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We were there at the airport when the team returned this morning:...

Monica Bodden reporting
The 16 players that represented Belize in girls' softball at the 3rd central American and Caribbean Scholar Games - made touchdown this morning at the PGIA - energized and ready to show off their silver medals to a crowd of spectators.

At the tournament, Belize played a total of 4 games - last game was played against Venezuela - which they lost by the score of 7-4.

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"The tournament that we went to is a scholar game for students athletes 15-17 years old. The games in Panama were very competitive. The beauty about it is that the weather was just like here; rain, sun rain, so we ended up doing well. The first games were as per usual with butterflies and different stuff but as the tournament went by they decided to get the confident and stuff."

Monica Bodden
"So they played against which countries?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Panama, Guatemala and Venezuela."

Monica Bodden
"The last game was played against?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Venuezela, that was a hard one but we fought and at the end we just ended up on the shorter end of the stick but we still did well."

Venezuela finished with a perfect record in the competition with post lopsided victories against Colombia and El Salvador. Belize scored a total of 39 runs and gave up only 21.

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"My name is Shamelia Rowland, I am from Belize Rural High. I am 17 years old, I played right field."

Monica Bodden
"How was the tournament for you Shamelia?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"The tournament was difficult - a part of it but putting your mind and heart to it you get through the game and you beat them."

Monica Bodden
"What was challenging for you?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"The most difficult part for me was watching the girls making mistakes in the game. But if you put your heart to it and get in the game things will go right."

Monica Bodden
"Was it your first taking part in a competition outside of Belize?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"Yes ma'am."

Monica Bodden
"What was that experience like?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"That was like fun for me because of getting to know people and making friends."

Monica Bodden
"Tell us a little about your win?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"Our win was very tough. We work hard for the game, putting all our efforts and mind, praying and we just want to thank everybody that help us out and gave us the courage and encourage us to go out there and bringing that gold, but we missed the gold by a point. But anyway we still came in second and we are happy for that."

The team was made up of mostly students from Belize Rural High School. For most, it was a first leaving the country to represent Belize.

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Basically the team was made up of Belize Rural High students with the addition of 5 extra students from different schools. We played 4 games total during the regular season and we won 3 and lose 1."

Monica Bodden
"Was it a first for them to actually take part in a tournament outside of Belize?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Yes, 90% of the players this was their first time that they represent the country or even played at a different level."

Team Belize scored a total of 39 runs and gave up only 21. Venezuela's test in the competition was against the girls' from Belize. Belize crushed Guatemala by the score of 12-3 and defeated host country Panama by the score of 11-7.

Channel 7

Belize Rural High School softball girls win Silver in Panama

The softball girls of Belize Rural High, National Secondary Schools sub-champions, did Belize proud by winning the silver medal at the 3rd Central American and Caribbean Scholars' Games in Panama City, Panama from November 12-22.

Schoolmates and fans welcomed the girls home when they arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport on Tuesday morning, November 22. The Belize Softball Federation also feted the silver medallists at a welcome breakfast at Rogers' Stadium in Belize City.

The Belize girls finished at the top of their group of four at the Games to take on undefeated Venezuela in the championship finals, which ended 7-4.

Belize's pitcher Ashley Lucas struck out one batter, but the Venezuelans scored 3 runs in the second inning and another in the third, and were leading 6-0 until Shanese Rowland, Kayle McFadzean and Rebecca Nicholson scored three runs for Belize in the fourth inning.

Venezuela's Alondria Perez struck out 8 batters and gave up no more runs in the next two innings, while her batters scored a seventh run in the fifth inning.

Sherrie Gillett scored one more run for Belize in the seventh, but it was not nearly enough.

Belize advanced to the finals after a 12-3 victory over Guatemala on Friday, to avenge a bitter 4-1 defeat in their first encounter on Tuesday.

Guatemala was leading 2-0 after scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning and one in the bottom of the second.

Tyra Moreira led Belize's attack, and she scored a run in the top of the third. Kayle McFadzean and Ashley Lucas followed to bring the score to 3-2.

The Belize girls continued to wallop the pitching of Guatemala's Maria Carmen Rivera, and Tyra Moreira scored again in the top of the fourth to lead 4-2.

Ashley Lucas struck out three batters to give up no more runs during the next three innings, until Guatemala scored one more run in the sixth to trail 4-3.

The Belize girls wrapped up the game as Lucas rounded the bases twice in the top of the seventh, followed by Tyra, Sabrina, sisters Rebecca and Mandy Nicholson, Amber Wade and Shanne Garcia for the 12-3 win.

Belize also won twice against hosts, Panama. In their second game Belize won 11-7 on Thursday, November 17.

Belize led 3-2 when Tyra Moreira, Kayle McFadzean and pitcher Ashley Lucas scored in the first inning,

Pitcher Ashley Lucas gave up no runs in the second inning while Sabrina Campos, Kayle McFadzean, Mandy Nicholson and Leeza McFadzean scored four big runs in the second to lead 7-2.

Panama scored two more runs in the third inning to bring its score to five, while Mandy Nicholson and Leeza McFadzean scored two more for Belize.

Panama scored one run in the fifth and one more in the sixth, but the Belize girls continued to lead 9-7. Then Tyra and Sabrina exploded for two more runs in the sixth inning for the 11-7 win.

Belize's victory roll began on Monday, November 14 when we shut out Panama 11-0 in the opening game.

The game ended by the mercy rule in the 4th inning after Tyra Moriera scored three runs. Sabrina Campos, Rebecca Nicholson and Sherrie Gillett each rounded the bases twice, and pitcher Ashley Lucas and Kayle Mcfadzean each scored once.

Belize's International Softball Hall of Fame icon, Philipa Bailey, presented the medals to the Belize girls in the awards ceremony after the final game.

Kayle McFadzean received the team trophy for second place.

The Reporter