Clouds forming over Little League opening day

Saipan Little League Baseball Inc. is calling all hands on deck after the conclusion of last Friday’s local grounds rules meeting held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room. With this Saturday set as opening day of the 2012 season, everyone is scrambling to turn in their entrance fees and official documents to avoid the delay.

At first glance, the chances of a punctual start look uncertain as only seven of the 35 teams have submitted their required entrance fee deposits.

In past meetings it was agreed that submission of half of every teams’ $500 entrance fee is required to the board before opening day with the other half due by the start of each team’s sixth game, accordingly.

Moreover, it is not just about coming up with the money by Saturday morning; gathering and collecting the required paperwork from all teams and submitting them to the Little League Baseball head office in Willliamsport, Pennsylvania has remained at the top of the SLLBI board of directors’ to-do list since its establishment.

The head office requires submission of all team rosters and both, managers and coaches, are required to fill out official volunteer forms. Then background checks are to be performed on the local level before being verified by Williamsport.

According to SLLBI president Juan I. Tenorio, regardless of the entrance fee submissions, if the SLLBI starts its season without submitting the required documents, or carrying out background checks, it may face sanctions from the Little League Baseball head office of up to six years or more.

“If we don’t follow the bylaws then [LLB] officials in Williamsport may not recognize the SLLBI as a valid member, and we may be excluded from the show for a long time,” said Tenorio in a phone interview on Monday.

Furthermore, Tenorio has repeatedly stressed the importance of these technical requirements in past meetings and he assures that the managers and coaches have had more than a month’s notice to deliver on their end.

If documents and required entrance fees deposits are not submitted by Wednesday, then the opening day of the SLLBI season will have to be postponed, which according to Tenorio, will cause rigorous effects to the game schedule.

The setback may cause a number of doubleheaders for some teams in order to complete the season on time.

All things considered, it is likely that Tenorio will call for an emergency meeting on Wednesday for all managers, coaches, and league officials for a final decision.

Until further notice the traditional opening ceremony is set to start at 9am on Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. After christening, the season kicks off with a rewind of last year’s championship series.

Up to 12 teams make up this year’s Majors Division, the Junior Division includes seven teams, the Senior Division will field nine teams, and the Big Division is expected to feature five squads.