Students and teachers of Moi Suba Girls High School from Suna West Sub-County, Migori, have celebrated the achievements of one of their students, 18-year-old KCSE candidate Bevior Odhiambo, who participated in the Youth Baseball5 World Cup held in Mexico.
Bevior recalled the tiresome journey towards making such a record, highlighting how her journey forced her to be relentless on the pitch.
She admitted that balancing education and games, which demand frequent travel for training, has not been an easy task, especially since she is supposed to sit for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Bevior disclosed that her interest in baseball started when she was at Masara Primary School, but the lack of a training facility shielded her ambition until she joined high school.
The youngster admitted challenges in balancing education and sports, but she remains steadfast in her dream to perform well in the forthcoming 2025 KCSE as well as becoming one of the best baseball players in the world.
Juma Wickliffe, the Head of Games at the school, said that by following her dreams, Bevior has now become a role model for youth baseball players in the country.
He thanked the school management for providing a conducive environment that encouraged Bevior to excel in sports and academics.
Wendy Magara, the Principal of Moi Suba Girls, encouraged students to use the game time to improve their talents, adding that going forward, the school would invest more in games to become an epicentre of co-curricular activities in the Nyanza region.
She confirmed the school’s commitment to offer all three learning pathways, including sport, in the upcoming Competency-Based curriculum (CBC).
“Bevior’s excellence has now refuted the false belief that the baseball game is a male-dominated venture,” she said.
Regarded as the underdog at the Youth Baseball5 World Cup that took place between September 24 and 27 this year, Kenya’s youth team defied expectations to reach the quarterfinals, marking a historic milestone for Kenya, a country where Baseball5 is still in its developmental stages.
In a tournament dominated by seasoned global heavyweights, Kenya’s young stars managed to finish in position five out of 16 competing nations.
Kenya finished fifth behind Cuba, who were champions with five wins and 2 losses, making it the best team from Africa.
The team also finished second in Pool B, defeating South Korea and Spain before losing to Cuba, who became the champions.
By Awuor Andy and Makokha Khaoya
