Senior Leaguers ready for challenge

Three weeks of fielding grounders and shagging flies has developed the Senior League All-Stars of the Saipan Little League Baseball Association into a lean and mean unit ready to challenge all comers in the 2005 Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament on Tinian this weekend, but the squad representing the CNMI has had to work long and hard to get there.

This afternoon, Jesus Iguel, Jesse Borja, and Shane Yamada of the Ol’ Aces; Joseph Salas, Cadez Tenorio, Brandon Santos, and Shane Mendiola of the Fielders; Antoine Allen, Josh Arriola, and John Mafnas of the Hustlers; Smith Regis and Nicolas San Nicolas of the Aztecs; Nunu Kapileo of the Braves; and James Kintol of the Eagles will make the switch from their multi-colored team uniforms in favor of the red, white, and blue of the CNMI in time for their trip across the water tomorrow.

“I feel good. I feel confident in the boys. They have been working really hard. They work as a team. It was difficult at the beginning, but they are really working well together,” said manager Jack Reyes.

One of the reasons that Reyes is confident is that his squad is stacked with a stable of hitters and stockpile of strong arms. Of the 14 total players that the CNMI will be taking to Tinian, 12 of them were accomplished pitchers during the regular season—with the other two being catchers.

Reyes said he feels that the boys have an advantage playing across the channel on Tinian and that while he said that he hasn’t received any reliable scouting reports on the competition, he knows that Guam will pose the greatest threat to his team’s chances at advancing to the Senior League World Series in chilly Bangor, Maine.

“Guam is always the toughest, they are always the challenge, and we always go back and forth with them,” he said.

This year’s super Seniors have been busy scheming for the competition, and while Reyes said he cannot divulge his strategy, he said that the boys have finished with practice and are resting up for their trip.

“The boys earned a break and that’s why we’re throwing the barbeque for them before we are leaving for Tinian tomorrow. Now we are just letting them relax,” he said.

With only a handful of days before the games get underway, the CNMI Seniors look to do well with Reyes’ past experience in leading teams in international competition and the guidance of Saipan Major League veteran Bruce Norita, who would be serving as the team’s coach.