AsPac committee to have Plan B

The 2015 Asia-Pacific-Middle East Junior, Senior and Big League regional tournament organizing committee would implement a back-up plan in case of rained out games and other unavoidable incidents.

Bank of Saipan Red Sox pitcher Nathan Camacho could be one of the candidates for the CNMI Senior League All-Star team after striking out 57 last season. (Jon Perez)

Assistant tournament coordinator Tony Rogolifoi said they would make inquiries of using alternate fields if ever the need of holding simultaneous games arises due to rained out matches.

Rogolifoi made the statement following an inquiry made by AsPac committee member Bob Coldeen in last Tuesday’s meeting at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

“We will try to identify other fields like the one at Kan Pacific if ever we’re going to need to hold two games at one time. We’re also looking at the Dandan, Capital Hill, and the ‘Tan Ge’ fields for practice,” said Rogolifoi.

“They are small in size but these fields can be used for infield practice. We’re still trying to identify other fields that can be used either as a practice facility or to hold a game during the regionals,” he added.

The former Saipan Little League president said they would also renovate the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field at least three weeks before the opening of the regional tournament.

“We will make improvements on the field. We’re going to put in new dirt on the infield, paint the dugouts and bleachers, and clean everything. We’ll be making improvements,” said Rogolifoi.

The Junior, Senior, and Big League regional tournament is slated from June 26 to July 6 with the winners advancing to the World Series of each division in various states in the mainland.

AsPac committee secretary Lynn B. Duenas said that Australia, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, and the Philippines are some of the teams that are scheduled to arrive early before the opening.

“Australia and the Philippines are set to arrive on June 24, while Chinese-Taipei and Hong Kong is scheduled on June 25. We can accommodate them since we already made the $25,000 deposit to Mango Resort,” said Duenas.

The AsPac committee has reserved 85 rooms at Mango Resort that will house the 21 teams from 11 countries that will be competing for the three World Series spots in each of their division.

Tournament host CNMI, Guam, and the Philippines will be competing in all three divisions. Hong Kong and Indonesia only entered in the Junior and Senior leagues, while Chinese-Taipei will be sending teams to the Junior and Big leagues.

Australia and Vietnam will field Junior league teams, and New Zealand and Saudi Arabia are joining the Senior division.

India already has a Big League team but the Indian Little League said in an email that they plan to also compete in all three divisions.