Jelisa S. Potter is one of the players in the 15-member squad for the IX Women’s Pan American Softball Championship that will run from August 4 through August 13, 2017, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Photo: Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson/File

Some 20 countries will compete in the IX Women’s Softball Pan American Championship. Photo: Provided

Fifteen from the pre-selected thirty-one female athletes will compete against 20 countries at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.

Trainer, Allen ‘Woodrow’ Smith said that the team experienced a few setbacks due to a number of unforeseen injuries but stated that he is confident that the selected team will represent the Virgin Islands to the best of their ability.

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

Public Relations Officer for the Virgin Islands Softball-Baseball Association, Ms Shamora Penn expressed gratitude to the BVI Olympic Committee who played a vital role in ensuring that the Territory has representation in the tournament.

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

20 countries to compete

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, [British] 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 a Pan American Championship registered this amount of teams was Maracay 2009, also with 20 countries.

The Pan American Championship is the qualifying event for two continental multi-sport games — the Pan American Games Lima 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 Peru to compete in the Softball event in Lima 2019.

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 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.