U.S. Virgin Islands Junior National Team traveled to compete in the Latin America Baseball Classic in a weeklong tournament last week and into the weekend at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in the Dominican Republic. The players gave it their all and ranked fifth out of eight teams in a tough competition against some of the best teams in their division. Teams came from different parts of the Dominican Republic and the United States.
Manager for the Junior National Team, Denis Lynch, said that the players who ranged from ages nine to twelve got the opportunity when the President of the Baseball Federation Dennis Brow approached him.
Players were selected based on tryouts and most players came from a baseball training summer camp on St. Croix, where they learned fundamental skills. The baseball training camp was hosted and coordinated by Pastor Dexter Skepple and Norbert Pickering Jr.
Lynch said, “The players performed amazing. Especially given the circumstances of dealing with the two catastrophic hurricanes Irma and Maria and then COVID. We really didn’t have sports for almost three to four years. These children really didn’t have any formal learning within baseball. Some of the fields were demolished and we had a hard time getting sports back up in the Virgin Islands. ”For the first time we were able to carry a team from this age group. Given those conditions these guys did excellent and competed at the highest level. They were right there till the very end.”
There was also an awards ceremony after the tournament where players were selected in categories of best hitter, best pitching performance, best defensive player and two all-tournament players to celebrate a commitment and job well done from each player of each team.
Lynch said that the energy and interactions from the different teams were great, especially when they played Team USA. “They were shocked to see the level of competitive baseball that we brought to the field, and they were very appreciative and could not even wait till the game was over to shake hands. The level of respect and integrity they have for the game of baseball was impressive,” said Lynch.
Lynch said that not just baseball but sports teach the players teamwork, discipline, and integrity. “It’s not only about baseball but real-life interaction and interpersonal skills and those are things you gather from sports. Having the ability to learn from someone that has experience. Sports is an avenue that opens so many doors.”
In speaking to the players, Lynch said, “Different doors can open for you, especially in the educational forum. It’s a win if you can get a scholarship to go away to school because that is something less that your parents do not need to pay. There are so many different things that the world of sports can do to you and do for you.”
Other honorable mentions for taking the team to the Dominican Republic were Treasurer of the Baseball Federation Kenneth Milligan, Coach Miguel Santos Jr. and Coach Carlos Rivera.
