Little Leaguers see their first action today

One week after the CNMI’s Junior, Senior, and Big League teams returned from competing in the Asia/Pacific Baseball Tournament in Guam, the youngest boys will be getting their chance to play as the first pitch of Little League division tournament will be thrown this morning.

This afternoon the CNMI All-stars will join the best from Indonesia on the field in Paseo Stadium in Hagatna at 1pm. Tomorrow the boys will face their neighbors to the south when they battle the top players from Guam at 3pm. The last game before the playoffs will be against the Philippines on Sunday at 9am.

Teams from all over this region of the world will be playing in the tournament, as Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and China face off in the Pacific division.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta made mention of the Little Leaguers when he was congratulating the Junior, Senior, and Big League teams earlier in the week at his office. He said that he would very much like them to win in Guam this week in the Regionals, and that he wants to see them play in the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

“I’ve never been to Williamsport, Pa, and not if, when we win that, I really want to go to Williamsport to see a Little League World Series game when we play, which we have never done. I know that we have gone to the World Series, but regardless of the outcome of this year, we are very, very proud of the Little League for their outstanding performance of the past and we want to wish them well in the games on Friday in Guam.”

Representing the CNMI both on and off the field are players Philip Manalo, Alex Benevente, Keith Kintol, Eli Augenbaugh, Ofero Taitano, Cameron Ser Nicolas, Eric Tenorio, David Camacho, Donovan George, Justin Alexander, Anthony Rogolifoi, Ike Aldan, R-Jay Joe, and Anthony Tenorio.