Third round of Tee Ball returns to AMP

Just two weeks after organizers of the Saipan Little League Baseball Association kicked off the CNMI’s first official Tee Ball program, the future sluggers of the Marianas return to the American Memorial Park tomorrow morning for another round of fun for players and parents alike.

After spending a month’s worth of Saturdays learning the basics, the newest edition of sluggers and fielders got their chance at the real thing, as over 100 players from the Bombers, Red Sox, Rookies, Little Red Sox, Cubbies, Sluggers, Little Braves, and Lions choked up on their bats and swung away.

While the older kids of the Junior, Senior, and Big Leagues are busy chasing pennants and championships, the emphasis in the new program is focused on learning the fundamentals of the game rather than on winning.

Last week the knee-high hitters and little fielders had a little more luck than the bigger kids at Francisco M. Palacios BaseBall field in Oleai as they beat out the rain on the makeshift diamonds, alongside some of the parents who were invited to join the kids on the field.

The fun continues tomorrow morning as the youngest players of the four team 5-6 age group will use batting tees, while the slightly older players in the 7-8 age group will use the “coach pitch” format.

Four games will take place simultaneously this morning, as the Bombers take on the Little Red Sox, the Rookies face the Red Sox, the Cubbies challenge the Little Braves, and the Sluggers try to tame the Lions at 9am.

Even though the teams will have completed half of the season, new players are still welcome to join the new program. League officials are still allowing interested kids to register, but the sooner the better. There is a $5 registration fee required per player that covers the cost of insurance, the awards and the three remaining games, the round-robin tournament, and the end of season barbeque.

The Tee Ball program is also looking for parents and volunteers to assist with managing the field and providing support for their children. All volunteer coaches need to obtain a police clearance from the Superior Court in order for the league to comply with International Little League Requirements.

For more information about the Saipan Little League Tee Ball program, contact commissioner John Reyes or deputy commissioners Joey Dela Cruz and Mario Sablan by calling 664-2502/03.