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CNMI salvages third place, Guam going to World Series
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Posted on Jul 25 2008
The CNMI Major League All-Stars salvaged third place when they beat South Korea, 12-7, in the battle of pool runners-up last Thursday in the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
No details were available, but according to longtime devotees of the sport the third place finish is the first time the CNMI finished outside the Top 2 since 2000.
While the CNMI bombed out in duplicating its runner-up finish to deposed champion Chinese-Taipei in 2007, the Little League All-Stars from the south, Guam, booked themselves a ticket to Williamsport, Pennsylvania after beating host Hong Kong, 5-2, in the championship game.
According to Pacific Daily News, Guam starting pitcher Parish Reyes starred in the win, pitching three good innings of two-run ball while also doing some heavy lifting on the plate.
Reliever Nick Cruz was even better as he held the former Crown Colony scoreless the rest of the game to earn the U.S. territory a trip to the 2008 Little League World Series.
Making up the CNMI Major League All-Stars for the 2008 Little League Asia-Pacific Tournament 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 of the Saipan All-Stars and helping him in the dugout were head coach Elmer Sablan and assistant coach Manny Sablan.
Saipan’s best 9-12-year-old ballplayers advanced 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 Little League is a non-profit organization with the objective of promoting health and integrity among the young by organizing baseball events.
