By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 18, 2025
  The Young Legends won the national men’s softball championship organized by the Belize Softball Federation (BSF) Toucan at the home of softball at the Rogers Stadium in Belize City from Friday through Sunday, August 15-17. (Three Belize City teams participated in the tournament: Guardian Bombers, Wolfpack, and Young Legends.)
  In Game 1 on Friday evening, the Guardian Bombers hammered out a 33-0 win over the Tiga Town Rednecks of Sandhill, as they collected 15 hits off the Tigas’ pitcher, Andris Ozaeta, who also walked 16 batters. The villagers got no runs off pitcher Roman McCullough, who struck out 3 batters.
  In Game 2 on Friday night, the Sandhill Dodgers were leading 5-0 over the Lords Bank Fielders, when a bat was thrown and the game was declared a forfeit, the Dodgers winning, 7-0.
  In Game 3 on Saturday morning, the Wolfpack got the easy bye to a 7-0 win by the Camalote AES Stingers’ no show.
  In Game 4, MVP pitcher Julio Bardalez struck out 3 batters, giving up 6 hits, as he led the Young Legends to a 12-1 win over the Orange Walk Warriors. The Legends collected 10 hits off pitcher Carl Franklin, who struck out 3 batters, but walked 8.
  In Game 5, pitcher Anthony Blair gave up 4 hits, struck out 6 batters and walked 5, as he led the Lords Bank Fielders to a 9-6 win over Sandhill Tiga Town. The Fielders collected 6 hits off pitcher Andris Ozaeta, who also walked 9 batters.
  In Game 6, the Orange Walk Warriors got the easy bye to a 7-0 win by Camalote’s forfeit.
  In Game 7, pitcher Dave Canceno allowed 2 hits, struck out 6 batters and walked 5, as he led the Guardian Bombers to their 2nd win, 8-1, over the Sandhill Dodgers. The Bombers collected 4 hits off pitcher Jerome Carr, who struck out 4 batters, but walked 4.
  In Game 8 on Saturday afternoon, pitcher Terrence St. Clair gave up 4 hits, struck out 2 batters and walked 2 batters on wild pitches, as he led the Young Legends to their 2nd win, 3-2, over the Wolfpack. The Legends collected 4 hits off pitcher Keron Tillett, who struck out 8 batters and walked one.
  In Game 9 on Saturday evening, the Wolfpack collected 9 hits off pitcher Anthony Blair, who struck out 2 batters, but walked 16. The Wolfpack sent home the Lord Bank Fielders by a 15-0 win, as pitcher Christopher Hower allowed no runs.
  In Game 10 on Saturday night, Jerome Carr struck out 5 batters and walked one in a 3-inning no-hitter, as the Sandhill Dodgers retired the Orange Walk Warriors, 8-0. The Dodgers collected 7 hits off pitcher Damion Chan, who struck out 5 batters and walked 3.
  In Game 11 on Sunday morning, Roy Briceno and his relief, Terrence St. Clair struck out 2 batters and walked 4, as they led the Young Legends to a 5-2 win, handing the Guardian Bombers their first loss. They collected 4 hits off Alex Flores, who also walked 7 batters. Jose Fontes led the Legend attack, hitting an out of the park homer as he scored 2 runs, while Dorian Campbell, Javier Brito and Harold Nava, Jr. each scored a run. Only Stephen “Muerte” Williams and Shane Williams scored for the Bombers.
  In Game 12 on Sunday afternoon, Jerome Carr struck out 5 batters, walked 4, and allowed 2 hits, as he led the Dodgers to retire the Wolfpack, 6-0. The Dodgers collected 6 hits off Khajaun Madrill, who struck out 5 batters and walked 3.
  In Game 13, the Bombers clawed their way out of the losers’ circle, collecting 10 hits off Jerome Carr, who struck out 5 batters and walked 2, as the Bombers relegated the Dodgers to 3rd place by a 7-5 win, for a rematch with the Young Legends in the final.
  In Game 14, the championship final, the Legends prevailed, 9-2, over the Guardian Bombers, who collected 9 hits off Julio Bardalez, who struck out 9 batters and walked 3. The Legends forced the Bombers to leave 7 runners on base, and only Troy Williams and Glenford “Mac-10” Flowers scored for the Bombers.
  The Legends collected 9 hits off pitcher Milton Flores and his relief Dave Canceno, who struck out 3 batters and walked 8. The Bombers’ diamond made 8 errors, allowing George Perteau to score 2 runs, while Dorian Campbell, Javier Brito, Jose Fontes, Harold Nava, Jr., Tyrell Broaster, Delbert Hinds and Darrell Tillett each scored a run.
  Minister of Sports Hon. Anthony Mahler joined BSF president Marconi Leal, Jr. in presenting team trophies and individual medals to the champions, sub-champions and 3rd place winners in the closing ceremonies.
  Individual Awards:  Most Valuable Player – Julio Bardalez (Young Legends); Most Strikeouts – Jerome Carr (Sandhill Dodgers); Best Batting Average – Bryan Grant (0.692, Guardian Bombers); Most Runs Batted In (RBIs) – Milton Flores (7, Guardian Bombers); Best Defensive Player – Delbert Hinds (Young Legends); Most Home Runs (a 5-way tie): — Bruce Hilton (Sandhill Dodgers), Carlyon Flores (Lords Bank Fielders), Clifford Quintero (Lords Bank Fielders), Jose Fontes (Young Legends) and Shane Williams (Guardian Bombers).
