High School softball championships get underway on Friday
The 1998 National Secondary School Softball Tournament opens Friday afternoon in the nation’s capital. Eight teams, four male and four female, will make the journey to the Dora Beaton Stadium in Belmopan to compete in the knockout tournament being held under the patronage of the Principals Association and Texaco Belize Limited.
Independence High’s boys and girls will represent the south, Mount Carmel of Benque Viejo del Carmen and Belmopan Compressive carry the flag of the west, while hailing from the north will be King’s College and Escuela Mexico. The central division representatives are Wesley College and Excelsior High. For the boys of Wesley, last year’s experience forms the backbone of their hopes this time around, while the girls of Excelsior will confront their opponents with a combination of youth and experience.
Joel Wade, Sports Coordinator, Wesley College
“Well I think ahm, they are very prepared. As a matter of fact they have been working out ahm, since late November and they used the time over the Christmas holidays to get into the shape they are in right now.”
Mariano Lino, Pitcher, Wesley Male Softball Team
“Whenever you enter a competition you enter to win, Ahm, I have confidence in my players that they will be able to pull off the championship for Secondary School Softball. Last year I was pitching and I didn?t pitch as fast as how I was this year. So I practiced harder and pitched harder; I practiced and I pitched harder than last year and I did my best.”
Q: Do you think this team stands a chance of winning this year?
Miriam Gillett, 1st. Base, Excelsior Female Softball Team
“Yes, well I think we are ready cause after the competition, after the competition we begin practicing right after that. So I think we are ready.”
Q: Is there one team you think you have to beat in order to win tomorrow?
Miriam Gillett
“Yes, well our school was in the, was in the competition last year and Belmopan was the strongest team we have seen. Only about four of us who is in a senior team and all the rest are just coming up trying to play.”
Last year’s defending champion in the female division is the team from Belmopan Comprehensive School. The 1997 Male National Champions, Saint John’s College, did not make it to this year’s nationals, as they were eliminated by arch rivals Wesley. The opening pitch is at four o’clock Friday evening.
