Ministry of Tourism Updates
Youth baseball initiative launched in The Bahamas
By Clarence Rolle
Jan 29, 2010 - 5:17:50 PM

Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace accepts team baseball caps from James Bonnici of the Tampa Bay Rays and Sean O'Connor of the San Francisco Giants. (Photo: Derek Smith)

Nassau, Bahamas - Major league baseball personnel have joined government ministers, Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF) executives and other partners to launch a new youth initiative that could lead to a television series and professional opportunities for young Bahamians.  

Minister of Youth & Sports Charles Maynard and Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace presided over the launch of the Your Last Shot baseball camp on January 29.  The camp, which ran until January 31, is a component of a wider initiative that might extend to the television series and offers of college or professional careers in baseball for those who participate in the camp.  

Minister Vanderpool-Wallace said that the Bahamas has incredible sporting prowess.  He pointed out that the country has won more medals on a per capita basis than any other country in the last three consecutive summer Olympics.  The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is now involved with sports tourism and specifically the Your Last Shot baseball camp because sports can build tourism and athletic development at the same time.  

Minister Maynard said the Bahamas has had five Bahamians who have played in the Major Leagues. One of the five has two major league championships, he said.  

“The reality about that piece of trivia is that was about 30 years or more ago,” Minister Maynard said. “So we are long overdue to have somebody playing in the major leagues and this is why this particular initiative is so important for us in this country.”  

Minister Maynard challenged the young participants of the camp to be the next Bahamians to make it to the Major Leagues.  Meanwhile, baseball scouts from the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Boston Youth Baseball will provide coaching expertise for the camp.  

Shane Monahan, a scout for the Padres, said it is realistic that some of the camp’s participants could make it to the Major League.  Some are prime candidates for college baseball teams, he said.  

“There are probably five or six kids right now that the scouts are already talking about that could possibly have a try out,” he said.

Greg Lampkin, a director of Freedom Farm youth baseball, said the opportunities to attend college are especially needed.  Over 50 young men have been able to go on to tertiary education through the baseball program, he said.  

“Many of our players would not have been able to have that opportunity were it not for baseball simply because their families would not be able to afford it,” he said.  

Mr. Lampkin said the Freedom Farm president Greg Burrows and the other executives operate on the principle that that anyone who wants to play baseball should be able to play whether or not they can afford the $80 registration fee or not.  He said their mandate is to help children develop their baseball and social skills.  

“I would like to thank the BBF for bringing us such skilled coaches who I know will leave us better equipped to help get more kids in school,” Mr. Lampkin said.