Representing Belize over the weekend in the 7th Central American Senior Female Softball Championship, held in Costa Rica from Friday, August 10, to Sunday, August 12, was the Belize Telemedia Female Softball Team, reigning National Champions of Belize, who were reinforced with a few players from other teams for the international tournament. Our girls had a splendid showing, and came ever so close to taking the championship, having to settle for 2nd place.

Seven (7) teams participated in the Central American Championship: host Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize – Belize Telemedia Female Softball Team, El Salvador, and Panama.

In our first game on Friday, August 10, Belize crushed Costa Rica, 15-2, with Mary Flowers the winning pitcher.

Belize saw action in three (3) games on Saturday, August 11. In game 1, Belize fell, 4-2, to Guatemala, behind losing pitcher Kenrene Gillett. Game 2 saw Belize defeating Panama, 6-2, with Leandra Guy the winning pitcher; and Belize was victorious again in game 3, this one 6-4 over Nicaragua, with Kenrene Gillett picking up the win.

Two games remained for Belize on Sunday, and though we won both, it wasn’t enough to secure the championship. Leandra Guy pitched Belize to an 11-2 rout of El Salvador in the first game on Sunday; and Mary Flowers was on the mound for Belize in the nightcap, as our girls whipped Honduras, 8-1.

The Telemedia team was reinforced with Leandra Guy and Shadalee Ho from Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy; Patricia Staine from Esperanza Wolverines; Keneisha Sutherland from Camalote Cristal Parrots; and Kenrene Gillett from Ontario Rebels.

According to Telemedia’s Carolyn “Babsy” Cadle who provided the information and picture for this report, both Belize and Guatemala ended the tournament with identical 5-1 records. But, rather than having a playoff for the Gold, the organizers awarded the championship to Guatemala, since they had defeated Belize in our only meeting. Guatemala’s loss was to Nicaragua, whom Belize had defeated, 6-4. Thus, Guatemala took 1st place in the Championship, Belize (Belize Telemedia Female Softball Team) was 2nd, and Nicaragua was 3rd. The Best Pitcher trophy was awarded to Belize’s Leandra Guy.

Due to insufficient space on the flight on Monday, some members of the team came home on Monday, and the rest arrived back safely yesterday. The team travelled by airplane both ways. “We did a number of barbeques to raise funds for the trip,” said Carolyn.

Congrats, ladies! Next time we’ll go for the gold.