Nikki going to Easley after all

Asia-Pacific Big League champions ace pitcher Nicolas “Nikki” San Nicolas will join his teammates to the World Series in Easley, South Carolina, after all.

This after the flame-throwing hurler wrote an apology to the umpire he argued with during the CNMI’s no-bearing game against the Philippines Big League All-Stars last July 1 during the 2008 Asia-Pacific Regional Little League Tournament.

It can be recalled that San Nicolas was thrown out of that game and had to be restrained by his teammates and third base coach Ike Taitano after the umpire called him out at third base.

Tournament director and Saipan Little League Baseball Association vice president Mike Borja said San Nicolas was allowed to play in the Big League World Series after the teenager showed some remorse.

He, however, said that the pitcher would be on a short leash and any future transgressions in the World Series on in the run-up to the event would lead to his automatic expulsion from the team.

Borja, in an earlier interview, said that San Nicolas’ outburst during the Regionals was a source of concern for the SLLBA board.

He said his manager and coaches should have been monitoring the situation, adding that they could’ve probably prevented the altercation between San Nicolas and the game official.

“He had not showed this attitude in the past. This was the first time. But the Filipino umpire made the right call. You cannot argue with that. It’s a judgment call. His third base coach, Ike Taitano, should be on top of that because he was there. It’s his job to calm down his players, you can quote me on that. I’m not blaming Nikki. The base coach was there. He should’ve prevented [it from happening],” he said.

CNMI Little League District Administrator James Ada, for his part, said as far as he knows San Nicolas will be traveling with the rest of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Big League champions to the mainland for the World Series set from July 26 to Aug. 2.

He said San Nicolas already served his one game suspension when he was benched in the CNMI’s 8-7 win against the Philippines in the Big League championship last July 3.

San Nicolas’ manager in the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League, Joey Dela Cruz of league-leading Rock Steady, meanwhile, said that although he likes his ward and is a good friend of his, the pitching ace should be thought a lesson and should not be allowed to join the Big League team to Easley.

He added that it would be a bad precedence for all-stars who show unsportsmanlike conduct in future tournaments.

The Saipan Tribune left several messages to CNMI Big League All-Star manager Robert Magofna’s mobile phone, but he has yet to return the calls.

Being thrown out in the second game of the Regionals and sitting out the finale was not exactly how San Nicolas envisioned his stint in the tournament.

Especially not after leading the CNMI against Guam, 5-2, on opening day last June 28 at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

San Nicolas was selected to the Big League team after recording 50 strike outs in the regular season. He also did damage from the plate, batting a .368 against opposing pitchers.