The 2025 Classic Softball Tournament got off to an electrifying start on Tuesday, February 25, as Santiago and the Pirates secured victories in the opening games of the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, at the E. Walwyn Brewley Ballpark.
The tournament’s grand opening ceremony featured a march-past led by the Adventist Heartbeats Band and Elmore Stoutt High School cheerleaders, setting the stage for an action-packed evening. The highlight of the event was the presence of former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Julio Franco, who delivered words of encouragement to the athletes.
“This is my first time in the British Virgin Islands, and I’m excited to be here,” Franco said. “I want to encourage you all to give your best effort and enjoy the competition. May the best team win.”
Also delivering remarks was Junior Minister for Tourism and Fourth District Representative, Hon. Luce Hodge-Smith, who welcomed the teams and highlighted the significance of the tournament in promoting sports tourism in the territory.
Santiago Takes Down BVI Women in Tournament Opener
The first game of the night saw the BVI Women take on Santiago, with the visiting team securing a 6-3 victory.
Santiago took an early lead in the first inning, thanks to a six-pitch at-bat by Brailnis Lizardo, which resulted in a single to put them on the board. They extended their advantage in the second inning, as Anabel Ulloa doubled, driving in two runs, followed by another run due to an error. Santiago added another in the third, bringing the score to 6-0.
For Santiago, Felicia Santos, Samanda Figaro, and Yiralda Santos combined for four of the team’s seven hits in the win.
The BVI Women fought back, with Shauliqua Fahie, Bria Smith, Makeda Fahie, and Claury Scatliffe each collecting a hit. Smith and Scatliffe each drove in a run, but the comeback attempt fell short, giving Santiago the 6-3 win.
Pirates Edge Puerto Rico in Walk-Off Thriller
The second game of the night was a high-scoring battle between the Pirates and Puerto Rico, with Pirates clinching a dramatic 12-11 walk-off victory.
The game was tied at 11-11 in the bottom of the fourth when Devon Bedford’s single drove in the winning run, sending the Pirates’ bench into a frenzy.
Both teams showed strong offensive performances, with Pirates collecting seven hits and Puerto Rico six. The turning point came in the bottom of the fourth, when Pirates erupted for eight runs on four hits, flipping the game in their favour. Shaheed AJ Collins’ crucial walk drove in two runs, playing a key role in their comeback.
On the mound, Andres Veras earned the win for the Pirates, despite giving up two hits and seven runs (six earned) over one inning. He struck out one batter and walked five.
Tournament Continues Until March 2
With an exciting start to the 2025 Classic Softball Tournament, action continues daily at the E. Walwyn Brewley Ballpark, leading up to the finals on Sunday, March 2.