CNMI Major All-Stars leave July 17

The CNMI Major All-Stars will depart Saipan for the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament in Hong Kong on Thursday, July 17.

CNML Little League District Administrator James Ada said the CNMI’s best 9-12-year-old ballplayers will play their first game on July 19 when they go up against the Philippines at 1pm at the main field.

The team, managed by Randall Aguon, then faces off with Australia on Sunday, July 20, beginning 12:30pm at the secondary field of the venue, which is a mere 10-minute walk from Hollywood Disneyland.

The CNMI’s third game will then pit the Major All-Stars against archrival Guam in the 11:30pm game on July 21 at the secondary field. New Zealand will be up next for the local boys when they square off against them on July 22 at 1pm at the main field.

The CNMI wraps up its elimination round assignment on July 23 when it takes on Indonesia at the secondary field starting at 10:30pm. Ada said the finals of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament will be held on July 24.

Team CNMI will then return to Saipan the very next day, July 25. Other countries taking part in the tournament are China, South Korea, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, India, Singapore, and host Hong Kong.

Ada said the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament marks the first time Australia, Singapore, and India have joined the 9-12 baseball competition.

The Saipan Major All-Stars earned the right to represent the Commonwealth in the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament after beating Rota, 11-1, last month at the Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field in Sinapalo, Rota.

The island’s flame-throwing pitcher Chris Mizer shut down the host’s batters in three innings of work, recording seven strikeouts and no hits while giving up one error and a run in yet another mercy rule-shortened victory for the Saipan Little Leaguers.

Saipan’s hitters were also equally adept in scoring runs for the powerhouse team, as they tortured Rota’s pitchers with five runs in the first inning, two in the third, and four more in the fourth for good measure.

Making up the rest of the CNMI Major All-Star are Jared Sablan, Ricky Joe Riungel, Jeremy Rabauliman, A.J. Lizama, Jeremy Lizama, Frankie Camacho, Jun Rabauliman, Jonah Flores, Jerome Reyes, Keene Deleon Guerrero, R.J. Knecht, Raymond Saralu, and Poland Masaharu.

The team is coached by Elmer Sablan and Manny Sablan.