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CNMI readies for fast-pitch
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Posted on Apr 16 2006
With little more than two months remaining before an estimated 1,400 athletes from throughout the regions descend upon Saipan for the 6th Micronesian Games, the organizers have bowed to international demand and removed slow-pitch women’s softball in favor of the action packed fast-pitch games.
Teams from Yap, Palau, Pohnpei, and Guam requested that the high-speed sport take priority to “mountain ball” and suggested that participation in the slow-pitch format might be significantly lower than expected.
After getting the news, the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee made the decision to change gears on Thursday night, and manager Julian Kodep together with coach Joe Guerrero made the announcement to the team later that night during their practice under the lights at Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Softball Field.
“We’ll start fast-pitch practice on Tuesday night and we’ll have the equipment. It’s a whole new ball game now,” said Guerrero.
Team captain Bert Camacho was upbeat about the switch and said that she has confidence in her teammates’ ability to make the switch.
“I like fast pitch. I played it in high school—not here but in Guam. Of course we can [adjust to fast-pitch]. It’s just a little getting used to the different batting, but I’m excited,” she said.
Fellow all-star Connie Camacho also believes that her team will be able to take the necessary steps to fielding a quality fast-pitch squad.
“We can do it. This team’s good and the transition is going to be easy. We just have to work on the batting. This team’s defense is good,” said Camacho.
Veteran star Thelma Mizer said that she is happy that the girls will have a chance to show their stuff but said that they will be faced to make the change in a short amount of time.
“I like it now. We wanted that from the very beginning. We were kind of disappointed when they said ‘no.’ I think these girls can do it. There’s only a short time—we have only a few weeks now so it’s going to take a lot of hard work and a very big difference in the batting,” she said.
The Micronesian Games get underway with the Opening Ceremonies at the Oleai oval on Friday June 23, and continue through to Sunday, July 2.
