SPORTS BRIEFS

The Budweiser King and Queen of the Diamond Co-ed Slow-pitch Softball Tournament will hold an organizational meeting today, July 16, 6pm at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Tournament coordinator Joey Dela Cruz said all nine teams that took part in the first leg of the competition are invited to take attend the organizational meeting. The second leg of the King and Queen of the Diamond will be held on Aug. 2 and 3 at the Capital Hill Field. The first leg of the King and Queen of the Diamond was held last May 17 and 18 with Shell Marianas, the former No Ka Oi, winning the championship after beating SaiPal in the title game. Other teams that took part in the first leg of the tournament were second runner-up Team Chaos, Peligru, Jamack How, PPP Jets, Coral Reef Red Snappers, Team Sufa, and Shell Made to Move. The winners of the first, second, and third legs of the Budweiser King and Queen of the Diamond will play each other in the championship round to determine the overall champion, which will represent Saipan in a tournament in Palau later in the year. MARPAC, the exclusive distributor of Budweiser on Saipan, will pay for the tickets of all 15 players of the winning team. For more information about the Budweiser King and Queen of the Diamond Co-ed Slow-pitch Softball Tournament, call Dela Cruz at 664-2503 or 287-6509. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]SML Fall League set to start[/B]

The upcoming 2008 SML Fall League season is tentatively scheduled to open in late August or early September. The developmental league will again play host to players ages 25 and under. This year marks the ninth season the program has been in existent since it was first inaugurated in 1999. As in previous years, the SML requires players to submit proof of eligibility documents such as birth certificates, passports, and driver’s license. In addition, copies of insurance policy or card must accompany these documents. This is important to ensure players are fully covered by their individual health and life insurance in case of injury during league play. Returning players are not required to provide eligibility documents since they are on record files. However, all players, to include returnees must have some type of insurance coverage in order to play. Players without insurance coverage are asked to contact the SML to make arrangements. The league’s entry fee—in the amount of $800—should be made payable to Saipan Major League and is due on Aug. 22. A 25-man team roster is due prior to opening of the league. Teams are encouraged to start securing sponsors that would provide for the teams’ necessities such as the entry fee and uniforms. An organizational meeting is set for Aug. 4, 12noon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room to detail out plans for the upcoming league. Waiver forms will be provided to all teams on this day. Managers and coaches and other interested teams are asked to bring all pertinent documents to this meeting. For more information, contact league coordinator Tony Rogolifoi, at 288-3515. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]