The BVI opened the Latin American Little League Baseball Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Sunday, with a 4-2 victory over St. Marten. Jharel Cotton struck out eight and gave up four hits. Malcolm Smith had two homers in the contest. On Monday, the Dominican Republic bounced back from an opening loss to Puerto Rico to beat the BVI 10-0. Smith and Sheldon John got the four BVI hits. Each went 2-2, with John hitting two doubles. Tuesday was an off day, before the team played unbeaten Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

The annual Anegada Pursuit Race from Tortola to Anegada, has been renamed in honor of the late Lowell Wheatley. The 25 mile race held over the weekend started in Road Town, took sailors eastward in the Sir Francis Drakes Channel between Beef Island and Virgin Gorda en route to Anegada. “Due to the unfortunate tragic events of the last Anegada Pursuit Race, we decided as a club, one small thing we could do was to memorialize such a great man for the BVI territory and definitely a great man in the island of Anegada, was to change the name in his memory,” explained Royal BVI Yacht Club Captain of Sailing Joe Standish. “Now it’s the annual Lowell Wheatley Pursuit Race.” Final results: 1. George Lane, Triple Jack. 2. Mark Sanders, Halcyon II. 3. John Sulthesiss, Quennie. 4. Pat Nolan, Sea Busint. 5. Kevin Rowlette, Picaroon. 6. Captain Ron, Captain Ron. 7. Arjan Stoof, Wind seeker. 8. Ron Pindfold, Kuralk. 9. Josh Dohing, Beawolf. 10. Jose Sanchez, Balaja II. 11. Robin Downing, Voyage DC. 12. Mark Plaxton, Carnival. 13. Ron Gurney, Tis Wis. 14. Craig Murphy, Kala.

Virgin Gorda will open its 2003 Soccer League Sunday at 3 p.m. and will have lights for the first time, which will be dedicated. The league has 11 teams. A visiting team from St. Kitts will play a Tortola squad on Saturday afternoon preceding the league then play the Virgin Gorda team Sunday, following opening ceremonies and two youth matches.

Two BVI Volleyball players are attending a week long clinic at the University of Michigan. BVI High Schooler Daniel Selkridge and HLSCC Stingrays Lauren Welch, joined Jackie Weeks at the camp. Weeks will also be a part of the camp as a coach. The opportunity came about after Univ. of Michigan coach Heidi Grundwall conducted a 4-day camp during last year’s Sports Division summer program, which the players attended. “She contacted me and told me they wanted Daniel. They told me she has potential. She just turned 12 and has great height. She’s about six feet,” Weeks explained. “They wanted her to come to their camp and will monitor her for the next five years and take her into a scholarship, even if it means two years here and two years out there.” Weeks said Welch, 19, has also been invited.

She’ll be videotaped and pursue scholastic opportunities. “This is a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to it,” Weeks said. Weeks said by attending the camp, she’s hoping it can help the girls to get to another level. “As much as we’ve done for them, it’s gotten then far, but, at the same time, if you learn different ways of volleyball from other people, they should gain from that.” Weeks thanked Sports Officer Patrick Harrigan for helping to finance the players participant at the camp.