Did We Progress?

Compiled by Dyon Ravello

Spring

The spring began with much promise and the fresh foliage renews hopes. Darren Beazley took up reign at USACA as the stage-driver of American Cricket Futures. Asia Tribune T20 provided the season first challenge as Americas Cricket Academy fell at the hand of Challengers, who copped $4,000 first prize.

USA Senior Men blew a chance to advance to ICC world Division II. Following an impressive start with a vital victory over arch-rival Nepal. USA fell to Bermuda when it matter most, when a win would have guaranteed promotion. Australia/New Zealand 2015 in now out of reach. The ability to maintain a place in Division can be seen as a consolation.

Long Island City H.S. (LIC) retained PSAL Cricket title to become the first High School to win consecutive championships. LIC have now featured in the last three PSAL Finals. 

USACA opened Combine U-19 as the national youth selection prepared for ICC Americas Under-19 World Cup qualifiers. But it was the host Canada who clinched qualification ahead of USA. However there were some highlight with National senior Team batsmen Steven Taylor at the helm, a possible candidate for senior team leadership. So too was the discovery of Keifer Phil, a naturally talented Fast Bowler, who will still be eligible for the 2016 Under-19 World Cup

Indianapolis to host US National Men’s Championship August 21-24 2014

Mayor Greg Ballard of Indianapolis, ensured that Indy was living up to its credo of being the “Home of World’s Amatuer Sport,” when the city successfully secured the US National Championships for the 2014-2016 seasons. NapTown will host the 2014 edition from August 21-24 reigniting American regional cricket rivalries. 

USACA got the money bag rolling when CEO Beazley signed off with sponsors Boom/ Boom, Smart Choice. USACA has now partnered with ESPN to air the National Championship Live!

Summer

Dragons retained the New York Police Department’s (NYPD), Police Athletic League (PAL) defeating arch-rival MMZ SuperStars. Dragons yet again overcame a pedestrian start to the summer arresting familiar foes. Like LIC and Dragons Queens South retained the coveted PSAL Mayors Cup. The PSAL zonal winners bettered, Queens North, Brooklyn and Bronx/Mahattan.

Canada continued its dominance over the Americans claiming the  Auty Cup for the third consecutive series. The Canadians who enjoy the pleasure of cricket as its National sport, would surely be proud of their acheivement against the typically “superior” Yanks.

Atlantic Region overturn the 2012 scoreline as they upstaged New York (2-1). Atlantic won the Under-25, and Under -19 affairs only to miss out on the Under-15’s. A year earlier New York were convincing winners in the Under-15, Under-18 but narrowly loss the Under-21 encounter.

In 2012 Panthers began a trend with was repeated by Imperial as they swept Brooklyn. Imperial met Diplomats in the finals of all three competitions and they showed who were the Kings of Kings in 2013.

Villagers were up to the Brooklyn standard as etched by Panthers and Imperial. Villagers claimed Metropolitan Cricket League’s League, and T20 as well as sharing the Roy Sweeney Knockout in a tie with Westbury.

Eastern American Cricket Association (EACA) Saw Big Apple CC and Richmond Hill CC leading the honors. Big Apple inflicted Richmond Hill’s only EACA Power 40 defeated of the season on the back of a hundred by skipper Zaheer Saffie to take the Title. Richmond Hill found consolation as they defeated ACS/Everest to lift the Blitz T20 crown.

In their first season Jazba, Punjab and Warriors swept the American League, taking the League 40, Knockout and Twenty Competitions. Not a bad deal for teams making the switch.

USACA launched its grassroots program Come Lets Play USA, in partnership with International Cricket Council (ICC). Come Let’s Play will target Elementary and Middle Schools students as cricket pushes to become part of American sporting landscape. Come Let’s Play is not only geared towards the recreational aspect of the game but focuses on the development of potential world class players, players who can stake their claim on the international stage.

Fall

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United States of America Cricket Umpires Association (USACUA) hosted its second annual memorial match against the New York Cricket Region (NYCR). Like a year earlier the admins took first strike post a competitive score of 146. The Umpire were equally up to the task as they batted their opponents out of the game with a solid 41 from D. Ravello and a romping 50 by Jacob Emmanuel as the umpires complete a convincing 7 wicket win. The Umpire now hold a two match unbeaten record going into 2014.

NY Tigers donned the second Twenty/20 crowned of the season as the turned back MMZ Superstars to lift the Millat T20 title. NY Tigers led by household names like Jermaine Lawson, Akeem Dodson, and Rashaad Marshall overcame the challenge for Azurdeen Mohammed’s men.

USACA completed its governance review with a new structure forwarded as recommendation. USACA’s current model is club-based membership, with the new ideal being geared to individual membership.

Team USA had another shot at gracing the world stage when they traveled to the World Twenty/20 Qualifier in Dubai. Needing to win a minimum of three from seven matches, Team USA notched a solitary win against arch-rivals Canada on the opening day. There would be no reigning glory on the road to Bangladesh as Team USA crashed to an abysmal 15th place at the tournament.

US Under-15 resumed at Southern California Cricket Association with the Western Conference Tourney. North West region copped the winners prize as Central West finished second to move on to the national tournament to be contested June, 2014 at Woodley Complex. The top two regions from the Eastern Conference will join the westerners at the national event.

US Open closed out the year with Smart Choice clinching the top prize. Smart Choice a national team sponsor, loaded with a number of national talent were tournament favorites and lived up to be billing. Steve Massiah captured his third US Open crown, in his third visit to the final.

The velloCricket Journal Honor Roll 2013

Teams:

Long Island City High (PSAL), Dragons, (NYPD), PSAL Queens South (NY Mayors Cup), Villagers (NYMDCA), Richmond Hill, Big Apple (EACA), Imperial (BCL)

Team of the Year: Villagers (NYMDCA)

Player of the year: Trinson Carmichael (Diplomats SC)

Trinson Carmichael command the New York scene with both bat and ball.

People/Community:

USACUA, NYCR, PSAL, Parks Department, New York Cricket, Bedessee Sporting Goods, S&A Roti, Guyana West Indian Grocery, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Legion.

Mark Audain, Carl Bennett, Rayo Sankar, Kerk Higgins, Sheik Mohammed, Jerry Persaud, Danesh Deonarine, Lenny Achaibar, Sam Soopersad, Salman Sheikh

Honor Roll:

Batsmen Of the Season: Sudesh Dhaniram

Wicket Keeper of the Season: Akeem Dodson

Pacer of the Season: Dominic Audain

Spinner of the Season: Kumar Nandalall

Bowler of the Season: Kumar Nandalall

All-rounder of Season: Trinson Carmichael

Emerging Player of the Year: Keifer Phil

Player of The Year: Trinson Carmichael

Team of the Year: Villagers CC

Personality of the Year: Darren Beazley