2013 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OPENING CEREMONY April 13th

Little league baseball gets underway at Roger Allen Hodge Park

- Hon. Fraser views it as a special moment

SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The opening of the BVI Little League Baseball Association’s league at the Roger Allen Hodge Park in Sea Cows Bay was viewed as a special occasion for two reasons by Third District Representative and a strong supporter of sports among youth, Hon. Julian Fraser RA.

Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, April 13, 2012, Hon. Fraser told the players, coaches, parents and organisors present that April marked 66 years since the integration of major league baseball where the colour barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson, who played first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“I would like to celebrate that feat in baseball,” Hon. Fraser commented.
The legislator also recalled growing up in the Virgin Islands and always
wanting to know when the Virgin Islands was going to have baseball leagues as the United States Virgin Islands. He remarked that Saturday April 13, 2013 was going to be the first time he was going to witness a baseball game in the Virgin Islands.

Noting that there is support for sports, including little league baseball,
Hon. Fraser said, however, that sports in the Virgin Islands have a long way to go. “Governments are stretched and the resources are just not there,” while adding that in other countries there are huge grants and stadiums. “We have to encourage our Ministers of Government to pay a lot more attention to sports.”

The Third District Representative, also noted the support of corporations
such as Harneys, Deloitte and Digicel.

“Not because you didn’t win means you lost,” were Hon. Fraser’s parting words to the players.

President of the BVI Little League Baseball Association Mr Edric Brathwaite
encouraged the players to do their best and to take the game seriously as there were possibilities of even making a career of it.

Coordinator and sports organisor Mr Milton McLean reminded the players that the league was about fair play and striving to do the best. “We also want to impress upon the parents that you have a very important role to play, to make sure that you come out and support these children whether its fundraising or getting the children to and from the games.”

Meanwhile, Deloitte White Sox had the better of Digicel Phillies 18-4. The
White Sox had 4 home runs, one by J'moi Freeman, one by J'coi Liburd and two by D'moi Dagou.

Members of the Athletics Baseball team from Sea Cows Bay in the BVI Little League. Photo: British Virgin Islands Little League Baseball Association

Hon. Fraser addressing the Little League players, coaches, parents and organisors at the Roger Allen Hodge Park on April 13, 2013.

The opening of the BVI Little League Baseball Association’s league at the Roger Allen Hodge Park in Sea Cows Bay on April 13, 2013 was viewed as a special occasion by Third District Representative and a strong supporter of sports among youth, Hon. Julian Fraser RA.

President of the BVI Little League Baseball Association Mr Edric Brathwaite
(right) encouraged the players to do their best and to take the game seriously as there were possibilities of even making a career of it. Coordinator and sports organisor Mr Milton McLean (left) reminded the players that the league was about fair play and striving to do the best.

A player of Digicel Phillies takes a swing...and a misses!. Photo: British Virgin Islands Little League Baseball Association