Women fastballers ready for Palau

With only about two weeks remaining before the cream of the Commonwealth departs for the nation of Palau to compete in the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games, the teams are becoming more focused on their goal of returning to the Northern Marianas with necks laden in medals.

The women’s fast-pitch softball team is no different as the 19 underhanded aces are ready for whatever the regional competition has to offer, albeit in a fast-paced game with speeds that they have never experienced.

“This will be the first experience for Micronesia because before we were only playing slow-pitch, and now they are only offering fast-pitch—except for Papua New Guinea, and fast-pitch is their game. We’re anxious, good, and ready,” said left fielder Felisa Brel.

This year’s squad—made up of police officers, government employees, teachers, firefighters, and housewives—has spent the majority of their free time since November on the practice field in Oleai and Koblerville getting used to the new game, and they have received help from men’s All-Star Manny Sablan.

The women will be facing the best teams from Guam, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pohnpei, and whatever the outcome, will have the benefit of years of experience and knowledge from player/coach Margo Celis.

“I cannot say that we will definitely get any medals, but I can say that the girls are confident and that we will try our best to bring something back,” said playing-coach Margo Celis.

Celis has been playing since she was 14 years old, and the team will lean on her experience in Palau when they face international fastballers for the first time. She will be joined in the coaching ranks by Felipe Celis, but aside from providing the team with knowledge, Celis is also providing the team with a flurry of fast balls, curve balls, risers, and straight balls as one of their top pitchers.

“The pitching is the biggest thing to get used to because we’ve only played mountain ball, but we’re going to try our best,” said first baseman Emy Quitugua.

The team is used to playing the underhanded lob game of slow-pitch, but they will have to be on their toes for the darters that will zip along the 40-foot stretch to home plate.

“With this one you don’t wait. You’d better be ready to hit that ball,” said Thelma Mizer. Aside from being able to provide plenty of offense for the women’s team, Mizer will be playing a host off positions to include shortstop, second base, catcher, and the all-important pitcher.

Julie Omar, Joyce Taro, and Jovie Omar will also take turns hurling the ball toward home plate for the squad, but many of the players are able to play a variety of positions.

The women’s team will also get the aid of multi-sport athlete Vanessa Mobel. The athletic Mobel has logged plenty of time at the Oleai Sports Complex shooting hoops and playing volleyball at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, sending projectiles down range at the state-of-the-art track and field facility, and now is picking up her bat and glove for the CNMI’s first fast-pitch team.

Mobel is listed as a catcher on the roster, but could rotate into the infield along side Angie Ngirbedull, Elma Tenorio, Charlene Cabrerra, Polly Omechelang, Beverly Ngirmekur, or Bego Camacho.

Ivone Mullins can tackle the fast paced action of the infield from second base, but Celis has her in mind to play centerfield as well. If she ends up playing in the grassy expanses of the outfield, she will be joined by Brel, Merlly Actouka, Linda Cabrera, Edwina Banlechong, and Connie Camacho.

Camacho has also been seen playing a number of sports as a member of the CNMI Women’s Basketball team, setting up plays at the Ada Gym for her teammates in the Island Wide Volleyball League. Her talents will be utilized hunting down long shots to the outfield.

Even though the CNMI government has come through for the local teams by allocating $100,000 for the Games, the team has worked hard to raise funds for their incidental costs. They have already collected over $1,500 from the sale of hot lunches alone, and they plan to solicit local businesses to help fund their uniforms. If that doesn’t work out, they will go back to Plan B and sell some more hot lunches.