Rojas is Belize’s new Strongman
James Adderley, Reporting
Good evening, I’m James Adderly, this is Sports Monday. The fourth Central American Junior Softball Championship hosted at Roger’s Stadium found Belize, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador making a bid for the 2007 edition of this prestigious title. We join Sunday’s pivotal meeting between Belize and Guatemala in a first of two clashes under the double elimination format.
And it’s Lanisha Jones on the mound in top of the third inning when this single from the Guatemalan batter finds the outfield to bring in two more runs for a 3-zip lead. Tag on another run for the Guats when this infield fly is bungled. This is how Guy gets out of the inning, a tailor made double play turned by second base and the shortstop. In the meantime Team Belize gets its only run of this match on the double steal with perfect execution. Of course, Guatemala goes on to post the 6-1 big W, hurting our chances at grabbing the goal. In Sunday’s nightcap Belize took another tumble to Guatemala in a 7-4 ballgame that saw the home team blow a 4-1 lead in the 4th inning. Thus the overall final standings from this particular international softball tournament looks like this. Guatemala wins Gold with a record of 5 wins 1 loss, El Salvador takes Silver its 4 and 2 showing, Belize gets Bronze for winning 2 and losing 4, while Nicaragua won one and lost 5 to wind up in the cellar this year.
Looking at the post tournament individual awards. Sheena Robinson of Belize finished with the best batting average. Teammate Lanisha Jones had the most strikeout, Stephania Moreno of El Salvador recorded the Best Batting Average. Salvadoran Erica Arguette took home the most victories, while Maria Gomez of Guatemala emerged Most Valuable Player and she also had the most runs batted in.
Turning to the football scene, the annual R.F.G. Insurance Cup Tournament kicked off yesterday with 4 big ballgames. At the M.C.C. Grounds, the defending champion F.C. Belize played host to Santel’s of Cayo and its Shannon Flowers looking to get his team going early only to be thwarted by the intervention of Elias Pelayo. The visitors respond with this push that gives Ismael Trapp an open look at goal but he fails to get the pill past the keeper. New folks, pray tell, do you think the F.C. keeper knows any thing about this bomb out of the midfield from Jorge Dorado? Well, he certainly gets help from the crossbar. The momentum moves to Santels and we can only say Anthony Gonzales tarries much too long to impress the scoreboard.
Just before the half expires, Ismael Trapp gets this uncontested look at goal and again he fails to shake the net.
Eleven minutes into second half John Ismael Trapp makes amends by beating 2 F.C. defenders on the left side to launch a left foot that gives Santels a 1-zip lead. F.C. Belize looks for the equalizer and indeed should have gotten it right here but the header by Shaman Flowers is ineffective. However on the very next test this floater finds the head of Jeromy James and we have a 1-1 tie. On to the short lived people, because a minute and hald later, Gonzalez deals to Brandon Peyrefitte whose power punch gives Santels of Cayo the 2-1 big W over the defending champion on open day.
In other action around the league Wagiya defeated Hankook Verdes 2-1 at the Norman Broaster Stadium while Revolutionary Conquerors were held to a 1-1 draw at home by the San Pedro Dolphin. In the meantime Suga Boys Juventus and the Belize Defence Force could not complete their match at the People’s Stadium due to heavy rains. This ballgame will be replayed in its entirety on Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the People’s Stadium. We must also inform that the regular season schedule will be released tomorrow so stay tuned.
In other football news, action in the Lake I Juvenile Tournament for the Sir George Brown Under 15 Cup saw Brown Bombers and Third World battle to a 3-3 stalemate as the playoffs continues.
In closing folks, eight athletes made a bid for the annual strongman title at Old Belize yesterday deposing the defending champion is Floyd Rojas who emerges the strongest man in town today, forcing the defending champion in Billy Woods into second place, while Nelson Nellorto, a body builder of some renown, finishes in third place. On the female beach volleyball scene, Mitchell and Blanco took top honours, Cadle and Thurtou finished second while Reyes and Williams took third place.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.
