MegaByte gets 3rd straight title in Crime Stoppers softball

MegaByte players pose with their championship trophy and are joined for a group photo by organizers of the 14th Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Fundraising Tournament held last month at the Capitol Hill Ballfield. (Contributed Photo)

MegaByte went undefeated and beat 12 teams in the 14th Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Fundraising Tournament double elimination contest held late last month.

MegaByte won their third consecutive championship. The three-time champion MegaByte and co-ed teams representing IP&E, Marianas Variety, Best Sunshine, Brabu Pharmacy, T-Galleria, Pacific Islands Club, MARPAC, Bridge Capital, Pacific Amusement DOCOMO, and Mariana Resort and Spa fought hard on the Capitol Hill Softball Field for bragging rights and to have its name placed on the perpetual TOM and JERRY four-feet trophy.

Although all the games were competitive, IP&E was the team that overcame an early loss and continued to pull though, losing in the first round before fighting back and coming from behind to beat Bridge Capital and get into the semifinals. IP&E then came back from a sizable deficit against MARPAC to tie the ball game in the seventh inning and send it to the only extra innings game of the tournament. Although IP&E lost the effort to MARPAC, this game was the highlight of the tournament.

Tom Blas (former Crime Stoppers coordinator) and Jerry Ayuyu from DPS worked together with the NMI board of directors to create this fantastic event 14 years ago. This event not only showcases some of the best softball talents NMI has to offer, but also provides opportunities for businesses to get together and have a weekend of camaraderie and fun—all for a great cause.

The NMI Crime Stoppers program was founded in 1989 and works with Law Enforcement (local and federal), the media and the community to help prevent and solve crime. The NMI CS program takes tips on crime anonymously in three ways;

Phone 234 7272 (PARA -which means stop in Chamorro),

Website – www.nmicrimestoppers.net (click on submit a tip)

APP on Android or Apple phones called TIP SUBMIT.(you can download this APP for free and submit tips along with photos over the WEB securely)

All these methods are designed to prevent the identity of the “tipster” from ever being known. This eliminates any fear of reprisal, the need to go to court or speak to law enforcement. The technology used allow a great amount of information to be obtained and at the same time “sanitizes” the information to exclude name, sex, race, or other information that might identify a caller before it is sent to our secure computer.

Crime Stoppers also pays up to $1000 for information leading to an arrest. It also pays a minimum of $500 for information leading to an arrest for crimes against tourist or our tourism/hospitality industry. Since 1989, tips to the local crime stoppers program have led to over 210 arrests, including 2 murder cases, numerous burglary & robbery case, $200,000 in recovered property and over 2.4 Million in drugs taken off the street from tips provided by the community. Crime Stoppers accepts tips on all crime, including environmental crimes (illegal dumping, waste oil, poaching etc), domestic violence, child abuse, robbery, burglary and other property crimes and of course illegal firearms, murder, illegal drug sales, human, weapon and drug trafficking. We want your information…not you name!

The annual NMI Crime Stopper Softball Tournament is the primary income source for its annual operations. Special thanks go to Congressman Vinny Sablan, IT&E, United Airlines and Island Training Solutions for their help in making this event possible.

For more information on the NMI Crime Stoppers program, call Jim Arenovski at 287-7037 or send email to deltamgt@pticom.com