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Returning players hope to lead NMI Senior Leaguers
Last of three-part series
Returning players Nathan Camacho, Jobe Reyes, and Craig Aguon are hoping to help end the CNMI’s losing streak in the Senior League World Series, which starts on Aug. 2 at the Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, Maine.
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- NAME: Craig Aguon POSITION: Third base/pitcher VILLAGE: Airport Road
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- NAME: Jobe Reyes POSITION: Second base AGE: 16 VILLAGE: Dandan FAVORITE TEAM: Boston Red Sox FAVORITE PLAYER: Dustin Pedroia
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- NAME: Nathan Paul P. Camacho POSITION: Pitcher/first base AGE: 16 VILLAGE: Tottotville FAVORITE TEAM: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees FAVORITE PLAYER: Mike Trout
Franko Nakamura is another member of last year’s Senior League World Series squad along with Brandon Pua, Virgil Secharmidal, Joaquin Chong, Franklin Lizama, Anthony Agulto, Aurel Mendiola, Ethan Babauta, Lorenzo Sebaklim, Henry Lizama, Roke Tenorio, and Richard Atalig completing the CNMI team’s World Series-bound roster.
The CNMI, which represented the Asia-Pacific region in 2010 and 2014, is now 0-8 in its last two World Series stints and has not won a match since pulling off a 5-4 decision over U.S. South representatives Cartersville Little League of Cartersville, Georgia on Aug. 14, 2007.
The ASPAC representatives finished with a 2-2 record as it also defeated host Maine, 17-12, in nine innings. They lost to U.S. West, 2-17, and Canada, 1-10.
The CNMI, in its first World Series trip in 2004, also finished with a 2-2 record when they scored a 10-8 win over host Maine and squeezed out a 6-5 decision over U.S. South. They dropped consecutive matches against U.S. West, 3-7, and Canada, 1-4.
Camacho is hoping that the current roster of 15 players would get the chance to turn things around once they open their World Series campaign against Europe-Africa representatives Lazio League of Italy on Aug. 2.
“As the designated captain and leader of the team, I want them to follow me. We need to do our best and work together for us to win,” said Camacho, who was the strikeout king with 57 in the last Saipan Senior League season.
“Last year, the trip to Bangor was long and we failed to win a game. Hopefully, the result would be different this time. We worked hard every game but errors killed our chances.” “The less errors we commit or no errors at all, the better chance for us to win,” added Camacho, who started playing baseball when he was four years old.
Reyes and Aguon want to also contribute to their team’s cause in any way they can.
“We need to hit. And I think I could help the team win in batting and driving in runs,” said Reyes, who added that Maine’s cold weather greatly affected their game.
“It’s the World Series. All the best teams and best players are there. I waited for a long time to play in the World Series. We need teamwork to win games,” Aguon said.
