Photo: Team Beacon – National Women’s Softball Champions 2023

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Sept. 5, 2023

The XXXI National Women’s Softball Championship, hosted by the Belize Softball Federation, concluded on Sunday, September 3, at the Rogers Stadium.

Team Beacon (Belize City) defeated Camalote Play Chunes (Cayo) 5-4 in the final game to hold on to the national championship title.

Roaring Creek Steela Girls secured the 3rd spot.

The tournament was scheduled to be played over the weekend of Friday to Sunday, August 25-27, at Rogers Stadium, but it was extended to the following Sunday due to weather conditions.

Eight teams (the top 2 qualifiers from each of the 4 district associations that participated in this year’s national competition) were placed into 2 groups for pool play, then the top 2 teams from each group of pool play advanced to the semifinals, and then the winners met in the championship game.

Rain interrupted play on Sunday, August 27, when only one semifinal game was played, with Camalote Play Chunes Girls prevailing, 8-3, over Belize City champions, Belize Bank E-Kyash Bulldogs.

On Sunday, September 3, the second semifinal game saw Team Beacon winning a nail-biter, 5-4, over Roaring Creek Steela Girls. The championship final also went down to the wire, and again it was Team Beacon coming away with a 4-3 victory and the championship over Camalote Play Chunes Girls.

Final Standings: champions – Beacon; sub-champions – Camalote Play Chunes Girls; third place – Roaring Creek Steela Girls; fourth place – Belize Bank E-Kyash Bulldogs.

Individual awards: Highest Batting Average – Samantha Casey (Camalote Play Chunes): .750; Most Runs Batted In (RBIs) – Myra Lee Ho (Roaring Creek Steela Girls): 8; Most Stolen Bases – Tyra Moreira (Belize Bank E-Kyash Bulldogs): 3; Most Strikeouts – Leandra Guy (Roaring Creek Steela Girls): 22; Most Wins – Renisha Richards (Belize Bank E-Kyash Bulldogs): 2; Most Valuable Player – Kristy Terry (Beacon).