Beacon Softball Club Makes History with Championship Four-Peat  

Good evening, I am Paul Lopez with this week’s edition of Sports Monday. You will not forget their names, even if you wanted to, because the Beacon Softball Club has officially etched their team’s name in local softball history. Not one, not two, not three, but four straight national titles. That’s right, they’ve pulled off a rare four-peat in the Women’s National Softball Championship, and they did it with style. The eight teams that participated in the Thirty-Third National Championship left it all on the field and in the end, Beacon Softball Club faced off against the Belize Bank Bulldogs in the finals.

 

Bottom of the first inning, Belize Bank Bulldogs fielding. Beacon’s Arneek Rowland on third. Mardy Nicholson from the batter’s box with a heavy hit into center field. The defender was unable to hold the ball, while Rowland sprinted across the home plate. That’s one run for Beacon. Top of the second, Bulldogs’ Raven Card inside the batters box. She hits hard and too low for the first base fielder. The ball went into the centerfield while Barbara Lanza, who was on second base, sprinted across the home plate to equalize the game. Shortly after, Beacon pulled off a double play, catching a popup ball and tagging a runner on first base, sending the Bulldogs back into the dugout. Bottom of the second, Beacon’s Arneek Rowland inside the batter’s box, her teammate Sherlene Humphreys on third base. Rowland hits and three fielders locked eyes on the ball. None of them got to the ball in time and Humphreys made it home. Beacon now up by one with two runs.

 

At the top of the third, Bulldog’s Marsha Will up inside the batters’ box. She sends the ball flying into center field where Arneesha Rowland is positioned for the catch. Greta Davis now up to bat, a powerful swing sent the ball into center field and Rowland again with back-to-back superb catches, a moment of celebration ensued. The Bulldogs held off Beacon at the bottom of the third. And then, at the top of the fourth Beacon executed this smooth double play at second and first base to send the Bulldogs back out to field. Bulldogs Jenika Hilton made it on to first base at the top of the fifth. Hilton later made a dash to steal second base. She slid and the official initially called it safe, but Hilton moved away from the diamond with the base and wastagged a second timebefore she recovered. The official declared the second tag an out, Hilton obviously frustrated.

 

 

Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth inning, Beacon’s Rebecca Nicholson with a hit that sent the ball over the heads of the outfielders. Jasany Westby from behind, hits the ball and gave her teammate on third base an open opportunity to score Beacon’s third run. Down two runs, the top of the seventh inning was do or die for the Bulldogs. They must score at least two runs to stay in the game. Ashley Lucas on first base and Barbara Lanza inside the batter’s box. A huge hit to the fence from Lanza sent Lucas sprinting across second, third, and all the way across the home plate. That’s two runs, one more to tie. Two more batters followed, Raven Card struck out, while Renisha Richards couldn’t make it to first base, bringing an end to a three-day championship tournament. Beacon Softball Club erupted in celebration, four national championship titles.

 

Nelberth Flowers, Head Coach, Beacon Softball Club

“History, history, I am very proud of my team, from the management, fans, support crew, family members, I am very proud. I am especially proud of the softball federation that pushed us.”

 

 

 

 

Sharette Vernon, National Softball Champion

“It is history in the making. We worked hard. We have been out here. Our coaches have given us cones drill. We have been out here, we worked hard. It is history for us and history for softball on a whole.”

 

 

 

Now let’s look at some of the individual awards. Bulldogs’ Greta Davis walked away with three individual awards, Best Batting Average, Most Runs Batted In, Most Home Runs. Beacon’s Rebecca Nicholson also secured three awards. She tied with Davis for Most Home Runs. Nicholson also received the Best defensive Player and the Most Valuable Player Award. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy’s Pitcher Leandra Guy walked away with the Most Strike Outs. Roaring Creek also secured the third-place trophy.

 

 

 

And so, that is how that championship tournament played out. The Medina Material Tournament also held its youth football championship tournament over the weekend inside the Ladyville Technical Football Field. Samsung Academy overcame Ladyville Rising Stars one goal to zero to take the Under-Ten Championship title, while Hattieville defeated Ladyville to secure the Under-Thirteen Championship trophy.

 

 

 

In cycling news, Belize’s Keith Enwright placed fourth in the 19th Caribbean Junior Road Cycling Championships. His teammates Devyn Major and Jamaal Tablada were also recognized for their hard work in the competition. Outshining the makes, female cyclist Irene Baki cross the line with a third-place podium finish in her race. Lianni Choto placed fifth. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.