CNMI All-Stars beat RP in Asia-Pacific Tournament debut

The CNMI Major League All-Stars won their debut in the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament after beating the Philippines, 2-0, last Saturday at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

No details were available but the win was welcome news for Saipan Little League Baseball Association, which so far has one team advancing to the World Series of the 2008 Big League later this month.

In other results from the former Crown Colony, Indonesia edged Little League rookie Australia, 3-2; and Guam routed New Zealand, 7-1, in Pacific Pool play.

The CNMI thus leads the Pacific Pool along with archrival Guam and Indonesia as all three teams sport identical 1-0 win-loss records.

In the Asia Pool, Chinese-Taipei got the better of their brethren from China, 22-1; host Hong Kong edged powerhouse South Korea, 2-1; and Thailand ran rings around debuting India, 30-0. Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, and Thailand are all tied in first place with 1-0 records.

Making up the CNMI Major League All-Stars are Jeremy Rabauliman, Chris Mizer, A.J. Lizama, Ricky Joe Riungel, A.J. Castro, Jared Sablan, Jun Rabauliman, Raymond Saralu, A.J. Lizama, Frankie Camacho, Jonah Flores, Jerome Reyes, Keene Deleon Guerrero, Jeremy Lizama, and Poland Masaharu

Randall Aguon served as manager and helping him in the dugout are head coach Elmer Sablan and assistant coach Manny Sablan.

Saipan’s best 9-12-year-old ballplayers booked a ticked to the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament after beating Rota, 11-1, last June 12 at the Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field in Sinapalo.

The team faced off against Australia yesterday, but results were still not available as of press time.

The CNMI’s third game today will pit them against archrival Guam. New Zealand will be up next for the local boys when they square off against them tomorrow.

The CNMI wraps up its elimination round assignment on July Wednesday when it takes on Indonesia. The finals of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament will be held on July 24.

The winner of the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament will qualify to compete in the 2008 Little League Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, later this summer.

The Little League is a non-profit organization with the objective of promoting health and integrity among the young by organizing baseball events.

In report from China Xinhua news agency, Major League director of baseball development for Asia, Rick Dell, said he was impressed by the reception of baseball among the young in Hong Kong.

“I think they are going to be competitive in this tournament,” he said adding that progress has also been seen in the development of baseball in the Chinese mainland, and the hosting of the Olympics will also help promote baseball.