Photo: Hattieville Cubs – BSF 2024 National Men’s Softball Champions
by William Ysaguirre
SANDHILL VILLAGE, Belize District, Sun. Aug. 18, 2024
The Hattieville Cubs won the Belize Softball Federation’s (BSF) National Men’s Championship, held for the first time in over 10 years, under the patronage of Minister of State Hon. Marconi Leal, Sr. at the Sandhill Softball Stadium over the weekend, Friday through Sunday, August 16-18. Six teams from around the country contested the championship in a double-elimination tournament following the Paige System; and the Cubs got the bye through the first round, and advanced to the final undefeated.
In Game 1 on Friday evening, Keron Tillett struck out 10 batters, as he led the Wolfpack to a 7-4 win over the Camalote Stingers and pitcher Julio Bardalez.
In Game 2 in Friday’s nightcap, pitcher Marconi Leal, Jr. struck out 7 batters to lead the Sandhill Sluggers to an 8-0 win by Mercy Rule in the 5th inning over the San Narciso Challenging Warriors. The Sluggers collected 7 hits off pitcher Leonardo Catzim, who struck out 4 batters, but walked 4.
Game 3 on Saturday morning saw the Belize City sub-champions, Wolfpack registering an 11-4 win over the Belize City champions, Guardian Mesop. Wolfpack collected 6 hits off pitcher Khajaun Madrill, who struck out 6 batters, but walked 7.
On Saturday afternoon, MVP Jason Garcia struck out 11 batters, as he led the Cubs to their first win, 2-1, over the Sandhill Sluggers in Game 4. The Cubs collected 8 hits off Marconi Leal, Jr. who struck out 10 batters and walked 4. The Sluggers forced the Cubs to leave 7 runners on base and only the Flores brothers, Milton and Alex, scored a run each. The Sluggers collected 6 hits off Garcia, but left 9 runners on base, and only veteran Deon Richards scored on an error and a wild pitch.
In Game 5, San Narciso gave Guardian Mesop their first and only win by forfeit.
In Game 6 on Saturday evening, Camalote Stingers advanced to the playoffs by a 7-5 win to eliminate the Sandhill Sluggers. The Stingers collected 8 hits off Sluggers pitcher Terrence Sinclair, who struck out 5 batters but walked 5. Stingers’ Erwin Tate also struck out 5 batters and walked 5.
(Game 7) In Saturday’s nightcap, the Cubs clobbered the Wolfpack, 7-6, collecting 6 hits off Christopher Hower, who struck out 10 batters and walked 3. The Wolfpack collected 5 hits off Milton Flores, who struck out 9 batters and walked 5. The Cubs’ tight defense forced the Wolfpack to leave 5 runners on base.
(Game 8) In the playoffs on Sunday morning, Julio Bardalez struck out 6 batters and walked 4, as the Stingers sent home Guardian Mesop by a 3-1 win. The Stingers collected 4 hits off Guardian’s Khajuan Madrill, who struck out 9 batters and walked 4.
In Game 9 in the semifinal on Sunday afternoon, the Wolfpack advanced out of the losers’ bracket by a 12-5 win to relegate the Camalote Stingers to 3rd place.
The Wolfpack would need a win over the undefeated Cubs in the Game 10 finals to force a Game 11, which did not happen.
In Game 10, the championship final, Cubs pitcher Milton Flores struck out 5 batters, and his relief Jason Garcia struck out 8 batters as they led the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Wolfpack. The Cubs collected 4 hits off Keron Tillett, who struck out 6 batters and walked 2, while his relief Christopher Hower struck out 2 batters and conceded a walk. This allowed Milton Flores, Kendall Esquiliano, Brandon Rogers, Jr., and Malique James to each score a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning, tying the score at 4-4 after Bryan Grant, Keron Tillett, Shareif Humes and Christian Hernandez had each scored for Wolfpack in the top of the 2nd inning. Carlyon Flores scored the Cubs’ 5th and winning run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Minister Marconi Leal, Sr. presented the team trophies to the champions – Hattieville Cubs, sub-champions Wolfpack, and 3rd place winners – Camalote Stingers.
Individual awards: Most Valuable Player – Jason Garcia (Hattieville Cubs); Most Runs Batted In (RBIs) – Jason Garcia (Hattieville Cubs); Best Earned Run Average (ERA) – Jason Garcia (Hattieville Cubs); Best Pitcher – Jason Garcia (Hattieville Cubs); Best Batting Average – Milton Flores (Hattieville Cubs); Best Defense – Alex Flores (Hattieville Cubs); Most Home Runs – Francis Russel (Wolfpack); Most Runs Scored – Christopher Hower (Wolfpack).