SLLB looking for playing option for Big Leaguers

An Islanders player gets ready to bat during their playoff game against the Braves in the Big League division of last season’s SLLB at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc. is in talks with Saipan Baseball League for the possibility of putting up a separate competition for “disenfranchised” Big Leaguers.

“Unfortunately, the Big League division was phased out in its entirety by the Little League Headquarters. Because we are governed by Little League Headquarters, we cannot hold any games for the 17 to 18 year olds through the program even though it will just be within our league,” reelected SLLB president A.J. Murig said.

Little League president and CEO Stephen D. Keener in August this year during the World Series in Easley, South Carolina, announced that they are dissolving the Big League Baseball and Big League Softball divisions, limiting participation in the Little League program to players in the 4 to 16 years old age group.

“Because of that (scrapping of Big League program) and my concern about the kids in this age group, I have had some talks with the Saipan Baseball League board on the possibility of having a league to accommodate our youths who are graduates of the Senior League and are no longer able to play in the Big League because of the dissolution of the division,” Murig said.

The discontinuation was another setback for the island’s Big Leaguers as early this year they were not able to compete in the 2016 Asia Pacific Regional Tournament in China due to visa problems. They were then allowed to participate (guests) in the inaugural Micronesian Baseball Classic SBL hosted this year.

“The possibility of having a league that will transition them into the Major League after Senior League is what I am hoping will pull through. But that again is out of my hands as that will possibly fall under SBL, which is a member of BCO (Baseball Confederation of Oceania) that has tournaments these Big League players can participate in,” the SLLB head added.

Despite the exclusion of the Big League from the Little League program, Murig said they will still have four categories next season with the addition of the 50/70 division.

“Next season we will still have the Major, Junior, and Senior, and the 50/70. There are already two teams interested to join the 50/70- division,” Murig said.

The SLLB board is hoping to kick off the 2017 season last week of January.

“This upcoming season will mark the 45th year of Little league which was started in 1972 if I am not mistaken and we plan to have something bigger for our opening ceremony, but nothing too fancy. I think it is only appropriate that we acknowledge the pioneers of the Little League Program here on Saipan, those that have passed and those that are still with us here today, along with all the volunteers and the sponsors who have assisted in shaping the program to what it is today,” he added.

Meanwhile, SLLB would like to thank those who supported the program last season. The list includes Best Sunshine International, Ltd., the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation and its chairman Rep. John Paul Sablan, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Sen. Sixto Igisomar, league volunteers/umpires, and Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director Tony Rogolifoi and his staff.

“History has proven that the continued partnership of the Saipan Little League program with various sponsors and our legislative and executive branches is key to the success of our program. We are on the hunt for a corporate sponsor for this 2017 season and I hope we get one that will invest in our youth program,” Murig said.