Saipan Tribune

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Little League champions finally get awards

It is better late than never for Saipan Little League champions who just received their trophies last Saturday or about five months after the 2012 season concluded.

Saipan Little League Baseball, Incorporated apologized once again for the long wait, as a small group of recipients turned out for the brief and informal awards ceremony held at the pavilion behind the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Major division's Rep. Joseph P. Guerrero Dandan Comets, Junior League's Bank of Saipan Red Sox, Senior's Docomo Pacific/Ol'Aces, and Big League's Paradise Island Animal Hospital Hustlers all received their championship team trophies.

Notably, the Comets, the Senior's Ol'Aces, the Hustlers, and Junior League's Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. Ol'Aces took home the pennant trophies in their respective divisions.

Team sportsmanship awards went out to Major's McDonald's, Junior's DYS-Rep. Ramon S. Basa-Frederick P. DL Guerrero Kagman Lions, Senior's Dare Program Enforcers, and Big League's St. Michael's Medical Response Hunters.

The Ol'Aces' junior and big league squads, as well as the Natibu Sports Association's Tanapag Falcons in the Majors and the Senior's Talaawboug Falcons all received runner-up honors, while third place awardees included Major's Pacific Amusement Rays, Junior's Natibu Talaawboug Falcons, Senior's Juan Santiago's Jets II and the Big League's IT&E Fielders. This year's pennant runners-up included the Major's JPO Enforcers, the Junior's Red Sox, the Senior's Falcons, and Big League's Docomo Ol'Aces. Third runner-up pennant recognition went to Major's IT&E Ol'Aces, Saipan Shipping Company's Junior Jets, the Senior's IT&E's senior, and Big League's Fielders.

In addition to offering its gratitude to the parents for their patience and the team sponsors for their support, SLLBI officials also sent out special thanks to Pacific Amusement, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs secretary Melvin Faisao, Esther Fleming, DCCA's Division of Youth Services, and Manny and Peding Tenorio and Annie Flores for helping provide materials and funding for the awards.

Notably, the Tenorios and Flores donated some old trophies that were recycled into new accolades, while Pacific Amusement provided funding for individual trophies that went to the major division players. DYS helped foot the bill for the other three divisions.

After the awards were presented, SLLBI vice president and Rep. Ray Yumul announced that the league will be holding its first meeting for the upcoming 2013 season some time before December.

Yumul also shared that the league has already set a goal of having the funding allocated, in advance, for all four division's potential appearances in next year's Asia Pacific Regional Championship (ASPAC) tournaments.

Furthermore, league officials are shooting for a January start up for the 2013 season.