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CNMI sluggers lead NMASA monthly awardees
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Posted on Oct 10 2011
By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter
Reporter
Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association recognized the CNMI Baseball Team’s historic win in the 2011 Pacific Games after naming the members of the champion squad as the September Male Athletes of the Month.
The CNMI sluggers won the gold medal in the Pacific Games in New Caledonia after beating rival Guam in the finals, 8-4. The Commonwealth bets also topped host New Caledonia in the playoffs, 11-5, and shut out 2007 champion Palau, 8-0, to advance to the gold medal match. In the preliminary round, the CNMI Team posted a 3-2 record, losing to Guam and New Caledonia and winning over Fiji, American Samoa, and Palau.
“Thank you for recognizing our players’ hard work,” said Saipan Major League baseball president Rose Igitol at the NMASA meeting last Thursday night.
Another Pacific Games competitor-Northern Marianas Athletics’ Rachel Abrams-was honored in the monthly meeting. She was named Female Student Athlete of the Month (for September).
The Marianas High School student also made history in New Caledonia when she became the first CNMI sprinter to race in the finals of the Pacific Games. The 16-year-old runner came in at second in her qualifying heat in the 200m race, timing in at 27.46 seconds, to move into the finals. Abrams also joined the 100m race and posted a new personal best time with her 13.40 seconds.
Meanwhile, NMASA also selected the student awardees for August after it failed to do so last month as officials and athletes were in New Caledonia.
Tennis swept the monthly plums with junior netter Tammy Ackerman and Christian Miller claiming the Female and Male Student Athletes of the Month awards.
The two CNMI junior tennis players were voted for the coveted award after their impressive performance in the 2011 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Lautoka, Fiji. Ackerman ruled the girls U12 singles division of the POJC, beating teammate Negahr Rastguiy in the finals. She also took the doubles crown, joining forces with Rastguiy. Miller was the runner-up in the boys U15 division and the champion in the doubles, teaming up with Jake Lee.
Both netters were also selected to be part of the ITF Pacific Oceania Touring Team that will compete in Australia early next year.
