Softball fans were treated to high-octane action at the sixth annual Cayman Softball Association Heroes Day Tournament, which featured men’s and women’s teams from across the region, including Cayman.
The tournament, which ran from 23-27 Jan., was held at the West Bay Softball Field where spectators filled the bleachers, waving their flags and wearing their country’s colours in support of their teams.
For the the women’s bracket, which was compressed with just three teams – Cayman Islands, Cuba and Jamaica – the local squad defended their home soil, fending off Jamaica in a competitive game.
In a back-and-forth battle, Cayman edged Jamaica 14-13 to become the 2025 women’s tournament champions.
“The women, they have more drive than the males,” Donald Paddyfoot, Cayman Softball Association president, told the Compass. “The Jamaica team … showed initiative, they pushed hard and my Cayman girls … they showed a lot of fight, they never gave up and I’m proud.”
Cayman’s Daneliz Thomas was awarded to best batter of the tournament while teammates Samantha Ebanks and Alikie Kandler took home homerun honours. For Thomas, who co-captained her squad, the victory filled her with pride.
“I had the honour of helping lead our squad through a challenging tournament, where teamwork and resilience were key to our success,” Thomas told the Compass, noting the competition was fierce between Jamaica and Cuba.
“We stayed focused, motivated each other, and executed our game plan with determination. In crucial moments, I worked alongside my teammates to strategise, communicate, and keep the morale high. We battled our way to victory, proving that our dedication and unity could overcome any obstacle.
“It was a proud moment for our team and a testament to our hard work and passion for the game. It’s always such a blessing to represent my country and wear our colours with the utmost pride.”
Cuban champions
The men’s tournament featured Cayman, Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba and Jamaica. It came down to Nicaragua and Cuba as the top two teams facing off in the final.
However, Cuba proved to be on a different level, crushing the Nicaraguans 14-0 to take the trophy back home. Ulises Alzamora of Cuba was named the champion pitcher and MVP for the tournament.
Homerun honours went to Panama’s Armando Brathwaite and the best batter was Cayman’s own Ricardo Verona.
Outside of the competition, Paddyfoot said, there was a sense of camaraderie among the teams and fans alike.
He added that next year’s tournament could be the association’s biggest to date with the addition of another country.
“It’s only going to get bigger from here because we heard [British Virgin Islands] is interested in coming down,” Paddyfoot said.
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