NMI avoids ‘group of death’

The CNMI Majors All-Stars avoided the group of defending champion South Korea in the Asia Pacific Middle East Little League Regional Baseball Tournament set from July 13 to 21 at the Guilin Institute of Tourism in Guilin, China.

Orren Cruz, left, prepares to bunt during one of the CNMI All-Stars practice session at the Miguel Basa Pangelinan ballfield in preparation for the 2015 Asia Pacific Middle East Little League Regional Baseball Tournament set from July 13 to 21 at the Guilin Institute of Tourism in Guilin, China. (Jon Perez)

Team CNMI, which will be represented by Saipan in this year’s regionals, is in Pool A along with tournament darkhorses Hong Kong and the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and host China.

Powerhouse Chinese Taipei, and dangerous Indonesia, Guam and Thailand join South Korea in Pool B.

CNMI manager Joe Flores, along with head coach Tomas A. Camacho and assistant Mike A. Cruz, are expecting a tough task in the ASPAC regionals in their bid to guide the team back to the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

It has been eight years since the CNMI reached the World Series when they last made it in 2006 when Asia and the Pacific were still separate regions. The CNMI were the Pacific representatives while Japan carried Asia.

The CNMI were also the Pacific representatives in 2004 where they ended Guam’s three-year reign from 2001 to 2003.

Chinese Taipei topped the tournament the following year where Asia and Pacific was combined into one region. Guam went to South Williamsport in 2008 while Chinese Taipei reigned from 2009 to 2013 with South Korea breaking their streak last year.

Saipan earned the right of representing the Commonwealth after sweeping Rota in a race-to-three series in last month’s CNMI District Tournament hosted by the Southern island.

The Saipan All-Stars opened with a 5-4 win over Rota then followed that up with a 7-0 shutout decision before completing the three-game sweep with a 19-8 thrashing of the hosts, highlighted by Aven Evangelista’s inside-the-park grand slam.

The team, a pitcher-heavy squad, is composed of the 14 best players from the 12 teams that competed in the Saipan Little League’s last season.

Flores, who is being aided by coaches Tomas A. Camacho and Michael A. Cruz, said that they chose a lot of pitchers since unlike in the regular season of their tournament the pitchers can rest.

Little League headquarters is strict in implementing pitch count as a pitchers number of throws is monitored closely to avoid injury.

The team is composed of lone female player Kiana Aldan, Jordan Babauta, Saipan Little League regular season most valuable player Vicente A. Camacho II, finals MVP Zachary Camacho, Justin Celis, Orren Cruz, Donaven Deleon Guerrero, Aven Evangelista, Kyle Kapileo, Antonio Deleon Guerrero, Norita, Devon B. Pangelinan, Sean Rabauliman, Joven Reyes, and Zach Reyes.

The team has also received a huge financial boost from Skywalker Communications Group, which shouldered the visa travel fee of the entire squad—14 players, a manager, and two coaches—that cost $5,406.

The donation made possible by Saipan & Northern Islands Municipal Council vice chair and Zoning Board treasurer Alice S. Igitol and former CNMI House Speaker Oscar C. Rasa, who both asked the help of Skywalker managing director Dr. Bo Hu.