DA denotes changes and gives thanks

A year ago the CNMI sent three of the four teams from the Saipan Little League Baseball Association to the mainland to compete in their respective divisions of the Little League World Series. This time around the only survivors of the 2005 Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament were the Juniors, as the Seniors failed to reach the championship and the Big Leaguers suffered stunning loss to Guam. While the Major division still has a chance to vie for the big show, a few things have changed on the local landscape.

Jonathan Salas, Ryan Ada, and Juan Tenorio Jr. will return to the mainland for the Junior League World Series for the second year in a row, while Ofero Taitano has successfully graduated to the next level in the Little League program after playing in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania last year with the Major League.

That’s not the only change that has taken place in the last 12 months. Juan Tenorio was cheering on his son from the stands in Taylor last year, but will share the dugout with his son as the team manager this time around as the CNMI looks to capture its first Junior League World Series title.

One thing that has stayed the same is the local team’s presence in the big game. According to district administrator James Ada, the local team is on one heck of a tear. Beginning with its inception in 2000, the CNMI Junior League lost to Guam when they played in their first regional tournament hosted by their southern neighbors, and after returning to win the 2001 tournament on Saipan, the CNMI has successfully defended its title ever since.

Ada added that another thing that remained the same was the support and solid efforts of his team across the channel that successfully pulled of the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament for the multitude of games in all three age groups.

“With the help of Roque Celis and Mike Borja at the table, I tell you, 22 games is a lot. I’ve been to a number of regional tournaments, I’ve been to the World Series, and I’ve seen how these people work. Normally in the Regionals there’s probably about six to eight people on the table. [On Tinian] there are 22 games and they ran the table perfectly,” he said.

Ada didn’t stop there, as he credited all of the people behind the scenes that made the tournament possible and provided the highest level of hospitality to the international field of competitors.

“I am very proud that the volunteers of the Tinian summer training and the Tinian Little League, the Sports and Recreation headed by Frank Cruz. These people have done a tremendous job and my hats off to them. Also to the volunteers and the umpires who came from across the islands, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Guam. It’s a wonderful tournament,” he said.

The highest ranking official of the Little League program also tipped his cap to Kim Hinds, TLLBA president Ike Aquiningoc, and Prince Monkeya for their efforts.

“They combined to do a tremendous job for all of our visitors, combined to do a tremendous job in the tournament, and really made the difference,” he said.

The weather also made a difference in the tournament’s success, as Ada noted that even Mother Nature lent a hand by keeping all of the rain at bay for a week to allow the kids to play. While she provided clear skies, Ada gave thanks to the Tinian Mayor’s Office, Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente for taking care of the more tangible obstacles.