Guamanians ready for Regionals

Guam Junior All-Star manager William Cruz said that the Junior division of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Little League Tournament is the toughest division to win this year.

In an interview with the Saipan Tribune while his all-stars were conducting batting practice yesterday afternoon at the Capital Hill Field, Cruz said unlike the Seniors and Big League, the 13-14 age group has five teams all hoping to advance to the Regionals.

Aside from his team, defending champion Philippines, powerhouse the CNMI, Hong Kong, and Indonesia are also vying for a spot to the 2008 Junior World Series in Taylor, Michigan come September.

Cruz said he only has a few tenets in managing a baseball team but foremost of them is to play every game as if it was your last—regardless of the opponent.

“Any team that we come up against we consider them tough. We don’t take anybody lightly. I just tell my kids to play a level higher than what we have now and just communicate well and have a lot of disciple. Don’t let up, don’t give up, fight it from inning to inning.”

The Guam Junior All-Stars manager is also a stickler when it comes to instilling discipline among his players.

“It’s just a matter of discipline. Like what I always instill in these kids, if we don’t have discipline in hitting, we don’t have discipline in fielding then we will start committing a lot of errors,” he said.

Cruz said to prepare for the “Road to the World Series,” the Junior All-Stars have been practicing everyday in their home field in Guam. In Capital Hill, Cruz’s wards were seen at batting practice, which he says consists of 300 cuts per day for each player.

“Like every team that comes up to this tournament, we also want to win. We’re no different. We want to win because it will be a good thing for the boys,” he said.

While his 14-man roster has no returnees from the Junior All-Stars in 2007, Cruz said he has two veterans of the Major All-Star team that went to Williamsport, Pennsylvania last year.

Asked what advise he will give his team before it starts its campaign in the Regionals, Cruz said he will just tell his boys not to take other teams lightly.

“We have to face them and just play a level higher. We’re ready. We have a pretty good chance. I told my boys just to play the game and don’t pay attention on what happens outside. Just keep your mind in the game.”

He said like Guam’s Junior All-Stars, the U.S. territory’s entries in the Big League and Senior League are also “pretty strong teams” and can also advance to the World Series.

Making up the Guam Junior All-Stars are Nathan Cruz, Zacharias Bukikosa, Brent Blau, Jonovan Dela Cruz, Philbert Flores, Jermaine Tenorio, Byron Quitugua, Joe Duenas, Florencio Binuya, Scott Duenas, Ivan Cruz, Derek Fernandez, Frank Choi, and Carl Quintanilla. Cruz will be assisted in the dugout by coaches Carlos Quintanilla and Phil Flores.