CNMI Senior All-Stars leave for World Series

The CNMI Senior All-Star Team joins the Liberation Day Parade along Beach Road last Saturday. The squad left Saipan yesterday to compete in the World Series in Easley, South Carolina. (Jon Perez)

The CNMI Senior All-Star Team left Saipan yesterday to compete in the World Series in Easley, South Carolina.

The squad made up of Leveque Iguel, Vicente Camacho II, Josenio Alvarez, Kianna Aldan, Pedro Maratita, Jordan Babauta, Dennis Cabrera, Justin Peter Celis, Aven Evangelista, Joaquin Fleming, Trevon Lieto, Ignacio Mendiola, Donovan Deleon Guerrero, Joel Norita, Orren-Cody Cruz, and Arby Yaguel, had a stopover in Guam where it was scheduled to leave this morning for Japan and from Tokyo they will make two more stops before arriving in Charlotte on Wednesday night (Wednesday morning Saipan time).

The Asia Pacific champions will be housed in one of the dorms at Clemson University and wont’ be playing until Sunday (Monday on Saipan) after drawing a bye in the international bracket. The CNMI is with Europe/Africa, Canada, Latin America, Australia, and Caribbean teams.

The Doru Camacho-managed squad will be playing the winner in the Latin America vs Australia game for its opening match set for 7:45pm (Sunday, South Carolina time). The Aussies are represented by Cronula Little League from Sydney, New South Wales, while the Latin Americans have athe Cardenales Little League from Venezuela.

The international and United States brackets both have a double-elimination format. If the CNMI prevails its first game, it will face Caribbean or the winner in the Europe/Africa-Canada tiff. Pariba Little League of Curacao is the representative of Caribbean, while Europe Africa has Emilia Romagna Little League from Bologna, Italy. Canada’s team has not been listed on the World Series website. A loss in its opening game will pit the CNMI against the loser, too in the Europe/Africa-Canada duel.

Doru Camacho, right after securing a World Series ticket following their 4-2 victory over the Philippines in the 2018 Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional Tournament, admitted they are clueless about their opponents in South Carolina so they are expecting every game to be a challenge for the team.

“It’s going to be tough, but we will do our very best. We’re already here and we will grab the opportunity to play good games in the World Series,” said Camacho.

“We have a very deep bullpen so that’s definitely our advantage. The boys are very excited to play and represent our islands and Asia Pacific well,” added Camacho, who will be assisted by coaches Juan Manibusan and Vicente Camacho.