Murig: 50-70 not possible in 2016

The steel fence near the first base dugout and a portion of the pitcher’s bullpen were among the damage sustained by the Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan softball field. The Tan Ge field is home to the Majors division of the Saipan Little League.
(Jon Perez)

Saipan Little League Board Inc. president A.J. Palacios Murig said that adding a 50-70 division in the 2016 season is not possible due to time constraints and the condition of the Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan softball field.

The Tan Ge field was severely damaged after Typhoon Soudelor passed by Saipan last Aug. 2. The roof of the bleachers, press box, the pitcher’s bullpen, the dugout near the first base, and the fence around the field need repairs.

The possibility of adding the 50-70 division was initially discussed by the SLLBI but Murig said they are facing a tight schedule for the 2016 season, especially since there’s no assurance that the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field could hold night games for the Big League.

“The board has tackled the 50-70 division issue [after] I have been asked by some of the members of our SLLBI family. I couldn’t give a definite answer [yet] because I [still] have to meet with the board to discuss its fate,” said Murig in an email sent to the media.

Murig added that the condition of the Tan Ge softball field is one of the reasons of their decision to scrap the 50-70 this season. The 50-70, if it pushes through, will share the use of the Tan Ge field with the Majors division.

He said time is also not on their side as they face the possibility of a delayed opening. “[It is] because of the time constraints that we have at hand. The delay on the opening of the season is [really] possible.”

“The fence is a major issue that I take seriously. Our youngest division plays there, during games you see other players from other teams as well as fans and family members along the dug out watching the games,” added Murig.

“I rather see a delay in the start of the majors division than having them play with the possibility of them and the spectators getting injured from the ball in play. We may have to put up temporary fencing,” he said.

“But if that should happen, I want to be sure it is high enough to keep balls in the field and strong enough to stand the force of players running into the fence to field a ball. [The kids’] safety is our top priority.”

The 50-70 or the intermediate division is for players 11 to 13 years old as they slowly transition from the Major (Little League 9-12 years) to the Juniors, the 13-14 age group. Little League headquarters introduced it in 2013.

CNMI district administrator James Ada has asked all three Little League baseball programs in the Commonwealth—Saipan, Tinian, and Rota—to consider adding the 50-70 division for next year.