IT&E Fielders give back to sponsor

 IT&E Fielders manager Patrick Tenorio brought home the bacon in the form of four Saipan Little League championship trophies to lead sponsor IT&E yesterday at the IT&E offices in Chalan Laulau.

IT&E marketing coordinator Brad Ruszala graciously accepted the awards on behalf of the company and confirmed that IT&E will continue to support the local Little League program as well as a multitude of other community sports organizations in the future.

IT&E is CNMI’s most active private sports sponsor, donating over $20,000 in funds every year along with a plethora of other prizes and equipment for local baseball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, softball, golf, running, cycling, soccer, bowling, badminton, darts, and billiards events around the island.

IT&E is expecting to sponsor four Little League teams again next season, in addition to a team on both Rota and Tinian.

Yesterday, Tenorio handed over the Saipan Little League Baseball Association Junior Division pennant and championship trophies along with the SLLBA Big Division pennant runner-up and third place trophies as a gesture of giving back to his teams’ much appreciated backer.

“The SLLBA could not function without the help and support of private sponsorships and I want to especially thank IT&E because they have been a major longtime supporter of youth baseball in the CNMI,” said Tenorio.

Tenorio said he hopes that other sponsors will continue to support the SLLBA and urges the newly elected SLLBA board to work together with sponsors to find ways to help cut operational costs of the league.

“Various sponsors specialize in certain services, which could be a great help in acquiring resources to help cut costs and save money that are needed needed for the year-end Asia Pacific Regional Championship tournaments,” said Tenorio.

As an example, he said, the cost for baseballs has been estimated at around $10,000 per season, mostly because of shipping charges.

Tenorio suggests that instead of asking sponsors merely for money to cover entrance fees and uniforms, perhaps some sponsors can work with the SLLBA to help provide discounted shipping rates as a goodwill donation to the league.

Another example could be for a water company to serve as a sponsor by donating water and ice for players to drink during games and so on.

Tenorio also lobbied for parents to step up and perhaps chip in via a small fee or donation to help pay the volunteer umpires for their services or donate money to help provide umpires food during games.

Currently, SLLBA board members Peding Tenorio and Anie Flores have been providing meals and water for the officials out of pocket.

Such issues along with a number of other suggestions brought up during the general election meeting will be discussed in Friday’s SLL board meeting.

Some of the other suggestions include, but are not limited to, extending the SLLBA officers’ current one-year term to three or more years; annually hosting the CNMI district tournament exclusively on Saipan; and segregating the SLLBA’s current fundraising account per age division.