From stats man to SLLBI head

There won’t be any adjustment period for Saipan Little League Baseball Inc. president A.J. Murig because serving on the board is nothing new to him.

A.J. Murig holds the check that was presented to the CNMI delegation during the awards banquet of this year’s Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine. (Contributed Photo)

Murig has been a member of the board for more than five years as chief statistician of the CNMI’s longest-running youth baseball program. This will be the first time though that he’ll be in an elective post.

“Serving on the Saipan Little League board is not new to me, I’ve been here for six years but this is my first time to serve in another capacity. Before, I used to do my grandfather’s role as chief statistician,” Murig told Saipan Tribune.

“The responsibility of being a volunteer with the Saipan Little League program is still the same. You need commitment to serve in the youth baseball program,” added Murig, the grandson of CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios.

Joe Lizama, who was also elected to the SLLBI board, now will be taking over Murig’s role as chief statistician in the coming 2016 season.

“I’ve been the chief statistician where I applied everything what I’ve learned from my grandfather. Now Joe will be taking over my role, I’m confident Joe can perform my duties as chief statistician since he is also Tan Ko’s student,” said Murig.

Former Saipan senator Ray Yumul (vice president), Malcolm Omar (secretary), Tom Guerrero (treasurer), Ton Camacho (player agent), and John Manibusan (safety officer) are the other SLLBI board members.

Former SLLBI vice president Annie Flores, another long-serving board member, begged off to be elected to the board this year as she wants to focus more on her family.

“Auntie Annie has been like a mother to the Saipan Little League. She decided to take some time off and take care of some personal matters but she said that we could always talk to her and ask for advice. She’s still willing to assist us,” added Murig.

He said that the SLLBI board aims to continue to guide Saipan’s young baseball players in the hopes of again reaching the World Series.

“We have a lot of good baseball players. That’s why a lot of people were surprised that a small island like Saipan could reach the World Series. Our boys who have reached the World Series also become ambassadors, because of them other people have learned about Saipan.”

He said that he is hoping that all parents of the kids that will be playing this season would also do their share in helping the SLLBI board.

“We’re looking forward for another successful year despite what we have experienced. The board only asks the parents that when the day comes that we need their help that they should do their share.”