Crime Stoppers softball waits for heroes

Saipan’s softballers have been rocking Tan Ge Softball Field for the past couple of months so they won’t mind waiting another week for the 4th Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Slow Pitch Softball Tournament.

According to tournament coordinator Jim Ripple, the underhanded extravaganza will now get underway on Friday, Feb. 10 and continues through Sunday, Feb. 12, as the organizing committee rescheduled the event to coincide with the return of Echo Co. 100th BN 442nd Inf. and “in honor of our fallen brothers SSG. Wilgene Lieto and CPL Derence Jack.”

In anticipation of the homecoming and the same excitement at the Oleai Sports Complex in 2006, teams have already started gobbling up the 12 open slots to take part in the festivities. This time around, only 12 teams will be permitted to compete for the trophy and $300 prize for first place. The first 12 teams to sign up and pay in full will take part in all of the fun in the sun.

Before any of the teams can take the field, their skippers will have to attend the coaches’ meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium for the discussion of rules and the drawing of team brackets.

The top team will not be the only one of the bunch to walk away with awards as 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 homerun derby makes its return on Sunday afternoon as some of Saipan’s sultans of swat will be returning to vie for the $50 prize for the most long balls. Like last year, there will be prizes awarded to the top three hitters.

Homeruns won’t be the only way to win special prizes during the weekend hit fest as will be raffling off a number of items including a roundtrip ticket to Manila and another ticket to Hong Kong (one winner per ticket) as a part of the grand prize raffle sponsored by Continental Airlines.

Raffle tickets are only $1 apiece, and entrants of the homerun contest automatically receive 20 tickets for their $20 entry fee.

To enter the event, simply stop down to Car Quest in Chalan Kanoa and fill out the entry and waiver forms, and pay the entry fee. The cost to enter a team in the annual tournament is $250 if paid in full before Monday, Feb. 6. Those who enter anytime thereafter will pay a hefty bit more at $350. To enter the homerun derby, the cost is $20 per individual. All checks should be made out to NMI Crime Stoppers.

Tournament organizers wish to remind all players that Continental Airlines is the exclusive and official airline of the NMI Crime Stoppers Softball Tournament. Continental Airlines employees, dependents and affiliates are not eligible to win Continental prizes and the prize letters cannot be redeemed for any other events sponsored by Continental Airlines

For further information, contact Eric David by calling 664-9022, or Jim Ripple by calling 235-2302.