Page 6 - FUNDASHON LOTTO PA DEPORTE

LocAL SportS Friday 5 January 2018
A17

7-year hitch

Catcher Nigel Calmes signs with the Tampa Bay Rays

ORANJESTAD – Another as well during several try- His arm caught the eye of
dream has just come true. outs but apparently, they several scouts.
The Tampa Bay Rays signed were not convinced about Due to the sociopolitical cli-
catcher Nigel Calmes to a his skills. mate in en Venezuela has
seven-year contract. For young baseball pros- 30 professional baseball or-
pects July 2nd is consid- ganizations prefer to come
Calmes has been chas- ered D-Day. to give tryouts to the best
ing his personal `field of Pro teams can sign any prospects from Venezuela
dreams’ for the last three player that is 16-years of residing in Aruba.
years. The road has been age on that day to a con- Thanks to the quick thinking
long and winding to the tract, but after that the of Calmes’ father Rudolph,
point Calmes was wonder- chances are slim that you Nigel took advantage of
ing if he’d ever make it. But will ever get big league the Venezuela Showcase
with the support of his fa- contract. last December 1st, 2017.
ther Rudolph Calmes, Nigel Knowing this, Nigel never He made an impression
worked even harder to pur- gave and with and the with the scouts from the
sue his dream. constant support of his fa- Tampa Bay Rays who later
With an invitation from his Newly-signed Tampa Bay Rays prospect Nigel Calmes. ther he kept training. asked for a private workout
cousin Shaquille Calmes to under the guidance of outstanding and was the But eventually, at the age on the following day.
play at the baseball field Benjamin Francees. With best backstop in the tour- of eighteen, he had an- Wednesday, December
at Weg Seroe Preto in San Nigel behind the plate, the nament. other chance when the 27th, 2017 surrounded by
Nicolas. Nigel became team became a power- At the age of fifteen, Nigel High Profile Player tour family and friends and Tam-
hooked on baseball. house winning several Little left for Curaçao with the showcase from Venezuela pa Bay Rays scout Chairon
Nigel Calmes began his League championships sole purpose of becoming landed on Aruba in No- Isenia who came from Cu-
journey playing with the During these years he also a professional ballplayer. vember. He grabbed this racao fo the official signing.
Little League for the Aruba was part of several teams He moved in with his grand-
Giants organization. representing Aruba in in- mother Mrs. Irene Nassy,
His Little League team ternational competition, and at once began play-
Benjamin Security Services where Calmes’ play was ing with team Trai Seru with
manager Lando Chirino.
He would then go on
to be become the star
catcher for the Liga Pair-
ba team from Curacao.
On the island of Curaçao,
he prepared himself for two
years to become a pro.
From there Nigel went to a
baseball academy in the
Dominican Republic where
he fell short of his goals of
a Major League Baseball
contract. He learned quite Nigel Calmes , center with his father Rudolph Calmes , left, and
bit and realized what he Tampa Rays baseball scout from Curacao Chairon Isenia, right.
needed to strengthen his
game. (last) straw and left a very It is not known yet where
In the recent past, the Balti- good impression. Even this Nigel will start his profes-
Nigel Calmes with former Aruban MLB outfielder Eugene King-
sale more Orioles followed Nigel good, the Rays signed him. sional career, but it is very

Grand Master Chaco Cornelio retires

from international taekwondo

career as an international bring relief those who suf- been knighted; Ridder in
referee over 30-years ago. fer with mental problems de Orde van Oranje Nas-
Chaco, as he his known with medicines or invasive sau, and inducted to the
world-wide, took his first treatments. Olympic Hall of Fame as
lesson and never thought Cornelio’s natural healing a referee, and named
he’d reach this far in tae- center in Babijn, Aruba has Top Ref in the world. With
kwondo. two pyramids, where the all of these accomplish-
Three weeks ago Cornelio positive energy can be ments as a referee you’d
submitted his retirement used to cure people. never know he is also a
Oranjestad - Grand Mas- When they speak of Aru- to World Taekwondo Fed- Cornelio said like taekwon- 7th Dan den Taekwondo
ter Chaco Cornelio, best ba, no matter where you eration as an international do he never thought he’d Grand Master. More than
known as a referee from go, they always talk about referee. be doing this, but one year 200 athletes have secured
Aruba in the sport of tae- Grand Master Chaco Cor- Cornelio has retired to it came to him and he de- black belts under the tute-
kwondo is walking away nelio at international com- take on cause. He has cided pursue it. With his his lage of Cornelio and he is
from the sport. petitions. been working as a na- work as an international the founder of Noord Tae-
Juan Cornelio began his turopathist, helping to referee juan Cornelia has kwondo Center.q