Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

Local Sports A17
Friday 5 January 2018

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
Pro teams can sign any prospects from Venezuela
ing his personal `field of player that is 16-years of residing in Aruba.
age on that day to a con- Thanks to the quick thinking
dreams’ for the last three tract, but after that the of Calmes’ father Rudolph,
chances are slim that you Nigel took advantage of
years. The road has been will ever get big league the Venezuela Showcase
contract. last December 1st, 2017.
long and winding to the Knowing this, Nigel never He made an impression
gave and with and the with the scouts from the
point Calmes was wonder- constant support of his fa- Tampa Bay Rays who later
ther he kept training. asked for a private workout
ing if he’d ever make it. But But eventually, at the age on the following day.
of eighteen, he had an- Wednesday, December
with the support of his fa- other chance when the 27th, 2017 surrounded by
High Profile Player tour family and friends and Tam-
ther Rudolph Calmes, Nigel showcase from Venezuela pa Bay Rays scout Chairon
landed on Aruba in No- Isenia who came from Cu-
worked even harder to pur- vember. He grabbed this racao fo the official signing.

sue his dream.

With an invitation from his Newly-signed Tampa Bay Rays prospect Nigel Calmes.

cousin Shaquille Calmes to under the guidance of outstanding and was the

play at the baseball field Benjamin Francees. With best backstop in the tour-

at Weg Seroe Preto in San Nigel behind the plate, the nament.

Nicolas. Nigel became team became a power- At the age of fifteen, Nigel

hooked on baseball. house winning several Little left for Curaçao with the

Nigel Calmes began his League championships sole purpose of becoming

journey playing with the During these years he also a professional ballplayer.

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
Tampa Rays baseball scout from Curacao Chairon Isenia, right.
bit and realized what he
(last) straw and left a very It is not known yet where
needed to strengthen his good impression. Even this Nigel will start his profes-
good, the Rays signed him. sional career, but it is very
game.

Nigel Calmes with former Aruban MLB outfielder Eugene King- In the recent past, the Balti-
sale more Orioles followed Nigel

Grand Master Chaco Cornelio retires

from international taekwondo

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