Pats dedicate title to CNMI soldiers

The biggest motivation for the Patriots’ title bid in the Junior League division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Baseball was the sacrifices of CNMI soldiers fighting for freedom in Iraq and elsewhere.

“Every time, we go out there in the field and play against various teams, we think of our brave soldiers, who are fighting a different and much difficult battle,” said Patriots manager Thelma Mizer.

The Pats are this season’s champions in the Junior League division. They won over Ol’Aces in the finals, 8-4, and also took this year’s pennant after topping the regular season wit a 12-2 record.

“We play in honor of our troops, whom we know will cheer for us or even play our sport if they were here. They are our heroes for our freedom, ” said Mizer, whose 21-year-old daughter is of the U.S. troops in Iraq.

The Pats manager said the Patriots baseball club was established in 2005 in honor of CNMI soldiers. Veteran of Foreign Wars sponsored the team’s inaugural campaign in SLLB. The following year, the Pats under the sponsorship of Joeten Motors went on to win the Majors division. They kept the title in 2007 and 2008 under the banner of SaipanCell (now Docomo Pacific) before moving up to the Junior League.

In the Junior League, the Pats had their players’ parents as sponsors and the “Army Mommies Club.”

Coach Manny Sablan and assistant coach Bill Camacho brought the core of the Pats team in the Major League to the Junior League. They are Jared Sablan, Jeremy and Henry Rabauliman, Brian Camacho, Chris Mizer, Tyler Kaipat, and Allan Aguon. Beefing up the Pats are former stalwarts of other Major League teams, Franklin Santos, Austin Lizama, and Juljean Ngeskebei. Completing the team are Richard Borja and Carlos Rabauliman.

“These are the bunch of guys who were thought the basic and right way of playing ball at a very young age, so when they moved up to the Junior League, they are ready for the tougher challenge,” Sablan said.

Sablan added the Pats’ discipline is commendable.

“They come early for the game and frequently attend training sessions. They do what they are ask to do on and off the field. With that kind of discipline, dedication, and team work, we expected the team to excel in the Junior League,” Sablan said.