Aussies nip CNMI, 2-1

Australia’s Hills Junior Baseball Little League edged the CNMI Major League All-Stars In Day 2 of the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament last Sunday at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

No details were available but the loss was a big blow for the islands’ chances of topping the Pacific Pool, much less book a ticket to the 2008 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

It can be recalled that the CNMI made it to the finals last year after topping the Pacific Pool, but lost to Asia Pool topnotcher Chinese-Taipei in the Asia-Pacific finals.

In other results from the former Crown Colony last Sunday, Guam nipped the Philippines, 5-4; and New Zealand beat Indonesia, 4-1; in Pacific Pool play.

Guam is in solo first place in the Pacific Pool with a 2-0 win-loss card, followed by 1-1 teams the CNMI, Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. The Philippines, represented by Tanauan City Little League, is still looking for its first win after two starts.

In the Asia Pool, defending champion Chinese-Taipei bludgeoned India, 16-0; host Hong Kong beat Thailand, 10-4; and South Korea skunked China, 18-0. Chinese-Taipei and Hong Kong are tied at the top with identical 2-0 cards, followed by 1-1 Thailand and South Korea with China and India in the cellar with 0-2 win-loss records.

Making up the CNMI Major League All-Stars for the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament are Jeremy Rabauliman, Chris Mizer, A.J. Lizama, Ricky Joe Riungel, A.J. Castro, Jared Sablan, Jun Rabauliman, Raymond Saralu, A.J. Lizama, Frankie Camacho, Jonah Flores, Jerome Reyes, Keene Deleon Guerrero, Jeremy Lizama, and Poland Masaharu

Randall Aguon serves as manager and helping him in the dugout are head coach Elmer Sablan and assistant coach Manny Sablan.

Saipan’s best 9-12-year-old ballplayers booked a ticket to the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament after beating Rota, 11-1, last June 12 at the Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field in Sinapalo.

The team faced off against archrival Guam yesterday, but results were still not available as of press time.

The CNMI will square off against New Zealand today before wrapping up its elimination round assignment against Indonesia tomorrow. The finals of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament will be held on July 24.

The winner of the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament will qualify to compete in the 2008 Little League Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, later this summer.

The Little League is a non-profit organization with the objective of promoting health and integrity among the young by organizing baseball events.