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Youth baseball participants potential U21 All-Stars
Players that would take part in next month’s 2015 Triple A Youth Baseball League would also get a chance to be members of the CNMI Under-21 All-Star team that would see action in a Baseball Confederation of Oceania-organized tournament.
The Triple A baseball league is organized by the Division of Youth Services for the Summer/Fall season and in cooperation with the Saipan Baseball League through coordinator Tony Rogolifoi.
“The [youth] league is a stepping stone for potential All-Stars who will represent the CNMI in the BCO U21 Baseball Tournament, which SBL would host [on Saipan] either on the week after Christmas or the second week of January in 2016,” said Rogolifoi.
The DYS-funded Triple A league was originally scheduled in August but was moved to late October after Typhoon Soudelor damaged the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field and other sports facilities on the island.
The Tan Ko field, recently, hosted the Little League Asia-Pacific-Middle East Regional Baseball Tournament in the Junior, Senior, and Big League divisions.
Rogolifoi, in an earlier interview by the Saipan Tribune, said that some of the lights at Tan Ko field were either missing or not aligned and needs to be fixed after their initial inspection.
The surrounding fence and other areas of the facility, including he batting cages, were also damaged and needs to be repaired.
Rogolifoi, who is also the Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director, added they would only accept six teams.
“The league is open to players 16 to 18 years old and we will only accept six teams on a first-come, first-served basis. No entry fee is required,” said the former director of the now defunct Division of Sports and Recreation.
League organizers would provide the team uniforms and matches will be played on day time every Saturdays and Sundays since the lights could not be used for night matches.
Rogolifoi said DYS is encouraging under privileged kids to join the league or any team. “Organize teams now. As per DYS mandates, teams are encouraged to attract and promote participation from the under privileged.”
For more information, email Rogolifoi at tonyrogolifoi@yahoo.com.
