By Frederick Halley
REGAL Legends and Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) are among the 20 teams that have already confirmed their participation in the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) annual Independence Cup tournament, set for July 2-4 in New York.
Like most outdoor sports, the tournament which normally features teams from the hosts, Guyana, Canada and Florida, failed to get off the ground last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With border restrictions still in place, no representative teams from Canada are listed to participate this year.
However, the NYSCL organising committee is confident of a bumper tournament despite facing a few hiccups.
According to a release from NYSCL, it is expecting 24 teams, comprising eight each in the All Stars, Masters Over-45 and Legends Over-50 to take the fields in the Independence holiday weekend extravaganza.
As per registration, both All Stars and Legends categories have already been filled, with four spots still remaining in the Masters Over-45 section.
Based on the registration, the only team in contention to retain championship honours are NYSCL Masters in the Over-45 category with All Stars defending champions SVC and Canada’s Toronto Blizzards in the Over-50 opting out after carting off their respective categories in 2019.
NYSCL Masters upstaged favourites Regal Masters in the 2019 final, played at Baisley Pond, winning by 22 runs.
The NYSCL release also pointed out that further updates will be provided as the tournament approaches, while managers or captains are advised to submit their 15 players for the respective divisions.
Teams will be allowed to make updates to their roster before the evening of the draw on Thursday, July 1.
The release also said that teams are reminded about the cut-off dates for the players in the Over-45 and Over-50 categories and that these will be strictly enforced by the organisers.
The eight All Stars teams are NYSCL All Stars, Orlando Softball Cricket League (OSCL). World Boss All Stars, Kingsmen, Rising Stars, NY Muslim League, Young Blood and Dynasty.
Masters Over-45 – NYSCL Masters, OSCL Masters, Corriverton Masters and Doctors XI.
Legends Over-50. NYSCL Legends, OSCL Legends, Williamsburg Legends, Rockaway Legends, Regal Legends, GFSCA, Marine Masters and New York Hustlers.
