Previous Story
Aussie ‘AA’ tournament on hold
|
Posted on Oct 19 2004
After working hard to satisfy the entry requirements, the Saipan Major League is now awaiting word from organizing officials as to whether or not the CNMI will be able to participate in the 2005 “AA” Oceania Qualification Tournament in Albert Park, Lismore Australia, this January.
Baseball Confederation of Oceania Secretary General Chet Gray has informed Tony Rogolifoi of the SML that due to a lack of teams, the tournament has been put on hold and may possibly be cancelled.
The qualifying tournament is still slated to begin Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, and continue through Sunday, Jan. 23, with teams ranging in age between 13 and 16 years of age.
In theory, teams from all over the region will be competing for a chance to represent the Oceania region at the IBAF World “AA” Championships; however, the only squads that have signed up are the hosts and the CNMI.
If the tournament is scrubbed, host team Australia will automatically advance to the world championships.
Teams may only participate in the BCO qualifier tournament if they are invited, and players are routinely scouted in these events for their talent and potential. Last year, a handful of players were selected to participate in the baseball academy based upon their performance, and this year would be no different.
Rogolifoi believes that fielding a team in this event would pay large dividends to the baseball program of the CNMI, as it did last year when the CNMI sent a team to compete in the 2004 “AAA” in Palau.
In 2006, the BCO is looking at having the CNMI host the tournament in Saipan, and Rogolifoi realizes that having the tournament here in would be tremendous.
“The more baseball that our boys get a chance to experience can only be better for our program,” he said
For more information about the SML, the tournament, contact Rogolifoi by calling 664-2508.
