SML met to discuss all-star selections

The walls of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room echoed with names and statistics as managers of the Saipan Major League were called to meet last week to determine the players for the next year’s SPG Mini Games in Palau, fundraising, and the possibility of using wooden bats, and possible rule changes for the upcoming sixth season of the summer/fall baseball league.

Though the names will not be officially released until after the SML playoffs are completed, a list of 25 names were compiled to fill the positions on the team that will be representing the CNMI.

According to league president Rose Igitol, criteria for the players selected included batting average, errors committed, attitude, coachability, commitment, and experience. The committee was unanimous in its stance that the players must have the right attitude, and they stressed that they will not accept any quitters.

The list of players is literally a who’s who list for the SML, but it also includes a couple of names of players living off island. Igitol confirmed that an invitation has been extended to the Saurez brothers living in Washington, D.C., and that they replied with an enthusiastic affirmative.

“They said that they are very happy to be invited and are excited to be able to represent the CNMI for the first time,” Igitol said.

Rogolifoi explained that the list of players is not final, and that players could still be added or dropped based upon their performances in the upcoming summer/fall league and the next season of SML action. He also noted that the roster will only be between 18 to 20 players and two coaches, so the list will be whittled down so that only Saipan’s finest representatives will make the journey.

The meeting also touched on the necessary fundraising that the league will have to undertake in order to satisfy the financial requirements of such a trip.

“The reason why we are doing this now is because we are going to try to raise our own money instead of going to [Capitol] Hill. We understand that the government is cash strapped,” said league coordinator Tony Rogolifoi.

Some of the planned activities mentioned to raise the needed fund included hosting a softball tournament, a car wash, serving hot lunches, performing yard cleaning, trading trash for cash, a concert, and a possible golf tournament.

The topic of using wooden bats was also discussed as a possible method of lowering the amount of money the league has been spending on purchasing baseballs. The league currently allows the use of aluminum bats, which increases the distance that a player can hit the ball. The baseballs that aren’t lost due to homeruns and foul balls exiting the park are said to have shorter life spans. Another possible solution presented was to reward children who return the baseballs after they clear the fence line.

Finally, SML board member and consulting umpire, Bill Primley, brought up a few of the topics for discussion when the managers reconvene, such as the lineups being handed to the scorekeeper 15 minutes prior to the first pitch and the enforcement of implementation of a possible forfeit rule, using wooden bats, player’s uniforms to meet standards, and modifying some of the wording in the league’s by-laws.

No date has been set for the next meeting. For more information about the SML, contact league coordinator Tony Rogolifoi by calling 664-2508.