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Tan Ko field undergoes $5K renovation
A payloader is used by Northern Marianas Sports Association personnel in laying dirt at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (Jon Perez)
NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi said cost of the project amounts to more than $5,000. Equipment were also loaned by a construction company, while the infield and outfield grass will be put by personnel from Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.
“We started flattening the dirt on Aug. 18 and we are trying to finish this before Laolao Bay personnel plant the grass,” said Rogolifoi, the former Sports and Recreation director when the sports facility was still under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
“Hopefully, before Sept. 1 (Labor Day) we’re already done here. That’s our target date of completion. Since this October we will start training our youth under-18 team to prepare them for a tournament in Guam.”
Rogolifoi added that aside from the baseball field, the softball field near the track oval is also being spruced up.
“We’re preparing both fields for the upcoming baseball season in January. Both fields will be used by the Saipan Little League and the Saipan Baseball League, which is formerly known as the Saipan Major League,” said Rogolifoi.
The Tan Ko field is also used by SLL teams that compete in the Asia-Pacific Regional Championships and Korean Baseball League professional squad LG Twins for their spring training.
The field entered the CNMI sports history books when the Rogolifoi-managed baseball team won gold in the 8th Micronesian Games when it beat Guam in the finals. (Jon Perez)
