SBL hopes weather improves out

The Saipan Baseball League is hoping the rainy weather would finally clear out today so games in the new season of the Masters and Under-25 divisions could start at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

The Tan Ko field was ready to host the games Monday night but heavy rains, brought by a developing tropical disturbance, cancelled the games. Tuesday’s match was also rained out.

The Masters are scheduled to play at 6:30pm every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the U25 will take the field all Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same time. Both divisions are under SBL’s program with the Masters for players over-40 while the other is for the youth.

The Masters’ 2017 season was supposed to open last Monday with the defending champions GSM Masters taking on the IPI Masters at 6:30pm, while the U25’s match yesterday was supposed between the Pirates and the Blue Jays.

Last year’s runners-up, Saisei, is also competing in the Masters to make it a five-team league.

SBL coordinator Tony Rogolifoi said that they would follow the original schedule of games that have been finalized while all rained out matches will be played at a later date or after the regular season ends.

Today’s matches, weather permitting, will be between the Papa Bears and the Boleros, while the C.K. Bears would meet the Tanapag Falcons in tomorrow’s game in the U25 division.

The SBL has opened the U25 to players starting at 17 years old or those that are used to be under Little League Baseball’s Big League division.

Little League headquarters in South Williamsport dropped the Big League division, for players between 17 to 18 years old, both in baseball and softball last year, and set an age limit of 16 or for the Senior League.

The Little League board approved to focus its program on children age four to 16 after seeing less growth and decline of participation from 17- to 18-year-olds in the last 15 years. They represent less than one percent of the Little League program.

The SBL started the U25 league to give former Big League players the chance to continue playing baseball, but within their own age group. The SBL would allow a 16-year-old to be part of a team if he shows that he is capable of competing against those who are older in the division.