Officials round bases of new ballfield

A crowd of roughly 20 people were on hand at the newly constructed Capitol Hill Junior League Baseball Field yesterday to witness the official change in the project’s responsibility between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Several of the CNMI’s government officials took part in the commemoration, as Department of Public Works Deputy Secretary Joseph Rosario handed over a ceremonial scroll to DCCA Secretary Juan L. Babauta, including Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Sen. Thomas Villagomez, Rep. Justo Quitigua, and the governor’s Authorized Representative for Public Assistance, Vicky Villagomez.

The official change over marks the end of the first of three phases of the project, and the progression to Phase II, which consists of bidding for the construction of the dugouts, toilets, walkways, parking lot, and announcer’s booth. The winner of the bidding will be announced later today, and construction will commence when all of the specifics can be worked out between the government and the winning contractor.

As far as the field is concerned, DCCA’s Babauta said that the field is ready for immediate use, but according to some on hand, the facility will be more appropriate for practice because it lacks the additions of the second and third phases of the project.

While there is still more work ahead on the field, the current progress is a step in the right direction, as echoed in the speech given by Gov. Babauta, in which he expressed that he the future of international baseball teams hailing from the CNMI hinge upon having the proper tools for preparation, including serviceable facilities.

“The success of our three baseball teams in going to the World Series underscores the need for a quality playing field,” he said.

The new field will relieve the congestion at the current home of the Junior, Senior, and Big League teams who share Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field in Oleai along with the Saipan Major League. Teams will also be able to have access to more facilities for practice, and teams from the northern end of Saipan will not have to travel as far to participate in the national pastime.

The concept of the field was pioneered by members of the 13th Legislature when former representatives Frank “Boy” Aldan and Gloria Cabrera secured a commitment from a local contractor to start the excavation of the field free of charge.

Further progress on the project was stalled due to a lack of funds until the Rep. Quitigua, and Capital Improvement Project manager Villagomez reprogrammed the roughly $108,000 funding for the leveling of the field, the top soil, and the drought-resistant Bermuda grass.