ORANGE WALK TOWN, Sat. Mar. 24, 2018– The four zone champions of female and male high school softball converged at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk Town over the weekend, where the New Hope High School hosted the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) softball championships. The tournament followed a simple knockout format, with the losers on Friday playing for third place on Saturday, while Friday’s winners played for the championship on Saturday.
Females
In game 1 on Friday, pitcher Jasany Westby led Central Zone champs E.P. Yorke High girls to a 12-2 win over Western Zone champs, Belmopan Baptist High. Game 2 on Friday saw Northern Zone champs San Pedro High girls outlasting Southern Zone champs, Independence High girls in a slug fest that ended 31-30 in favor of San Pedro High.
In the consolation 3rd place game on Saturday morning, Independence High girls crushed Belmopan Baptist girls, 14-4, by the mercy rule in 3 innings. And in the championship game, it was an easy win for E.P. Yorke girls, who walloped San Pedro High girls, 25-2, in 3 innings by the mercy rule.
Individual awards were: Best Batting Avg. – Hannah Usher (E.P.Yorke, 0.750); Most Stolen Bases – Aaliyah Pilgrim (San Pedro High); Most Strikeouts – Sueny Vasquez (San Pedro High, 19); Most Wins – Jasany Westby (E.P.Yorke); Most Runs Batted In (RBIs, 8), Most Home Runs (1), and Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Shana Bood (E.P. Yorke).
Males
In game 1 on Friday, winning pitcher Arvid Cal gave up 4 hits and struck out 5 batters to lead Central Zone champs, E.P. Yorke to a 25-5 mercy-rule win over Western Zone champs, Belmopan Comprehensive boys. In game 2, Northern Zone champs San Pedro High boys dominated Southern Zone champs, Independence High boys with an 11-1 mercy rule victory in which San Pedro pitcher Christian Orellano gave up only 1 hit and struck out 6 batters.
In the 3rd place game on Saturday morning, pitcher Vince Garbutt of Independence High pitched a 5-2 no hitter over Belmopan Comprehensive. The championship game was a tough contest that saw San Pedro High boys recovering from a 3-5 deficit to eventually win, 12-8, over E.P. Yorke boys.
Individual awards were: Best Batting Average –– Jonathan Louriano (–, 1.000); Most Runs Batted In (RBIs) – Christian Trejo (San Pedro High, 7); Most Stolen Bases – Ronnell Thomas (Independence High); Most Home Runs (a tie at 2 each) – Arvid Cal (E.P. Yorke) and Damion Tillett (E.P. Yorke); Most Strikeouts, Most Wins, and Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Christian Orellano (San Pedro High).
Team trophies and medals
In the closing ceremonies following the championship games, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for both females and males received team trophies and individual medals from a SOL Belize Ltd. corporate representative and IHS principal Omar Longsworth.
(Information and pictures courtesy William Ysaguirre)