_{Photo: Nazarene High School – 2024 NSSSA Female Softball Champions}

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 21, 2024

The San Pedro High School boys and Nazarene High School girls won back-to-back national titles in their respective categories of the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) 2024 softball championship, which was held over two days, Friday and Saturday, March 16-17, at the San Narciso softball field in Corozal.

On Friday, Nazarene advanced to the finals after defeating Belmopan Comprehensive School, 5-3, and went on to the finals against Independence High School, who knocked out Ladyville Technical, 9–6. The following day, Belmopan Comprehensive secured third place by defeating Ladyville Tech, 12-5; and Nazarene defended their national title over Independence, 9-2.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ category, St. John’s College (SJC) demolished Belmopan Comprehensive School boys, 16–1, and played their finals against San Pedro High School (SPHS), who narrowly escaped past Independence High School boys, 13–10.

In the consolation game, Independence High School secured third by beating Belmopan Comprehensive School, 20–10, on Saturday. The championship game between SPHS and SJC was halted after an SJC player received an injury during a collision with an opposing player, and tempers flared. The game was suspended until Wednesday morning of this week, at Esperanza Village, Cayo District, where SPHS managed to come up on top over SJC by 7 runs to 3.

Female MVP was ace pitcher Yasmin Weir of Nazarene High School girls; and Male MVP was ace pitcher Allen Ramirez of San Pedro High School boys.