‘NMI Big Leaguers should toughen up mentally’

Mental toughness is what the CNMI Big League team lacked during the recently concluded 2015 Asia Pacific Middle East Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Baseball Tournament hosted by Saipan.

CNMI Big League manager Tony Rogolifoi, second left, talks to the infielders during a break in their opening game against Guam in the recently concluded in the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, Big League Baseball Regional Tournament. (Jon Perez)

Team CNMI finished with a 2-4 record to end up tied with Guam and the Philippines behind the 6-0 record of Chinese-Taipei, which earned the World Series berth after the double elimination round.

“We could have two more games—our first match against the Philippines and in the second round over Guam. They are prepared physically but I’ve been also telling them to be ready mentally,” said team manager Tony Rogolifoi in an interview with the Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Rogolifoi, who guided the CNMI to the 2006 Micronesian Games and 2011 Pacific Games gold medals, said those two games could have given them a better record behind undefeated Chinese-Taipei.

“We beat Guam in our first game and was having a good performance against the Philippines but lost to due to curfew. We beat the Philippines in the second round but lost to Guam. We could have a better record of four wins and two losses and could have played against Chinese-Taipei in the finals,” he added.

Team CNMI opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over Guam and was trailing 10-2 against the Philippines when play was halted due to curfew since the game stretched all the way to 1am.

The Philippines was declared the winner after tournament organizers consulted Little League headquarters in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The CNMI was blanked by Chinese-Taipei, 0-8, but they bounced back with a 7-6 win over the Philippines in the second round. The Commonwealth Big Leaguers lost their last two games against Guam, 5-6, and Chinese-Taipei, 1-25.

Chinese-Taipei then earned the World Series berth to Easley in South Carolina after the tournament was cut short by an approaching storm.

Rogolifoi said that he knows it would be impossible for them to beat Chinese-Taipei but he added that his wards could have at least gave the reigning back-to-back ASPAC champions a run for their money.

“Chinese-Taipei is a country of more than a million people and the CNMI has like 50,000. So we know that Chinese-Taipei will be sending a strong team since they have a larger pool for the selection of players,” said Rogolifoi.

“I ran out of good pitchers against Chinese-Taipei in the second game that’s why it was a blowout loss. I’m not making excuses but mentally the boys gave up instead of fighting back. It was a mental lapse that resulted to errors,” Rogolifoi added.

Despite the disappointing finish the Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director still commended his players.

“I still give them credit for trying. I think this team and our players need more international exposure. They should learn how to think during games, read the defense, and anticipate plays.”

“Good thing that Chinese-Taipei came and played because I really wanted the All-Star team to see how a world class team play and learn from the best,” Rogolifoi ended.