Senior All-Stars bring home $5K donation

Members of the CNMI Senior League All-Star Team are arriving today, bringing home with them $5,000 in monetary donations from Bangor, Maine.

The squad participated in the 2015 Senior League Baseball World Series at the Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium from Aug. 2 to 7 and during the competition, the group received monetary donations from the tournament’s fans, players, and supporters, who learned about Saipan residents affected by typhoon Soudelor.

The team is composed of Lorenzo Sebaklim, Craig Aguon, Brandon Pua, Virgil Secharmidal, Franko Nakamura, Aurel Mendiola, Anthony Agulto, Henry Lizama, Roke Tenorio, Joaquin Chong, Franklin Lizama, Richard Atalig, Jobe Reyes, Nathan Camacho, and Ethan Babauta, head coach Lawrence Camacho, assistant coach John Manibusan, and manager Greg Camacho. Former CNMI District Administrator James Ada and Saipan Little League statistician A.J. Murig also joined the Commonwealth delegation to Bangor.

Dave Mansfield, fifth left, director of the Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium, and his daughter, present the ceremonial check donation to representatives of the CNMI Senior League All-Star Team last week in Bangor, Maine, at the conclusion of the 2015 Senior League World Series. (Contributed Photo)

CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sabkan (Ind-MP) thanked the Senior World Series organizers and the city of Bangor, Maine, for the kind gesture.

“The people of Bangor, Maine, represented in Congress by Mr. Bruce Poliquin, my neighbor at 426 Cannon House Office Building, have open their hearts to the Northern Marianas and our team at the Senior League World Series. Thank you so much,” he said in a posting on Facebook.

According to 2015 Senior World Series official website (www.worldseries.bangorinfo.com) communication staff Chris DeBeck, the donation came from jars left at key points in the stadium, “passing the hat” at two series games, and corporate donations.

Dave Mansfield, father of the late Shawn and director of the Mansfield Stadium, turned over the ceremonial check to the team representatives last Friday (Saturday on Saipan) during the tournament’s banquet. Members of the Old Town Little League, the Maine District 3 champion and defeated the CNMI twice in the tournament, were also present at the check presentation.

“We hope in some small way this will help the island,” Mansfield was quoted as saying in DeBeck’s report.

The donation will be divided among the team members and coaches, who in return will use the money to help their family and relatives that are recovering from the devastation caused by Soudelor.

“The very good people of Bangor, Maine along with all the fans of visiting teams worked hard to see this through with all of us. The gesture alone showed the love they have for our community. Forever thanks and respect to all of you for all you have done for us here,” Murig said on behalf of the CNMI squad.

The team capped its World Series stint with an even 2-2 record. West University Little League of West University Place, Texas, won the competition for the second straight year and was also the recipient of the coveted Sportsmanship Award.

The CNMI Senior All-Stars earned a World Series trip after ruling the 2015 Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional Championship Saipan hosted last month.