By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE their focus was on their three-game series against the Orlando Monarchs, the Atlanta Smoke professional women’s softball team also participated in a free clinic for young players in the country.

During the Don’t Blink Sports Entertainment and B4Real Sports’ inaugural Queen of Paradise Women’s Professional Softball Series, the Smoke staged the clinic on Friday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.

Smoke’s head coach Cat Tarvin said they couldn’t ask to be in a better location to share their experiences with the young generation of players in The Bahamas.

“The camp was awesome. I was just talking about how to build softball here,” said Tarvin, who also serves as the head of the Hampton University women’s softball team.

“We want to help the kids here to get off to universities and eventually go on to play at the professional level. The opportunities are there for them. They just have to embrace it.”

Not only was it the first time a professional women’s softball tournament was played here, but it was also the first time that a camp also took place.

Silentrain Espinoza, one of the Smoke players, said it was awesome to be a part of it. “It was just amazing to have so many girls out here. they are really excited about the sport,” she pointed out. “So it’s good to be able to participate in it.”

 During the camp, the Smoke took the players from ages 7-17 through a series of drills. They were assisted by some of the local coaches and top softball players in the country.

Coach Deshay Stubbs brought about 30 -layers from their BAP Softball Programme to provide them with what she called a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for all of them.

“I wished we had this when we were growing up,” she pointed out. “So to give these girls this opportunity is something great.”

As Bahamians, Stubbs said they noticed that the local players are very strong, but the Smoke showed them a way in which they can enhance their performances.

Shaunte Curtis, the Director of Player Development at LDK Performance, said it’s a big seal to interact with the Smoke as they entertained them in the game and impart their knowledge through the camp.

“It’s really fun to be a part of this because growing up, this is what we dreamt about,” Curtis said. “Being a part of this and being one of the leaders in the sport, I’m really proud of it.

“And with them seeing the professional players, they can no lo0ok at taking their game to the next level because this is a part for them to follow.. They can inspire to be better than the players on SAC or Queen’s team or JBLN, but they can become professional players.”

Mikala Cartwright, a 150-year-old versatile athlete from St Anne’s School, said the camp gave her an opportunity to look at all of her options as she looked ahead to her future.

“It’s such a fun experience to learn and to grow,” said Cartwright, who is also one of the top gymnasts and a soccer player. “Today, I’m so happy to have this opportunity to flourish even more in the sport.

“Softball is like a safe space where I can have fun and just be myself on the field, make friends and explore all of my opportunities. I hope I can take it to the next level.”

Already at the next level, Kemora Gibson, a 17-year-old attending high school in Whatica, said she was delighted to come home for the summer and get the chance to participate in the camp.

“This is really great because we’re at a baseball stadium and it’s really only boys around here,” Gibson said. “It’s just great to be able to see and learn from these professional players.”

Sari Albury, one of the top players in the country, said she was thrilled to be able to join the Smoke in assisting with providing some of the players with the necessary tools to improve their game.

“We are so appreciative just to have these professional players in town. This is the first time that we have had these pro players here,” she insisted.

“So we’re just happy that the sport of softball is growing for us. We, as coaches, are learning from them as well because they are teaching us these young people. They will leave a lasting impression and hopefully we can get them down again.”

With The Bahamas known for its wealth of talent, having been ranked at one point as high as number three in the world, Albury said the only thing left is for a player to make the breakthrough as a pro.

“With these players here playing such a high level series of games, it allows us as players to see the potential for the future,” Albury said. “So for those of us who have been playing for a long time, we can see where we could end up.

“So it would be interesting down the line in the future to see if we can get a few Bahamians playing at the pro level. We definitely have the talent to do it.”

Lucius Fox Jr, who along with Todd Isaacs Jr, who brought the pro players to The Bahamas as a part of their Don’t Blink Sports Entertainment group, said they were pleased with the turnout.

“We have some players who played the game before and some who are trying out for the first time,” Fox Jr said. “I’m just happy that it;s a diverse group of all a=ges from 7-17, all here working hard.

“The Atlanta Smoke tram came out and we are appreciative of them coming out and learning their expertise with our players. It’s been great energy and we look for this to keep going.”

Fox Jr said they brought the players to the Bahamas to inspire the next generation of players. He noted that just as the players have demonstrated in all of the other sports, once they get to the women’s pro league, they will take it over.