2-1 record for U18 National Baseball Team in Palau

The U18 CNMI Junior National Baseball Team and Palau’s U19 Baseball Team pose for a photo during their 2023 Palau-CNMI Goodwill Baseball Event in Koror, Palau’s Asahi Baseball Stadium last June 20.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI U18 Junior National Baseball Team won two out of their three games in the 2023 Palau-CNMI Goodwill Baseball Event in Koror, Palau’s Asahi Baseball Stadium. 

They were welcomed into their first international tourney with a loss against Palau’s Men’s National Baseball Team, 0-5, last June 19, regrouped and won against Palau’s U19 Junior National Team, 2-1, last June 20, then took their second win against them again, 6-5, last June 22.  

It was supposed to be a four-game series with their last game last June 23, but it was rained out. Their first two games were previously reported on Monday. 

In their last game, the CNMI struck first after a leadoff single by Jylon Sablan. He then reached second base on a wild pitch and was in perfect position to score. Later, J.R. Suel III reached base off a fielding error which allowed Sablan to score the first run.  

Achilles Evangelista then hit a long RBI double that scored Sablan for a 1-0 lead. Kazu Dela Cruz followed with an RBI single of his own that scored Suel and then stole second base, but two runs was all the damage they could deal as their three outs came in the form of strikeouts. 

Palau answered back in the fourth inning as they took advantage of four free walks that resulted in two runs. Their third run came from a single and then their fourth from CNMI’s defensive error for a 4-2 Palau lead. 

The CNMI did not count themselves out yet though, as they came back fighting and tied the game up, 4-4 to force extra innings. 

Benjamin Palacios and Justin Camacho got on base and managed to score two insurance runs at the top of the eighth to take the lead, 6-4. In a nail-biting bottom of the eighth, for Palau’s last chance to tie or take the win, they could only get in one run and handed CNMI’s second win, 6-5. 

Along with Jylon, Suel, Evangelista, Deleon Guerrero, Dela Cruz, and Camacho are Derence Diaz, Jon Diaz, Angelo Igitol, Charles McDonald III, Benjamin Palacios, John Peter Sablan, Joell Borja, and Albert Adriano. 

The team manager is Joey Dela Cruz and the coaches are Mike Cruz and Jeremiah Suel, while Vicente Palacios is the statistician. 

Joey Dela Cruz said of the event, “I am satisfied and content with the outcome—with the results. But the outcome was the least of my priorities. I wanted these guys to get exposure playing in another country, gain experience by competing against other international and regional players, but most importantly, build relationships and forge partnerships with Palau Baseball and we accomplish that.”

About their first game against the team that played in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, Dela Cruz said that his team was a bit nervous as in any first time off-island competition, but they were able to settle down, collect themselves, and play baseball. “Dropping a game 0-5 to a men’s national baseball team (Palau) is not that bad. That’s a win in my book,” said DelaCruz. 

For the next two games, however, Dela Cruz said that the team regrouped and played hard core NMI baseball for their next two wins both going into extra innings. 

As for playing in Palau, Dela Cruz said Palau was a great host. “Their hospitality is unbeatable and remarkable. Atley Kazuma, who was a tournament coordinator, not only coordinated the tournament but ensured Team NMI was taken care of. He came and checked on us every day and night. The coaches of the other teams also came to our house daily to make sure we’re doing fine. Thank you Palau.” 

He then thanked Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Rep. John Paul Sablan (Ind-Saipan), the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Joeten Enterprises, D&Q, Marianas Visitors Authority, and the Junior National Team’s parents.