Crime Stoppers tourney starts today

The pings of aluminum bats crushing softballs will be in the air for the next three days, as the 3rd Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Slow Pitch Softball Tournament gets started this evening, and organizers are hoping for this to be the most entertaining to date.

The 12-team tournament that was created to raise funds for local volunteers to thwart ne’er do wells has generated enough interest in the community to swell it to a 14-team softball bonanza.

As the Saipan sun begins its descent into the depths of the Philippine Sea, Team DFS and Fotten Gaga will meet upon the softball field of the Oleai Sports Complex at 6pm to kick off the tournament in the first game of tonight’s quadrupleheader.

Game 2 pits Carquest Team Para against the Clubmates from the Pacific Islands Club at 7pm, while the third game between Naputi and the Expos gets underway at 8pm, and the final showdown of the night between X-clusive and Laulau Bay is slated for 9pm.

The action continues on Saturday, Jan. 9, 9am when the Freedom Air Flyers challenge Natibu, followed by the 10am match-up between A’s Canopy and Bad Boyz. The Brotherhood and No Ka Oi received first-round byes for being prior champions

The underhanded extravaganza that is the tournament will run throughout the weekend, and prizes abound, as aside from the first place purse, 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.

“We’d like to get a lot of support for the teams out at the ballpark, so bring your families out there this weekend,” said Jim Ripple.

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 $100 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.

Anyone may purchase the raffle tickets, and stand to win a piece of the over $6,000 in prizes.

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.