SPORTS BRIEFS

SOFTBALL LEAGUES POSTPONED

The Saipan Softball Association announced that the 2004 Men’s Island Wide Slow-Pitch Softball League, the 2004 Men’s Island Wide Fast-Pitch Softball League and the 2004 Women’s Island Wide Slow-Pitch Softball League have all been postponed and the tentative opening date will be on July 5.

An organizational meeting for the leagues will also be held on July 24 at 5:30pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym conference room. The entrance fee of $800 plus membership dues for each league will be due during this meeting along with each respective team’s waiver/roster form.

All interested teams and/or individuals are urged to attend this meeting, as number of teams for each league will be limited.

For more information, please contact the SSA president Robert A. Guerrero at 888-0215/235-1580.

ROTARY PUSHES BACK KICK OFF

The start of the 2004 season of the Rotary Club of Saipan Summer Youth Basketball League has once again been pushed back for next week.

Instead of kicking off last Monday, the 18-and-under caging event will start next Monday, June 28, to enable the coaches of participating teams to attend a coaching seminar to be conducted by FIBA Oceania official Stewart Manwaring.

The coaching seminar will continue on this Friday from 5pm to 7pm and the whole afternoon of Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

Organizers reminded teams that Rotary’s “no clinic, no coaching” rule still stands, which means that the league will not allow coaches who didn’t attend the seminar to mentor their teams this season.

For more information on the upcoming 2004 Rotary Club of Saipan Summer Youth Basketball League and requisite coaching clinic administered by Manwaring, please call Elias Rangamar at 664-2503 or 664-2508.

PACRIM UPDATE

The 3rd Annual Pacific Rim (PACRIM) Youth Goodwill Tournament is scheduled for November and registration is now open. Volleyball teams are allowed to have coed players but not the basketball teams. Team members between 12 to 18 years old of age are encouraged to register at the Office of Youth Affairs in Capitol Hill or pick up your registration packet at Ada’s Gym. For more information, call either the Youth Affairs Office at 664-2228/2248 or Eli Rangamar at 664-2500.

ESCAPE FROM MANAGAHA ISLAND SET ON JUNE 26

The 2nd Annual Escape from Managaha Island will be held this June 26 from the waters off the tourist hotspot.

The event is a water crossing from Managaha Island to Hafa Adai Beach Hotel in Garapan.

Entry fee is $60 for adults and $50 for participants under 18 years old. Late entries will cost significantly more. Deadline for entries is June 12.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool or at the Marianas Visitor Authority office in Oleai. Check payments must be made under the name of MVA.

SAIPAN FISHING TOURNEY ON AUG. 28 AND 29

The 20th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament will be held on August 28 and 29 and boats from Guam, Palau, Rota, and Tinian are expected to grace the two-day fishing tourney.

The top three ranks will be awarded in the following game fish categories: Bill fish, yellow fin, wahoo, mahi mahi, and skip jack. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first participant to land a marlin weighing over 624.34 lbs. and a yellow fin tuna weighing over 106 lbs.

Applications for the event, containing the rules and schedules of the event will soon be available at the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Fishing Tackle Shop.

For more information on the 20th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Martin F. Duenas at 664-3200/3201 or Wolf Mojica at 234-6615.