Previous Story
Players take a break in SML
|
Posted on Dec 27 2004
While the stockings were hung on the chimney with care, the bases at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field were bare—and most likely will be until the second weekend of the New Year.
According to the league director Tony Rogolifoi, the playoffs Saipan Major League’s fall edition should resume on Saturday, Jan. 8, when the Kautz Glass Glazers and the Heinz & David North Stars play their deciding Game 3 at 10am.
“I still haven’t spoken with either of the teams, but traditionally we don’t play during this time. If they want to, we will, but we usually reserve the holiday season for the players to enjoy with their families.”
With the best-of-three series tied at one apiece, the Glazers and Stars have nine innings remaining to determine who will advance to the SML Fall championship, where the Hustlers await the winner.
If the teams agree to wait for the second until the passing of New Year’s Day, the best-of-five championship series will commence on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 10am.
In a related story, the playoffs of the SML Fall League serve as a reminder to the players, coaches, and managers that the 2005 SML is fast approaching. Rogolifoi also coordinates the summer league, and said that the managers and coaches have been busy scouting the young talent from the fall.
He continued that while a few of the youngsters will find slots in the league, many of them will return to the age group leagues at an advanced level.
Rogolifoi said that there are currently three teams locked in for the upcoming season, as the Miller Lite Brewers will return to defend their title against the Northern Yankees and the Pirates. While he said that the D-9ers probably won’t return to play next year, Rogolifoi remains hopeful that two additional teams join the ranks of top-flight baseball in the CNMI, as he also manages the Brewers.
“I hope that we have four to six teams this year, so we can play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I can’t wait to get back out there. It’ll be awesome—once again we’ll be able to play under the lights.”
