By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH a new make-up for the administration of baseball and softball on the international scene, the English-speaking Caribbean Bahamas Softball Tournament (ECAST) has announced some changes to its structure will have an effect on its member associations, including the Bahamas.

At the official opening of the New Providence Softball Association’s 2017 season in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night, ECAST president Burket Dorsett made the revelation.

Dorsett, the former president of the New Providence Softball Association, said during their board meeting in the Dominican Republic, the International Softball Federation dictated that softball and baseball will now be under one body, known as the World Baseball/Softball Congress and will have one president, one board, one constitution and bylaws.

“So if you’re suspended from baseball, you are suspended from softball,” revealed Dorsett, indicating that there were some 37 rules that were amended.

“All of these things will be adopted at our next congress in Botswana, Africa in October.

In July, Dorsett said the Bahamas would be taking a team to the World Junior Softball Championships in Clearwater, Florida, in July.

Additionally, there will be a qualifying tournament in the Dominican Republic in July, which will serve as the qualifier for both the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan American Games scheduled for 2017 and 2018.

He said the country with the best win-loss record in both the men and women divisions at the qualifying tournament will go on to participate in both the CAC Games and Pan Am Games.

“Also approved were some grants that have been granted and once the respective associations apply, those grants for field maintenance, development of junior and senior national teams, scholarships, office administration, pitching coaches and clinics for umpires and scorers.

“All the Bahamas Softball Federation needs to do is apply and it would be approved within 30 days,” Dorsett stressed. “Once they submit all of the necessary documents.”

With softball for women being included in the 2020 Olympic Games, the Bahamas will have three different opportunities to qualify for the world’s biggest sporting spectacular.

In their bid to qualify, the Bahamas can be one of the two finishers in the World Championships, or as one of the qualifiers from the World Baseball/Softball Congress’ Americas region or in an open qualifier.

“You can apply to the IOC Solidarity Fund to secure the money to help these teams to travel to the various tournaments,” he said.

“There’s a lot of work cut out for you and I wish your federation all the best and please accept these funds from the IOC.