The Virgin Islands women’s softball team will compete at the Pan American Championships in Dominican Republic. Photo: CLEAVE FARRINGTON

The Virgin will compete in the IX Women’s Pan American Softball Championship from August 4-13 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Fifteen players from the pre-selected 31 female athletes will compete against 20 countries at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Centre.

The Virgin Islands women’s softball team will compete at the Pan American Championships in Dominican Republic. Photo: CLEAVE FARRINGTON
Trainer, Allen ‘Woodrow’ Smith said that the team experienced a few setbacks due to a number of unforeseen injuries, but said he is confident that the team will represent the territory to its best ability.

The selected players are: Che’Vaunne Richardson, Claury Scatliffe, Darier Malone, Denecia Hodge, Donniesha George, Javlyn Frett, Jelisa Potter, Kaynesha Stoutt, Khiayah Doward, Khyra Powell, Kimesha Adams, Makeda Fahie, Shamora Penn, Shanika Forbes and Monet Daly.

VI Softball-Baseball Association Public Relations Officer Shamora Penn thanked the BVI Olympic Committee, which played a vital role in assisting the team with its upcoming competition.

“The Virgin Islands Softball-Baseball Association is extremely proud of our athletes who worked day in and day out in preparing for this Championship,” said Ms. Penn said. “However, I must express gratitude to the BVI Olympic Committee for their undying support, contribution and motivation.”

The WBSC Americas Softball announced that 20 countries will compete in the IX Women’s Softball Pan American Championship. Those countries include Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Brazil, Virgin Islands, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States and Venezuela.

The last time  the American Championship had this many teams was in 2009 in Maracay.

The Pan American Championship is the qualifying event for two continental multi-sport games: the Pan American Games in 2019, and the Central American and Caribbean Games Barranquilla 2018 — and the 2018 WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship.

The top five teams in Santo Domingo will join advance to the Pan American Games in Peru.

The top five countries from the Central American and Caribbean region, and the best ranked by the English Caribbean region (ECASC), along with Colombia, will play softball in Barranquilla in 2018.

Five teams will also qualify for the 2018 WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship to be held in Chiba, Japan.

All games of the IX Women’s Pan American Championship will be streamed through Internet TV at https://www.internetv.tv.

“The public is strongly encouraged to support the women’s softball team as the Virgin Islands Softball-Baseball Association formerly known as the British Virgin Islands Amateur Softball Association continues to develop softball-baseball in the Virgin Islands amongst all sections of the community and amongst all Virgin Islands citizens,” said a statement from the association.