Simple Boyz win four in a row in softball competition

Desron Maloney’s century in the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) Top Belair Progressive Organization (TBPO) Softball Cricket Competition propelled his team Simple Boyz to their fourth consecutive victory in the competition.

Simple Boyz, within recent years, have become a force to reckon with in softball cricket and, for the second year, battled Clinchers in the final of the competition.{{more}}

Maloney was assisted by top order batsman Jabari Cunningham, whose 30 runs helped to propel the team to 201 runs after the 20 overs were complete.

Clinchers chase came to an anti-climatic end when they were dismissed for 74 runs after 16.1 overs, with Kimani Thomas taking two wickets for eight runs and Eldon Morris grabbing another two wickets for nine runs.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, chair of the TBPO Ashford Wood stated that some of the objectives set for this year’s competition were met.

Wood also said that it was heartening to have an incident free competition.

“If we were to reflect on what had transpired at the centre over the last…two, two and a half months… we would have achieved our objective. And, when we look at what is happening around us in the country today, it makes one feel proud that it has not touched us; none of the crime, none of the violence has really come home to us…,” he stated.

He said that he feels pleased to know that the activities put on by his organization have been able to get rid of what he calls anti-social behaviour in the community.

“Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for the cricket, where would our young people have been? If it wasn’t for the domino, where would our young persons have been? If it wasn’t for the lighting up… if it is not for the football that we see being organized, where would our young people be? But the mere fact that we have been able to bring them here and provide them with activities that, in itself would have taken away in the urge to get involved in anti-social behaviour,” Wood stated.

The chair said that he could see from the friendly rivalries on the cricket field that community interaction is alive and well.

He said that he is aware that the competition is growing; however, they need to realize that it is not about them or the team, but about the development of the community.

“It is about ensuring that we promote community interaction, so that our people get more involved in meaningful rather than anti-social behaviour,” Wood said.

Sponsor of the knock-out competition Collin John, in his remarks, said that it gave him pleasure as Deputy Commissioner of Police to see the youngsters channelling their energies into positive activities.

“That makes my work even easier. When I see areas where murders are going out of control, I can say with a degree of certainty that the Belair, Dauphine area is not one of those areas.”

He, along with his counterparts, also pledged his continued support for the knockout competition.

Marketing manager of the NLA Anthony Dennie promised that in the not too distant future there will be some form of upgrading of the playing field.

Remarks were also made by area representative Cecil McKie.

Adonis Nanton of Stingers was awarded most valuable player of the competition with his 3,018 runs and 10 wickets. Nanton also received the award for most runs in the competition.

Azmon Forbes of Stingers was the leading wicket taker in the competition with 19 runs.(CM)