Comets lead Major all-stars

  Three players from the Major Division champion team Rep. Joseph P. Guerrero’s champion Dandan Comets spearhead the island’s all-star selection that will compete in the CNMI Little League District Tournament set next month.

The trio of Aurel Mendiola, Ethan Babauta, and Erik Cruz headline this year’s 2012 Saipan Major League All-Stars and they will be joined by DPS Dare Program-Enforcers’ Kier Agda and Joaquin Saralu, Pacific Amusement-Rays’ Jay Kalen and Nathaniel Torres, IT&E-Ol’Aces Virgil Secharmidal and Matt Kapileo, Natibu Sports Association-Talaabwogh Falcons’ Benen Iguel, Bank of Saipan-Red Sox’s Ryan Aguon, As Matuis Twins’ Richard John Atalig, Natibu-Talaabwogh Braves’ Brandon Pua, and San Vicente A’s Christian Lizama.

Comets’ Antonio Camacho was selected as team manager, while Rays’ Kent Kalen and A’s Peter Tomokane will serve as head coach and assistant coach, respectively.

The all-star roster includes the division’s Top 8 sluggers, including batting champ Mendiola, who finished the season with 32 hits in 42 at bats for a stellar 0.762 batting average. Agda (0.647), Babauta (0.630), Torres (0.600), Iguel (0.576), Secharmidal (0.560), Kalen (0.545), and Atalig (0.500) also made it in the top sluggers list.

Mendiola also led the division in runs batted in with 20 ahead of Agda (18), Secharmidal (17), Atalig (16), Iguel (12), Red Sox’s Delin Reusora (11), Cruz (11), and Comets’ Austin Hocog (11).

Agda’s nine long balls allowed him to win the home run race, finishing the year with three more than Mendiola, while Secharmidal and Atalig cranked out three apiece for a share of third place.

Mendiola’s five triples topped the category ahead of Secharmidal (5) with eight others finishing with two apiece.

Mendiola also scored 29 runs this year, eight ahead of Secharmidal and Enforcers’ Dennis Cabrera with Babauta (21), Agda (20), Atalig (19), and Iguel (19) all in the mix.

The all star group also boasts at least 10 players with pitching experience starting with now two-time league earned run average leader Cruz (6-0) who gave up just five runs off 14 hits this season through 30 innings over eight appearances for a league-best 1.00 ERA.

If the Saipan Major League All-Stars win the district title they will get a chance to compete for the Asia-Pacific Regional Championship hosted this year by Vietnam in July. The winner of that tourney will then represent the region in the 2012 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Virginia.

The CNMI Major League District Tournament will be held from June 3 to June 11 at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.