Tenorio wants to return to Saipan Little League

Former Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc. president Juan I. Tenorio wants to serve anew in the SLLBI and is calling the program’s supporters to attend the election in preparation for the 2012 season.

“I want to get involved with the program, but it’s not really about being president,” said Tenorio, who expressed an interest in running for a board position with the SLLBI.

The Saipan Little League will have its election on Oct. 8 this year at the pavilion adjacent to the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Tenorio was the league’s president from 2006 to 2008 and has been involved with the program since 2003.

“I hope at least 40 people show interest in the coming election so we can all share ideas that will help improve the league,” he added.

The former SLLBI president also commented on the leadership issues that hit the league a few months before the 2011 season closed.

“I think it’s sad that people in charge know nothing about the proper operating procedures that official Little League program leaders are required to follow,” Tenorio said in a telephone interview yesterday.

He added he was disappointed that the first elected front man, Robert Guerrero, stepped down just a month after accepting the position. Guerrero served as chief umpire of the league. Tenorio was again displeased after discovering how acting president Annie Flores was given the reins.

“After Guerrero left, the board got together and elected Flores without asking any of the parents on their thoughts about the subject. A big move like that should be considered an internal issue,” said Tenorio.

Others agreed with Tenorio’s line of thinking, as parents held their own meeting soon after Flores’ designation and voted for Tony Rogolifoi. But with the leadership crisis Rogolifoi decided to step away from the issue to avoid further disruption of the league, while Flores assumed control in the organization.

Now that the 2011 season is over, Tenorio is anticipating changes next year, including acquiring high-level coaches to help beef up the current volunteers.

“We need better coaches to help prepare and bring up current volunteers’ level of expertise to the mainland’s Little League standard,” Tenorio said.

He also mentioned unifying all local softball and baseball groups into one non-profit organization that will seek membership to the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association and figuring out a way to pay volunteer umpires in hopes of promoting a higher-level performance and preserving the overall reputation of the league.

“Sometimes managers from other teams or volunteer spectators are umpiring and that really should never happen. The Saipan Major League umpires get paid to call games and I think Saipan Little League should be able to cover such a cost just like most Little League programs do,” he said.

In related news, Flores is still working out the budget for the 2011 season awards ceremony, but plans on holding the event some time before the 2012 election.

“We are shooting for October 8 for the election and I assure the public that they will be provided with at least two weeks notice. The trophies will be awarded before the election,” Flores said in a telephone interview yesterday.

The awards ceremony will be held at Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios and Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfields.

Meanwhile, the CNMI Major All-Stars would like to thank more individuals and companies for supporting their bid in the 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament.

“In addition to the long list of supporters who were recently recognized, I would also like to thank Janet Maratita, Department of Health Diabetes Program, Joe and Evelyn Borja, Rep. Ray Tebuteb, Mr. and Mrs. Luis Camacho, Marianas Printing, and Larry Lizama of Guam,” said Dave Cepeda, father of one of the CNMI players.

Cepeda also noted that assistant coach and Rep. George Camacho and the House leadership privately donated $1,200 as a group, not $12,000, as earlier reported. He then reiterated that when he went on record to speak out against the mismanagement within the SLLBI board, he did it not necessarily with the intent of obtaining a board position.

“I didn’t speak out because I want to be an officer. I will be at that election whenever it takes place and I’m going to try and get as many parents as I can to come together and get involved,” Cepeda said.