Sweet Rolls rumble to victory in 1st Saipan Mayor’s Youth Softball Cup

Sweet Rolls rumbled to the championships, 13-5, over the Buccaneers in the Inaugural Saipan Mayor’s Office Youth Softball Cup 2024 in the finals last March 24 at the Capital Hill Softball Field.

It was a two-day tourney that started on March 23 at the Dandan Softball Field with the finals set for the next day. Out of eight teams, Sweet Rolls and Buccaneers outplayed everyone else and faced off in the championship game.

Sweet Rolls had the upper hand early as they rounded the bases four times in the second inning for a 4-1 lead. After Noah Iguel’s homer that scored their fourth run, Achilles Evangelista and Justin Igitol hit back-to-back homers to put them up, 6-1 by the third inning.

The Buccaneers’ P.J. Chipuelong added another run to make it 2-6, but were immediately shut down right after. They went on to be scoreless in the next three innings, while five more runs scored for Sweet Rolls in the fourth from another long ball from Evangelista, along with runs by Brandon Tenorio, Dizzle Diaz, Iguel, and Greg Perez.

Sweet Rolls continued their sweet ride into home base with two more runs in the fifth from a two-run homer by Iguel. The Buccaneers then got out easy in the sixth inning, but it was too late to play catch up. They then conceded after they scored just three more runs in the last inning.

Sweet Rolls with Evangelista, Iguel, Igitol, Tenorio, Dizzle Diaz, and Perez, consisted of Jon Diaz, Andre Jones, Jayda Norita, Pia Ngewakl, Anthony Kubo, Terrel Rabago, MJ Tudela, Christopher Pangelinan, Ernie Teigita, and Zoe Macaranas.

The Buccaneers with Chipuelong were Dylan Lieto, Marino Santos, Lance Acosta, Tristan Sablan, Jared Reyes, Jahsmin Ramon, Keahie Jo, Damian Pangelinan, Derenz Castro, Delton Lieto, and Isabella Teigita.

Third place went to ChechuGagu Precinct 3.

The tourney’s purpose was for the youth from different precincts to build camaraderie and to get moving and into an active lifestyle through sports.

“The mayor [Ramon “RB” Camacho] wanted to use the tournament as a chance for our youth to meet with fellow youth from different precincts to build a sense of community. He wanted to use the tournament as an outlet for our kids and give them activities to do to steer them away from negative influences as well as promote health and fitness amongst them,” said SMO’s Public Information Office admin assistant Jaden Sanchez.

As for the turnout, he said it was “very good.” He said, “Many families of the players came to both games and were very happy with what Mayor [Ramon] “RB” [Camacho] was doing for the kids and encouraged him to continue.”

As for it being yearly, Sanchez said, “we are looking forward to hosting more events such as this in the future and we are looking to make it continue for our youth.”