… teams, players honoured at gala presentation

TORONTO, Canada – Softball fans and players in Toronto are basking with the news that plans are in train to host a Mini World Cup tournament here next year.
This disclosure was made last Saturday night by president of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket League (OMSCL) Jai Singh during the league’s gala 15th annual Evening of Fun and Celebration, staged at Queen’s Place Banquet Hall.
In an eloquent feature address, before a large and appreciative gathering, Singh pointed out that the league’s “most exciting initiative planned for 2015 will be to host a Mini World Cup or Americas Cup during the Labour Day holiday weekend.
According to the OMSCL president, issues pertaining to the ambitious plan will be further discussed at the annual general meeting with the aim of making the tournament a reality.
Saturday night’s function also saw several of the players who will be representing the league in the Masters category in the Guyana Softball Cup IV. Among the many recipients was former Guyana all-rounder Sunil Dhaniram who was the most dominant in the first division.
Boasting that the league was in capable hands, Singh said, “We have had another exciting and successful season but this would not have been possible without the support of the members. The league is vibrant and it is our pleasure to serve.”
The OMSCL, Singh observed, believes in the principle of fairness, transparency and accountability and strives on the strict adherence of its constitution, while he showered praise on his executives.
Describing softball as a celebration of Guyanese culture, the OMSCL president pointed out that the league was also aiming to introduce a new knockout competition in the coming season but this will also be subjected to approval of the board of directors.
Dhaniram, who also captained the Canadian national team and was a member of Guyana Sports Club (GSL) copped several top awards, as he blasted three centuries while also attaining the highest batting average in the entire league and scoring the most runs (499).
Dhaniram, however, failed to capture the Player-of-the-Year Award which went to his GSL teammate Richard Driffield whose all-round performances gained him the nod as he ended the season with 320 runs for an average of 45.71 and claimed 14 wickets at 5.00 runs apiece.
Roy Brittania took the most wickets (15) while the Most Economical Bowler prize went to seasoned campaigner Mahendranauth “Bobby” Parasnauth of Our Own Sports Club.
The unbeatable Our Own Sports Club were the undisputed first division club for the third consecutive year, having defeated Guyana Sports Club in the grand finals three years in a row, after the latter had also won the championship for three years running.
Wakenaam, in their debut year and placing sixth in the regular season, pulled off the biggest surprise when they turned back the challenge of number five Essequibo Sports Club in the second division final. Caribbean Sensation 1 took top honours in the Over-50 category, tallying 43 points to edge Our Own Skeldon on 41.
The second division Player-of-the-Year recipient was Armogan Gopaul who represented Kitty/Campbellville for whom he scored 499 runs and captured 15 wickets. Jeetendra Harrilall registered the most runs (449) and had the highest batting average while Khemraj Budhai took the most wickets and was the most economical bowler.
Hat-tricks were achieved by Marcelle Arokium (Kitty/Campbellville), Orlando Deonarine (Caribbean Sensation 1), Richard Ramcharran (Essequibo) and Jeewan Darshanand (KC Stalwarts).
Vice-president Azeem Khan was presented with the Norman Sue Spirit Award by Kim Sue in memory of the late stalwart supporter of the game while former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin won one of the two trophies sponsored by Trophy Stall of Guyana for the individuals adjudged the best dancers on show.
Meanwhile former Guyana Under-19 player Shiv Seeram will lead the OMSCL side who will be participating in the Guyana Softball Cup IV, to be played in Guyana soon and he is very confident his side will perform well in their category.
The team also includes Desmond Chumney who represented Canada at the ICC World Cup and who will be making his first trip to Guyana, while Seeram’s brother Rabindranauth, also a former Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team player and former Essequibo Inter-county captain Jaimini Singh are also part of the strong combination.
The full side team reads;: Shiv Seeram (captain), Mohan Harihar, Desmond Chumney, Sunil Dhaniram, Jesh Parasnauth, Jaimini Singh, Mark Luke, Naseer Baksh, Mohan Singh, Shivo Raghunandan, Arjune Harihar, Rabindranauth Seeram, Ricky Persaud, Tony Singh and Eon Abel.

(By Frederick Halley)