Saipan beats Guam in Marianas Cup

No Ka Oi avenged last year’s loss to Boleros by beating them twice amidst almost unbearable conditions to take first place in the 2nd Annual Miller Lite Marianas Softball Cup at the Koblerville softball field.

No Ka Oi dominated the team from Guam in the championship game, ending the game in five innings courtesy of the 10-run mercy rule. The men and women that made up the Saipan team scored 16 runs off of 21 hits, compared to Guam’s six runs on nine hits.

Roy Celis, Mel Sakisat, Jerome Delos Santos, and John Reyes all homered in the big game, while their defense was able to hold the defending champions to a run in each of the final two innings after allowing four runs in the first.

Saipan first met Guam after obliterating the delegation from Rota, 35-4. Guam made their way to Saipan via 20-10 victory over Tinian. When the two powerhouses collided, it was on. Armed with a bit of confidence and thoughts of revenge, Saipan edged the bigger island 12-9.

Saipan sat back and watched as an improved Tinian team fell to Guam, 14-2, before matching up against them again. During all of this, the wind and the rain was not what one would typically call “softball weather.”

When tournament director Bob Guerrero said that the tournament would be played “rain or shine,” he meant it. It was rainy, muddy and sloppy but both teams had to work through the less than ideal conditions together.

Miller Lite hosted the one-day, double elimination, modified coed tournament, and the games were played every hour on the hour. With the conditions as bad as they were, the games ran on schedule as if it were a sunny day.

“It was muddy all day long. We lost to Guam last year, but we won it this year. It’s a great feeling,” said team organizer and speedy second baseman John Reyes.

“This year was great. The only problem was the weather. The competition was much better, the tournament went to the next level, and Rota and Tinian brought stronger teams than last year,” said promotions and marketing manager for Pacific Trading Co., Mike Babauta.

Guam ended up taking second place, followed by Tinian in third and Rota. The manager for the team from Rota made a pitch to bring the tournament to their island and gave some of the secrets that his team will employ to become the champions.

“We will feed you before all of the games. We will fill you up on Fruit Bat and Coconut Crab until you can’t play anymore.”

Everyone laughed at the joke, but the players and coaches were ready to get the ball rolling on plans for the feast. Rota was also presented the prestigious Sportsmanship award, one that Guerrero pointed out was as important as the championship itself.

Babauta also explained that his aim for the tournament is to have the location rotate among the competitors annually. “Next year we are going to try to bring the tournament to Rota. Our main goal is to rotate this between the islands.”