchdown seals the win and keeps the defending champs unbeaten.” Carolina, which received the

SCHWARTZ, DEFENCE DESERVE CREDIT FOR EAGLES’ 2-0 START By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A 2-0 start in Philadelphia has people comparing Carson Wentz to Peyton Manning and Doug Pederson to Vince Lombardi. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz deserves some credit, too. Wentz has certainly exceeded expectations . He’s the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first two starts and not commit a turnover. Pederson has pushed all the right buttons, showing strong leadership and excellent playcalling. Meanwhile, Schwartz has taken a defence that ranked among the worst each of the past three seasons and turned it into a stingy unit. They’re ranked fourth in yards allowed and have allowed the second-fewest points (that includes a punt return for a TD ). “I like the way it’s coming together,” middle linebacker Jordan Hicks said after Monday night’s 29-15 win at Chicago. “We’re playing stout, pretty strong and aggressive. That’s what this defence is. I’m excited. The sky is the limit with this de-

EAGLES running back Ryan Mathews (24) celebrates a touchdown during Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) fence. We have a lot to improve and it’s a long season, but we’ve started out pretty well.” Schwartz, a former head coach in Detroit, returned to coaching after sitting out the 2015 season. He brought an aggressive, 4-3 scheme and is maximising the talent he has. Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin moved to defensive end after playing linebacker in former coordinator Billy Davis’ 3-4 system. Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan are getting a strong push up the middle. Linebackers Hicks and Ni-

gel Bradham have made big plays . The secondary overcame the absence of injured cornerback Leodis McKelvin and shut down Jay Cutler and the Bears. “We’re playing well together, having fun and everybody is chipping in,” said Graham, who had one sack and two tackles for losses. Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick, gets most of the praise and he’s been outstanding. He has a 94.1 rating, three TDs and a completion rate of 60.6 per cent. Wentz already has won more games in two starts than Joe Montana (0-1)

and Troy Aikman (0-11) did their rookie seasons. Manning went 3-13 with the Colts in 1998. John Elway (4-6), Terry Bradshaw (3-5), Fran Tarkenton (2-8) and Johnny Unitas (3-4) also had losing years as rookies. But the Eagles beat the hapless Browns (0-2) and the Bears (0-2). They have a tougher road ahead, starting with a home game against Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) on Sunday. Big Ben, by the way, was 13-0 his rookie season in 2004 and led the Steelers to the AFC championship game. Asked if Wentz reminds him of Roethlisberger, Pederson said: “Little bit, little bit. Carson has the ability to extend plays with his legs. Ben is big, strong, physical in the pocket, hard to bring down and continues to have great vision down the field. “I think that’s one thing with Carson’s strength is he continues to have that vision down the field when things begin to break down. “So, yeah, there are a lot of similarities there. The fact that they’re both very good throwers outside the pocket is a tribute to both of them.”

SPRAINED THUMB COULD LEAVE STRUGGLING BEARS WITHOUT CUTLER By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The struggling Chicago Bears might have to get by without quarterback Jay Cutler. Coach John Fox said Cutler has a sprained right thumb that does not appear to require surgery and would not rule him out for this weekend’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. If he is not ready, Brian Hoyer will start. “It’s hard for me to give timelines,” Fox said yesterday. “We’ll evaluate tomorrow. We’ve got practice tomorrow, we’re on a short week already. If Jay’s ready to do it, fine. If not, we’ll go with Brian Hoyer.” Cutler topped a long list of players injured in Monday’s 29-14 loss to Philadelphia. The defence was hit hard, with linebacker Danny Trevathan scheduled for surgery this morning on a sprained thumb. The Bears were awaiting the results of an MRI on linebacker Lamarr Houston, who suffered a left knee injury that Fox said “appears to be significant.” Nose tackle Eddie Goldman (sprained ankle) left the field on a cart.

But once again, the Bears find themselves in a familiar spot with their quarterback hurt. Cutler has not played in all 16 games since 2009, his first season in Chicago, and if he is sidelined, that would be a big blow for the Bears. They are 0-2 in their second season under Fox after finishing last in the NFC North a year ago, and the last thing they need is to have to get by without their quarterback. It’s not clear when the injury happened. Cutler reportedly suffered ligament damage to his thumb during the season-opening loss at Houston. He was not on the injury report leading up to the Eagles game. Fox said the thumb “didn’t appear” to affect Cutler in practice last week and he was a full participant. Cutler said Monday night he couldn’t pinpoint when the injury occurred but acknowledged he was having trouble early in the game. It worsened when he tried to plant his hand breaking his fall on a stripsack by Philadelphia’s Destiny Vaeao in the third quarter. Cutler played two more series and exited the game after the Eagles’ Nigel Bradham stepped in front of a badly underthrown pass intended

for Alshon Jeffery, who was about 10 yards up the field. Cutler headed to the locker room. But before he left the field, he got an earful from injured linebacker Pernell McPhee on the sideline. Should the Bears have pulled him earlier? “Medical people come to you and say he can’t go, then he can’t go,” Fox said. “I don’t know if he was left in any longer than anyone could’ve guessed. Our training staff comes to you and says he’s got a thumb injury, that’s when we made our move.” Cutler has missed 15 games since the start of the 2010 season, and he has a history of injuries to his right thumb dating to his childhood. Cutler said he had surgery on it when he was 11 or 12. He missed the final six games of the 2011 season when he broke the thumb trying to make a tackle following an interception against San Diego. The Bears won that game to improve to 7-3, but went into a tailspin on the way to an 8-8 finish. Now, Cutler is hurt again. And he has plenty of company. “I like our roster, I like our choices and we’ll do everything we can to get everybody ready for Dallas,” Fox said.

other first-place vote, moved up a spot to No. 4 and is the highestranked NFC team in the poll. The Vikings jumped up five spots to No. 5 after edging the rival Packers, who dropped five places to No. 9. The Cardinals moved to sixth after routing the Buccaneers for their first win of the season. “Larry Fitzgerald keeps building a Hall of Fame résumé, but David Johnson is the engine in Arizona’s dynamic attack,” Kaufman said. The Texans are No. 7, the unbeaten New York Giants are No. 8 and the Bengals round out the top 10.

THE STANDINGS

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016, PAGE 7

Nneka Ogwumike wins AP WNBA Player of the Year award By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

perseverance and continuing to develop your game can elevate you to superstar status,” said Los Angeles coach Brian Agler, who was named the AP’s coach of the year. Agler narrowly edged Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve for coach of the year honours Los Angeles also had the sixth woman of the year in Jantel Lavender. Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams was voted the most improved player. She was traded in the offseason from Connecticut to the Dream and helped them reach the playoffs. “The change of scenery is the first main thing that would pop up,” said Williams on the biggest difference for her this year. “I think coming to this team, coach (Michael) Cooper having a lot of confidence in me in the beginning. Getting healthy and playing overseas in Turkey also helped me gain some confidence.” Connecticut’s Chiney Ogwumike earned comeback player of the year

NEW YORK (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike put up career numbers this season for Los Angeles and was arguably the most consistent impact player in the league. Her efforts earned her Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year honours yesterday. The award was chosen by the 14-member media panel that votes for the weekly power poll. “It’s special that there are different perspectives on so many things we do,” Ogwumike said in a phone interview.” Players, coaches, GMs, media. It’s interesting to see the support coming from all different angles.” She averaged 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists and shot 66.5 per cent from the field, helping lead the Sparks to the second best record in the WNBA and a bye until the semi-finals of the playoffs. “It’s a great thing for someone like Nneka to win an award like this as it shows that hard work and

SPARKS forward Nneka Ogwumike, left, drives to the basket around Dream centre Elizabeth Williams during a game in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) honours after recovering from microfracture surgery in her right knee that sidelined her last year. “There’s nothing more humbling than coming back from an injury,” said Chiney Ogwumike. “Being named comeback player of the year means the absolute world to me because, like many athletes who fall down, we keep fighting to not only get back up, but also to exceed expectations.”

Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles was defensive player of the year while leading the Lynx to one of the top-rated defences in the league. Seattle’s Breanna Stewart won rookie of the year, finishing third all-time for points by a rookie and breaking Lisa Leslie’s WNBA record for defensive rebounds in a season. The former UConn star was the only rookie on the AP

WNBA first team. She was joined by Ogwumike, Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne. Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Angel McCoughtry, Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles were on the second team. Stewart also headlined the all-rookie team. She was joined by San Antonio’s Moriah Jefferson, Dallas’ Aerial Powers, Chicago’s Imani Boyette and Indiana’s Tiffany Mitchell.

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 90° F/32° C low: 74° F/23° C

Tampa

THursday

FrIday

saTurday

sunday

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy with a stray shower

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑shower in spots

A passing afternoon shower

High: 89°

Low: 76°

High: 90° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 76°

High: 89° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

111° F

90° F

113°-87° F

111°-90° F

111°-89° F

110°-88° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

aBaCO

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

3‑6 knots

WesT palm BeaCH High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C

3‑6 knots

FT. lauderdale E

FreepOrT

High: 88° F/31° C low: 77° F/25° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

mIamI

High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C

4‑8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 91° F/33° C Low .................................................... 76° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 93° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 81° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.60” Year to date ............................................... 32.39” Normal year to date ................................... 27.71”

eleuTHera

nassau

High: 89° F/32° C low: 76° F/25° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

Key WesT

High: 89° F/32° C low: 79° F/26° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

3‑6 knots

4‑8 knots

andrOs

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:17 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.7 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:51 a.m. 6:38 p.m.

0.0 0.3

Thursday

12:40 a.m. 1:17 p.m.

3.1 3.6

6:48 a.m. 7:41 p.m.

0.2 0.4

Friday

1:42 a.m. 2:22 p.m.

3.0 3.5

7:51 a.m. 8:48 p.m.

0.3 0.5

Saturday

2:50 a.m. 3:29 p.m.

2.9 3.4

8:58 a.m. 9:55 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Sunday

3:59 a.m. 4:33 p.m.

2.9 3.3

10:06 a.m. 0.5 10:58 p.m. 0.5

Monday

5:03 a.m. 5:32 p.m.

2.9 3.3

11:09 a.m. 0.5 11:53 p.m. 0.5

Tuesday

5:59 a.m. 6:24 p.m.

3.0 3.3

12:06 p.m. 0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:58 a.m. 7:07 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:20 p.m. 11:57 a.m.

last

new

First

Full

sep. 23

sep. 30

Oct. 9

Oct. 16

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

High: 88° F/31° C low: 78° F/26° C

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

4‑8 knots

mayaGuana High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

CaT Island

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Nneka Ogwumike had 20.5 points, 10 rebounds and four assists last week to help the Sparks win their final two regular season contests. Others receiving votes included: Minnesota’s Maya Moore, Connecticut’s Jasmine Thomas.

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C

POWER POLL The Minnesota Lynx finished the season where they started, atop the AP Power Poll . The Lynx were a unanimous choice at No. 1. The team held the top spot in the poll 10 of the 15 weeks. “Our team prides itself on being efficient on both ends of the court,” Reeve said. “Finishing No. 1 in the power rankings exemplifies that commitment.” Los Angeles, which was first the other five weeks, finished second. The Sparks were followed by New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Indiana and Seattle. Phoenix, Connecticut, Washington, Dallas and San Antonio rounded out the poll.

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns raGGed Island High: 86° F/30° C low: 82° F/28° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

GreaT InaGua High: 89° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

7‑14 knots

marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua

lOnG Island mayaGuana

nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS S at 3‑6 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots E at 3‑6 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots WSW at 3‑6 Knots E at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots

WAVES 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 86° F 86° F 87° F 87° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 87° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 88° F 88° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 83° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Mario Ford camp teaches the basics By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SINCE 1986, Mario Ford has been working in the trenches providing free baseball lessons to interested boys and girls at Dorcy Park or Windsor Field, the site where he was able to develop his skills as a baseball/softball and cricket player. The camp is designed for boys and girls between the ages of four and 15 years. Ford, one of the most successful athletes in the country, said this is just his way of giving back to the community for the opportunity that he had to get the exposure to play at the national and international levels. “I just want to be able to teach the youngsters from an early age so that it can follow them wherever they go,” Ford said. “They can at least have the basic fundamentals so that when they decide to continue to play, they will be better equipped.” During the sessions that are held every Saturday

ASPIRING baseball players take part in the Mario Ford Baseball Camp at Windsor Park. Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune from 9am to noon, Ford said he takes the youngsters through the fundamentals of fielding, hitting, throwing, catching and base running. “Over the years, I feel the programme has been

very productive because the kids get a lot out of it,” Ford said. “Some of the kids come there with no type of baseball skills and the drills that I put them through step by step, if they have never played the game before,

we first work on getting the fear of playing the game and getting hit with the ball out of them. “Over the years, we have found out that a lot of the kids are afraid of the ball and so what you will see is

they tend to run to the side, so we try to teach them to catch the ball in the front the same way that we would want them to throw it. We teach them the proper way to field and throw the ball.” The good thing about the camp, according to Ford, is there are players who return each year who have the basic fundamentals down packed and so they, in turn, assist those youngsters who are just getting familiar with playing the game. Ford said he hopes that he can get more parents involved in the programme. “What we have is a lot of parents who just send their kids out,” he said. “But we want them to be there

to watch them as they go through the training and they can motivate them and encourage them to learn the game.” For those who are interested, Ford advised them just to show up in some type of sporting gear. If they don’t have the proper softball equipment, including glove and bat, Ford said he doesn’t want that to be a deterrent. They will provide the equipment and each camper will also get a Mario Ford t-shirt. Through the sponsorship they receive from corporate sponsors, Ford said they are able to survive. But he said there is a need for more sponsors to come on board because of the need that exists within the inner cities where the majority of the campers come from. “I do this on a ninemonth basis. We start in February and I take a break around July and August, then we start up again in September and wrap up in October,” he stated. “So we are always looking for the support from corporate Bahamas because it’s an ongoing programme.” Something that Ford has unselfishly done, providing free baseball lessons to countless youngsters for almost 30 years in his backyard on Windsor Field, better known as Dorcy Park.