Annual Awards Dinner
By Dervon Wallace
On Saturday November 16, 2013 Metropolitan Cricket League Triple Champions Villagers Pacesetters Sports Athletic Club held their annually awards dinner at the beautiful Idlewild Terrace in Queens New York.
MVP George Adams poses with some of his trophies.
Villagers a club in existence for over 30 years remain one of the premier clubs in the New York Metropolitan area. Under the leadership of Captain Cliff Roye Villagers had a historic 2013 season going the entire season unbeaten winning the Clement “Busta” Lawrence Round Robin Trophy, The President Twenty20 Trophy and sharing the Roy Sweeney Challenge Cup with arch rivals Westbury.
The night’s proceedings were hosted by renowned cricket commentator Carl Bennett. Main speaker of the night was Advisory Board Member at Jamaican Diaspora USA, NE and Managing Director at Caribbean Immigrant Services, Radio Host Irwine Clare OD who in his speech congratulated Villagers and challenges the cricketers to take a page out of the book of sprint king Usain Bolt and repeat the fleet next season.
Some of the night guests included former USACA secretary John Aaron, top cricket administrator Austin Hutchinson and his lovely wife, a Progressive Cricket Club delegation led by team manager Jeff James, umpires Errol Gardner and Vincent Green, former Villagers misery spinner now Guyana youth coach Garvin Nedd who flew in from Guyana to celebrate this historic occasion along with 10 guests and Nate Henderson of Cosmos who took over the dance floor with his dance moves.
The vote of thanks was delivered by the clubs general manager Hugh Pitter after which Kirky from Millennium Vibes and Danny of Black Jack got on the turntables and entertain with hits after hits as Raldo was kept busy in the bar.
York Castle High represented as old boy Irwine Clare present fellow old boy Rashard Marshall with trophy for best batting average.
Awards:
Most runs: Steve Massiah (535), Rashard Marshall (523)
Highest Batting Average: Rashard Marshall (87.16), Steve Massiah (59.44)
Most Wickets: George Adams (34), Melroy Kingston (20)
Bowling Average: George Adams (11.82), Melroy Kingston (13.8)
Most Economical Bowler: Steve Massiah (4.43), George Adams (4.5)
Centuries: Richard Staple (153 n.o.), Steve Massiah (120) Rashard Marshall (113 n.o.)
5 Wickets Haul: George Adams (5 for 7), Cuthbert Mendonca (5 for 12)
Man of the Match:
Melroy Kingston – Round Robin
Cliff Roye – Challenge Cup
Rashard Marshall – Twenty20
Most Valuable Player: George Adams (89.3 overs 402 runs 34 wickets and 227 runs at an average of 56.75)
Most Improve Player: Raldo Mowatt
Most Consistent Player: Steve Massiah
Outstanding Wicket-Keeper: Charles Walker
Outstanding Fielder: Raldo Mowatt
Most Dedicated Player: Ewart Gayle
Sportsman Of The Year: Romoy Ricketts
Captain Of The Year: Cliff Roye
Austin Hutchinson presenting veteran leggie Ewart Gayle (left) with his award.
Special Awards: Gregory Brown, Pasmore Williams, Petrona Gordon, Marlon Tucker, Ivy Gibbs, Godfrey Blair, Dervon Wallace, Elvis Hill, Kirk Hunter and Keith Sang.
A special award was presented to hard working team manager Venelda Wallace by Hugh Pitter.
2013 Undefeated team: Hugh Pitter (GM) Ruby Harrisingh (ast. GM), Venelda Wallace (MGR), Cliff Roye (Capt), George Adams (V.Capt), Melroy Kingston, Rashard Marshall, Steve Massiah, Richard Staple, Talisman Gordon, Ewart Gayle, Raldo Mowatt, Cuthbert Mendonca, Charles Walker, Marvin Simpson, Leebert Williamson,Romoy Rickets, Andre Hooper, Damien Henry, Samuel Belnavis Keith Sang and Dervon Wallace.
Villagers record for the season reads: Played 19, won 18, tied 1 and lost 0 scoring 3453 runs from 503 overs.