Crime Stoppers announce tourney teams and meeting

Only a handful of days remain until the underhanded action gets underway during the 3rd Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Slow Pitch Softball Tournament, and organizers are continuing their efforts to provide for a well-run event by scheduling a preparatory meeting next week.

On Wednesday, Jan. 5, there will be a meeting for all team coaches and managers in the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium at 6pm. Tournament organizers said that all of the coaches and managers must be in attendance, citing the necessary information that will be relayed.

The underhanded extravaganza that is the tournament will run through January 7, 8, and 9, and aside from the first place prizes, there will be a trophy and $200 awarded to the first runner up, a trophy and $150 for the second runner up, and trophies for the third and fourth runner ups.

The champions to be will also be the first recipients of the new perpetual trophy. Organizers have also given a nod to the previous winners, as they will have their names affixed to the trophy as well.

All of the fun of tournaments past will be returning, including the defending champion Brotherhood, and the winners of the inaugural tournament, No Ka Oi.

“We’d like to invite the public to come out to the park and enjoy themselves throughout the weekend,” said tournament board member Jim Ripple.

This year, organizers planned on having 12 teams in the tourney, but that may swell to 14 teams by the end of the day, as Brotherhood, No Ka Oi, Bad Boys, the Pacific Islands Club, Microl Toyota, Duty Free Shoppers, Laolao Bay, X-Clusive, Expos, Fotten Gaga, Car Quest Auto Parts, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Freedom Air Flyers, and possibly a team to be named later.

The fun continues with two homerun derbies—one for the players, on Saturday, Jan. 8, and one for celebrities, on Sunday, Jan. 9. Though no list of the high profile guests has been released, chances are good that many of the stars from last year’s show will be returning to vie for the $50 prize.

In keeping with recent tradition, the organizers have put together many exciting and valuable raffle prizes. It only takes one ticket to win the raffle, but tickets will be on sale during the games for $1 each. Somebody’s dollar bill will win this year’s grand prize— a pair of roundtrip tickets to Cairns, Australia courtesy of Continental Airlines. Continental also put up the award for the winner of the mini grand prize raffle—one roundtrip ticket to Manila.

The aspiring Barry Bonds types will receive an added incentive to swing for the fences this year, as all entrants of the Home Run Derby will receive 20 tickets for raffle drawing.

To enter the derby, simply stop down to Car Quest in Chalan Kanoa and fill out the entry and pay the entry fee. The cost is to enter the homerun derby is $20 per individual. All checks should be made out to NMI Crime Stoppers. For further information, contact Eric David by calling 664-9022, Jim Ripple by calling 235-2302, or Jerry Ayuyu by calling 664-9127.