Baseball gold in Noumea

[I][B]Editorís note:[/B] A yearís full of highlights is summed up in Saipan Tribuneís Top Sports Stories of 2011. Heading the list is the CNMI Baseball Teamís gold-medal win in the XIV Noumea Pacific Games followed closely by the CNMI U15 boys teamís upset of Macau in an EAFF youth tourney in Taiwan. Also on the list is Kelvin ìThe Big Hitî Fitial annexing the PXC championship belt and local tracksters and swimmers making the CNMI proud in off-island events.[/I]

CNMI Baseball reasserted its regional dominance in the sport when it struck gold in the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.

A year after surrendering the baseball gold to Palau in the 2010 Micronesian Games in Koror, the Commonwealth snuck over to New Caledonia on less than a month’s notice and returned home with the Pacific Games gold medal after an 8-4 comeback victory over archrival Guam last September.

The gold medal-winning CNMI Baseball Men’s Team is made up of Vince Cepeda, Jerome Delos Santos, Franco Flores, Jesus and Mike Iguel, Thomas Joab, Joshua Jones, Byron Kaipat, Keoni Lizama, Juan Maratita, Tyrone Omar, Ian Rogolifoi, Manny Sablan, Elton Santos, and Eric Tenorio.

Tony Rogolifoi served as manager and Craig Sanchez was the coach. Saipan Major League Baseball Association president Rose Igitol accompanied the team to Noumea.

Interestingly, the 2011 Pacific Games baseball finals mirrored the gold medal game of the 2006 Saipan Micronesian Games, which the CNMI won against Guam, 3-2.

In addition to Guam, the CNMI also competed against host New Caledonia, Palau, American Samoa, and Fiji.

CNMI pitching sensation Josh Jones got the team off to a good start on the mound in its opener, eking out a 1-0 win over Palau in nine innings.

The Commonwealth, however, would drop its next two games, falling to New Caledonia, 2-3, and then to Guam, 5-6.

The bats ran cold against the host squad on its home field, while Guam seemed to have an answer for everything the CNMI threw their way.

Fortunately, the CNMI would bounce back in its next two matches, beating American Samoa, 9-4, and Fiji, 2-1, to reach the playoffs as the fourth-ranked squad.

The bats simply came alive against American Samoa, while despite winning only one game in the competition, Fiji gave the CNMI a run for its money by playing with a lot of pride.

The CNMI then went on to beat New Caledonia and Palau for a spot in the finals against Guam.

The Commonwealth took advantage of a jaded New Caledonia bullpen and shot past the host team, 11-5

Jones then was lights out against Palau, registering 11 punch outs, while his teammates racked up eight runs off 12 hits

Then in the finals, the CNMI fell behind early, 0-2, but rallied its way in front, 4-3, in the third frame.

Coincidently, Jones came to the mound to start the fourth inning and turned in another dominating performance. He gave up just one run for the remainder of the game, allowing his teammates to get their bats going as the match carried on.

Veteran Delos Santos best described the team’s singular mindset in winning the gold medal in Noumea in an interview with the Saipan Tribune during a victory party on Saipan weeks after the championship game.

“All our hard work paid off when we returned with the gold medal. We played as one unit in New Caledonia, everybody gave their share in the win,” he said.