Miller Lite Marianas Cup to play at two venues

Pacific Trading Co.’s 6th Annual Miller Lite Marianas Cup Co-ed Slow-pitch Softball Qualifier set from Aug. 22 to Aug. 24 will be played at two venues—the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Field and the Capital Hill Field.

But before all the action starts, organizers of the three-day tournament will have its final meeting today, Aug. 21, 6pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

Coordinator Joe Salas, meanwhile, said interested teams can pick up entry forms for the modified co-ed slow-pitch competition at the Kagman Mobil gas station. He added that the organizers can entertain as much as 10 teams for the tourney.

Modified co-ed, Salas said, means that nine male and one female players must be in the field on defense at all times, while the batting lineup must include two female players.

He added that the 10-run mercy rule applies starting in the fifth inning of the competition, while the 15-run mercy rule will apply beginning in the fourth inning.

PTC sales manager Mike Babauta earlier said that he expects great softball action this year with defending champion No Ka Oi looking to continue its tradition of winning the tournament year in and year out.

“They have won the last five tournaments and they are looking to repeat but other teams out there are might have other ideas,” he said.

The winner of the qualifier will represent Saipan in the 6th Annual Miller Lite Marianas Cup Cup Slow-pitch Softball Tournament set for Sept. 6 on Rota.

Entry fee for the qualifier is $150 and interested teams have only until today, Aug. 21, to sign up. Tournament format is modified co-ed and to spice things up, PTC will host a homerun derby for the sport’s longball specialists.

For more information about the 6th Annual Miller Lite Marianas Cup Slow-pitch Softball Qualifier, call Jovie Flores at 256-5515 or 287-5515, Joe Salas at 256-1374, or Joe Flores at 483-7834.
Last year, as aforementioned No Ka Oi earned the top seeding and the first finals berth after a three-game sweep of all its assignments.

They met Brotherhood, which beat Potbus to earn the second finals berth, in the championship game where they scored an 18-9 win.

It was the fifth straight title for No Ka Oi in the annual tournament since winning the inaugural games in 2003.