By Frederick Halley

WHEN the Schenectady Softball Cricket Association (SCCA) annual Memorial Weekend cricket festival bowls off on Saturday, eight teams will battle for supremacy in the two-day extravaganza, a brainchild of Guyanese-born Onkar Singh.
Known more for his prowess as one of the top commentators in the softball arena, Singh told Chronicle Sport that his association is all set to stage the two-day affair at Central and Grout Parks in Schenectady after last year’s version was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s tournament will feature eight teams in the Open Division with four coming from Queens, New York and the other four from the SCCA. Among the top names expected to feature are Manoj Balchand, Amar Singh, Kevin Persaud, Jake Wessels, Mike Balkarran, Gairy Singh and Vicky Persaud.
Singh pointed out that teams from Canada have also been invited but the continued border closure will prevent any of them from attending.
The teams will be divided into two groups with the two top teams, points wise, clashing in Sunday’s final at Central Park. Prizes will be awarded to the winner and runner-up teams, as well as MVPs for each game, MVP of the tournament and members of teams in the final.

According to Singh, who has been at the helm of the SCCA since its inception some 16 years ago, after leaving Queens to reside in Schenectady, he saw a need to organise the tournament in his hometown. It originally started with four teams in 2005 and featured 12 in some instances.
While this year’s tournament is strictly for Open teams, previous years were also open to Over-45 players. Singh disclosed that the tournament has received the blessings of City officials and strict COVID-19 guidelines will be adhered.
Singh also disclosed that the SCCA, in conjunction with the City, are in the process of upgrading and modernizing Grout Park.
Last year marked a significant milestone for Singh, the self-made commentator,
who celebrated 20 years since he “accidentally” ventured into a career which has since branded him as a cricket commentator with a difference.
Singh is not heard on radio or television but his on-the-spot coverage of softball cricket has caught the attention of many, prompting him to describe himself as “the pioneer of on-field coverage”.