Jr. Nat’l Baseball Team leaves for U18 Oceania tourney

  The CNMI Junior National Baseball team left on two flights to Guam yesterday morning to compete in the 2012 18 & Under Oceania AAA Championship at Guam’s Paseo Stadium.

The team was assembled by Saipan Major League Baseball Association president Tony Rogolifoi.

The event, which is set from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3, is a qualifier for the XXV 18U Baseball World Championship, scheduled from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8, 2012 in Seoul, Korea.

Rogolifoi will manage the team with Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc. coaches Syl Ada and Bern Cabrer. SML’s Rose Igitol will also be chaperoning the team.

Team CNMI is made up of Cedric and Devon Ada, Carl and Frankie Camacho, Ricardo Dela Cruz, Jacob and Jonah Flores, Brett Halstead, Kyle and Russell Hocog, Dave Hosono, Arthur Jebehn, Leroy Regis, Ian Rogolifoi, Poland Masaharu, Henry Rabauliman, Anthony Leon Guerrero, and Lancaster Secharmedal.

By rule. all of the players must all be born between 1994 and 1996 and not turn 19 prior to Dec. 31 of this year.

They are primarily first year Saipan Little League Big division players.

These players also participated in the SMLBA’s 2011 Summer/Fall Youth Summer Baseball League program.

Carl Camacho, Dela Cruz, Leon Guerrero, and Regis are the only four players turning 18 within the pre-determined cutoff date.

“We are fielding a young squad, but are confident that we still have the talent and team chemistry to compete. All in all, I think it will be a good experience for them to test their skills against some tough off-island competition before the start up of the 2012 little league season,” said Rogolifoi after the team’s final meeting at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield Wednesday

Other teams competing in the tourney include teams from Australia, Guam, and New Zealand. The event is formatted as a double-round robin where the top two place finishers compete in a winner-take-all gold medal match.

The bottom two teams will also face off for the bronze prize.

The CNMI last participated in the event back in 2004, where Australia took the crown.

On measuring the competition, Rogolifoi was frank. “We know that all the teams are good, but so are we. I think that they are looking out for us just as much as we are looking out for them. Except for Guam of course, we are closer to home, but we still need to get off to a good start right out of the gate.”

Collegiate-level talent scouts will also be present observing the players during the tournament.

The CNMI drew the first matchup against New Zealand today at 4pm. Then they take on Australia tomorrow at 4pm and square off against Guam at 7pm on Sunday.

Then CNMI gets another crack on New Zealand on Jan. 30 at 4pm; then Australia at 4pm on Tuesday and another 7pm night match against Guam on Wednesday.

The gold medal match is scheduled for 7pm on Thursday preceded by the bronze game at 2pm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Youth Services Director Laura Ogumoro, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao, and Education Commissioner Rita Sablan for all of their support.

The players will have to miss five days of school to participate in the event, but Sablan gave the group her blessings and asked them to represent the CNMI well.

For more information, look up Baseball Confederation of Oceania at www.sportingpulse.com.