Babauta lauds Junior Leaguers

For the fifth straight year, the CNMI will represent the Pacific Region to the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan, an accomplishment that has caught the attention of many, including Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

During an interview yesterday, Babauta said he is proud of the accomplishment, citing that it reflects on the hard work the team put into preparing, as well as the support of the parents and community.

Babauta, who met with the team on Monday, explained that one reason why he thinks the team was successful in achieving its goal was because of its focus on the game.

“One thing that manager Juan Tenorio told me about the team was that each one of the players were really focused and they concentrated on the game,” he said. “When any team does that, they win games. That’s what they did, so I really commend them for winning the championship and now they’re off to the World Series.”

Team CNMI won the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament on Tinian last week, entering the finale after cruising through the elimination round with perfect 4-0 win-loss record.

They defeated Guam, 7-4, in the opener, then fought off Hong Kong, 15-0 before edging the Philippines, 14-13, and stumping Indonesia, 17-6.

“It says a lot about the team,” Babauta said. “Even as small as we are, we can beat bigger countries like Indonesia and the Philippines…so we definitely have the ability to do that,” he said.

The team then came from behind to squeeze past Guam in the championship game, 12-11.

“Coming from behind and rallying to win the game for the championship was awesome and it just shows that the CNMI teams can always win any of the games,” Babauta said.

The team consists of Vicente Cabrera Jr., Juan T. Iguel, Marley N. Techur, Ryan Ada, Jonathan Salas, Zachary Flores, Benedicto Taisacan, Isaiah Wabol, Anthony Dela Cruz, Vicente T. Camacho, Ofero G. Taitano, Mario A. Salas Jr., Juan A. Tenorio Jr., and Elton Santos Jr.

Manager Tenorio, meanwhile, is assisted on the sidelines by coaches Ike Taitano and Henry Lizama.

The team leaves for the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan on Aug. 12. The World Series, featuring elite baseball squads from around the world, unfolds on Aug. 14 and concludes on Aug. 20.

After falling to Guam in the title game of the 2000 Asia-Pacific tourney, Team CNMI went on to win the next five competitions, taking the title during tournaments held on Guam, Saipan, the Philippines, Rota, and this year on Tinian.

Meanwhile, Babauta also lauded the team, as well as everyone engaging in physical fitness activities, for their efforts in working towards a healthy lifestyle.

I hope that there’s a growing awareness that of how important it is to be physically and mentally fit, and you do that by exercising and I’m very please to see that a growing number of people are going out there to exercise,” he said.