CNMI Big League All-Stars armed and ready

Tony Rogolifoi likes the CNMI Big Leaguers chances in the Asia-Pacific-Middle East Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Regional Tournament.

A.J. Evangelista of the Natibu Sports Association Braves, left, who is joined in the photo by Saipan Little League Baseball vice president Annie Flores, is hoping to bring his MVP-like performance to this year’s Asia-Pacific-Middle East Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Tournament.
(Jon Perez)

After all, most of the players of the 16-member squad played for of the Commonwealth’s Senior League team that went to last year’s World Series in Bangor, Maine.

“This team is the cream of the crop. They are familiar with each other since they were members of the Senior League team that went all the way last year,” said the veteran baseball manager.

Rogolifoi is hoping to duplicate that feat when the CNMI battle southern neighbor Guam and perennial contender Philippines in the regional tournament that Saipan will be hosting from June 26 to July 6.

“These boys are ready to play. We’ve been practicing four times a week with one day reserved for weight training since it would greatly help their strength and conditioning,” said the Saipan Baseball League coordinator.

Big League regular season most valuable player A.J. Evangelista of finalists Natibu Sports Association Braves and championship MVP Keola Camacho of the IT&E Fielders lead the 16-member squad.

Evangelista was the most consistent hitter in the recently concluded Big League season, as he scored the most runs with 13 and tied teammate Frankie Lieto and the Padres’ Bradley Lieto with the most triples.
Camacho, on the other hand, pitched 6 1/3 innings in relief in the Fielders’ hard-earned 6-5 win over the pennant champion Braves. He only gave up two runs, both unearned, on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks, as he even pitched four shutout innings to preserve the title win.
“Keola is still young but he is willing to learn and improve. Given the proper time he could be one of the CNMI’s best pitchers,” Rogolifoi said of Camacho.

Batting champion Verlance Secharmidal, the Braves pitching duo of Darion David Jones and J.J. Lifoifoi, Cedric Ada, Jessie Brel, Jerald Cabrera, Keene Deleon Guerrero, K.J. Deleon Guerrero, Asalschigh Khobby Kaipat, Bradley R. Lieto, Jose C. Lizama Jr., Peyton Lizama, Jhace Stanley B. Palacios, and M.J. Sakisat are the other members of the squad.

The CNMI Big Leaguers may only face Guam and the Philippines as powerhouse Chinese-Taipei reportedly pulled out due to US visa restrictions, but tournament organizers are still waiting for confirmation. India, which has experienced the same problem, called off its trip.

“It would be nice if Chinese-Taipei could play. We were expecting them to come but I’ve heard that they encountered problems securing visas. With or without them, we are ready to play in front of the hometown fans,” Rogolifoi said.

“If ever Chinese-Taipei comes, it would be great and nice for us since we love to play against the top teams. The boys learn a lot from the top teams in the region. It is good to see and study our opponent’s skills and how they play. It would be nice to watch how our boys react and adjust to the powerhouse squads,” added Rogolifoi, who guided the CNMI to gold medal wins in the 2006 Saipan Micronesian Games and the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.