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CNMI prepares for 18U Oceania AAA Championship
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Posted on Dec 22 2011
By Walter J. Sutherland
Reporter
Reporter
Saipan Major League Baseball Association president Tony Rogolifoi has assembled a Junior National CNMI baseball team to compete in the upcoming 2012 18 & Under Oceania AAA Championship at Guam’s Paseo Stadium from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3, 2012.
The event is a qualifier for the XXV 18U Baseball World Championship, scheduled from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8, 2012 in Seoul, Korea.
Rogolifoi will manage the team with coaches Syl Ada and Bern Cabrera.
The team is made up of Cedric and Devon Ada, Carl and Frankie Camacho, Ricardo Dela Cruz, Jacob and Jonah Flores, Brett Halstead, Kyle and Russell Hocog, Dave Hosono, Arthur Jebehn, Khobby Kaipat, Leroy Regis, Ian Rogolifoi, and Lancaster Secharmedal.
By rule, all of the players must all be born between 1994 and 1996 and not turn 19 prior to Dec. 31 of this year.
Therefore, they are primarily first-year Saipan Little League Big Division players.
These players also participated in the SMLBA’s 2011 Summer/Fall Youth Summer Baseball League program.
The CNMI’s competition includes teams from Australia, Guam, New Zealand, and Palau.
The islands participated in the event back in 2004, where Australia took the crown.
On measuring the competition, Rogolifoi was frank, “We know that all the teams are good, but so are we. I think that they are looking out for us just as much as we are looking out for them. Except for Guam of course, we are closer to home, but we still need to get off to a good start right out of the gate.”
The CNMI drew a doubleheader on opening day and will kick off the tournament against Palau at 10am followed by a 1pm appointment with New Zealand.
The rest of the schedule will be released when confirmed.
It looks like a double-round robin format with a gold and bronze medal features at the end, however according to the current schedule, the CNMI is set to face Guam three times and Australia only once.
The team held its first practice last Tuesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield and plan to hold regular sessions every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday; weather permitting.
For more information, look up Baseball Confederation of Oceania at www.sportingpulse.com.
