Saipan teams favored on Rota

The 2008 CNMI Major and Senior District tournaments start today on Rota with Saipan All-Stars favored against their counterparts from host Rota and neighboring Tinian.

District administrator James Ada flew to the southernmost chain of the CNMI Tuesday and said he doesn’t expect any major problems during the two-day competition.

The Major League District Tournament will be played at the new Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field in Sinapalo, while the Senior League District Tournament will be held at the old ballpark in Songsong Village.

Ada noted that while playing venues will be different, the opening ceremony for both tournaments will be held at the Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field at around 9am.

All-Stars teams from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota will play in a double round-robin format in both divisions today with the top two teams squaring off in the finals tomorrow, June 13.

The winning team will represent the Commonwealth in the regional tournaments for both divisions set at the end of the month here on Saipan.

The Saipan Major All-Stars are bannered by four players from the division’s three-time champions SaipanCell Patriots.

Headlining this year’s top 9-12-year-old ballplayers are Patriots flame-throwing pitcher Chris Mizer, third baseman Jeremy Rabauliman, shortstop Jared Sablan, and catcher Jun Rabauliman.

Joining them in the lineup are two Hustlers I pitchers Raymond Saralu and A.J. Lizama, Pirates infielders first baseman Frankie Camacho and second baseman Jonah Flores as well as Red Sox leftfielder Jerome Reyes, Little Lions centerfielder Keene Deleon Guerrero, PTI Dolphins rightfielder R.J. Knecht, Braves catcher Ricky Joe Riungel, and pitchers Jeremy Lizama of Ol’Aces and Poland Masaharu of Survivors.

Selected as manager of the Saipan Major League All-Stars was Randall Aguon of the Red Sox, while Ol’Aces’ Elmer Sablan and Patriots’ Many Sablan will serve as head coach and assistant coach.

The Saipan Senior All-Stars, meanwhile, are made up of Jets’ Juan Iguel, David Camacho, John Pangelinan, Josh Jones, and Ryan Lisua, Dolphins’ Anthony Rogolifoi, John Paul Lizama, Nokki Saralu, and Ofero Taitano, Lion King’s Wally Emul Jr., Fielders’ Vicente Flores, Iaonnis Rasa, Juan Maratita, Anthony Tenorio, and Tom Agulto, and D9ers’ Eric Tenorio.

Managing the team is Derron Flores of the Jets, while Marvin Tydingco and Roy Celis serve as head coach and assistant coach, respectively.

Saipan Little League Baseball Association vice president Michael Borja will act as the tournament director in all district tournaments in the CNMI and was also appointed in the same capacity for the Junior League Regional Tournament by no less than Ada.