By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE losing its second consecutive loss at the U23 Pan American Championship, Bahamas Baseball Association’s officials are still optimistic about Team Bahamas’ performances in Panama.

Following a 9-1 defeat at the hands of Puerto Rico in Sunday’s opener in Group B, Team Bahamas fell 7-2 to the United States Virgin Islands in game two yesterday in Panama City. 

Rain delayed the start of the game at the Estadio Justino Salinas Stadium, but assistant coach Trae Sweeting felt they should have won it. 

“Sometimes that’s how the game goes. It’s a game where we have to come out and execute certain things,” said Sweeting, who is a part of the coaching staff that includes Jeff ‘Sangy’ Francis and Orville Saint and is led by manager Ken Adderley.

“I think there was some good in there. Our starting pitcher Gio (Tomlins) did a really good job today. We just have to learn to win on the back end. That’s something we were preparing for and we will work on for the rest of the tournament.”

Tomlins, of Savannah State University, suffered the loss on the mound for The Bahamas, which gave up nine hits and five base on balls. Devin Tranthan was the winning pitcher for the US Virgin Islands with 11 strikeouts on three hits and four walks.

Left fielder Kashon Conliffe from the San Diego Padres farm system was 1-for-3 with a run scored; designated hitter Zachary Gibson of Ohio Christian University was 1-for-3 with a run batted in (RBI) and center fielder Pheron Chrlton of Florida Memorial University went 2-for-3 with a walk.

They were responsible for the only three hits that The Bahamas produced in the game. The team also had 11 strikeouts and four walks.

The Bahamas came up with their only two runs in the top of the second inning for an early 2-0 lead, their first and only advantage in the game.

First baseman Jaiden Cartwright of Talladega College drew a lead off walk and he advanced to second on a single from Conliffe and reached third on a fielder’s choice.

On another fielder’s choice, Cartwright scooted home, while Conliffe made it to second. 

Gibson then drilled a shot to left field that sent Conliffe home.

The Bahamas had a chance to score another run with Gibson advancing to second on an overthrow. 

But second baseman Rohan Culmer of Western Oklahoma State College hit a fly ball to left and Gibson got picked off going to third on a double play.

The US Virgin Islands, with nine hits in total, responded in the bottom of the second with two runs to tie the score. They broke away with two more runs in the fifth for a 4-0 lead and added three more runs in the sixth.

In their first game against Puerto Rico, the Bahamas got five hits and 13 strikeouts with just one walk. They gave up seven hits and 11 walks with two strikeouts.

Team Bahamas will be back in action today in their third match against Aruba before getting a break on Wednesday and then facing Cuba on Thursday.

The teams are playing for three spots available for the Pan Am Qualifier and the pathway to the 2026 WBSC U23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua. 

The other teams also vying for one of the spots are hosts Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, who are playing out of Group A.

The tournament wraps up on Saturday.