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We were there at the airport when the team returned this morning:...

Monica Bodden reporting
The 16 players that represented Belize in girls' softball at the 3rd central American and Caribbean Scholar Games - made touchdown this morning at the PGIA - energized and ready to show off their silver medals to a crowd of spectators.

At the tournament, Belize played a total of 4 games - last game was played against Venezuela - which they lost by the score of 7-4.

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"The tournament that we went to is a scholar game for students athletes 15-17 years old. The games in Panama were very competitive. The beauty about it is that the weather was just like here; rain, sun rain, so we ended up doing well. The first games were as per usual with butterflies and different stuff but as the tournament went by they decided to get the confident and stuff."

Monica Bodden
"So they played against which countries?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Panama, Guatemala and Venezuela."

Monica Bodden
"The last game was played against?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Venuezela, that was a hard one but we fought and at the end we just ended up on the shorter end of the stick but we still did well."

Venezuela finished with a perfect record in the competition with post lopsided victories against Colombia and El Salvador. Belize scored a total of 39 runs and gave up only 21.

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"My name is Shamelia Rowland, I am from Belize Rural High. I am 17 years old, I played right field."

Monica Bodden
"How was the tournament for you Shamelia?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"The tournament was difficult - a part of it but putting your mind and heart to it you get through the game and you beat them."

Monica Bodden
"What was challenging for you?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"The most difficult part for me was watching the girls making mistakes in the game. But if you put your heart to it and get in the game things will go right."

Monica Bodden
"Was it your first taking part in a competition outside of Belize?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"Yes ma'am."

Monica Bodden
"What was that experience like?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"That was like fun for me because of getting to know people and making friends."

Monica Bodden
"Tell us a little about your win?"

Shamelia Rowland - Athlete
"Our win was very tough. We work hard for the game, putting all our efforts and mind, praying and we just want to thank everybody that help us out and gave us the courage and encourage us to go out there and bringing that gold, but we missed the gold by a point. But anyway we still came in second and we are happy for that."

The team was made up of mostly students from Belize Rural High School. For most, it was a first leaving the country to represent Belize.

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Basically the team was made up of Belize Rural High students with the addition of 5 extra students from different schools. We played 4 games total during the regular season and we won 3 and lose 1."

Monica Bodden
"Was it a first for them to actually take part in a tournament outside of Belize?"

Nelbert Flowers - Head Coach
"Yes, 90% of the players this was their first time that they represent the country or even played at a different level."

Team Belize scored a total of 39 runs and gave up only 21. Venezuela's test in the competition was against the girls' from Belize. Belize crushed Guatemala by the score of 12-3 and defeated host country Panama by the score of 11-7.