Oleai complex damage report in the works

The fence near the first base of the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Softball Field bore the brunt of Typhoon Soudelor that hit Saipan last Aug. 2. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Northern Marianas Sports Association is working on an assessment report on the damage sustained by the Oleai Sports Complex from Typhoon Soudelor.

NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi said the report will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek financial assistance for the repair of the facilities inside the complex. The complex houses the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field, the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Softball Field, the track and field oval, and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Ada Gym was flooded after Soudelor hit Saipan on Aug. 2, as the facility lost covers of some vents and had broken windows. The batting cage at the “Tan Ko” field was crumpled, while portion of the fence (on the side facing Sun Palace Hotel) went down and the nets that are used to catch fly balls near home plate were damaged.

At the “Tan Ge” pitch, the two warm-up cages were also torn and the fence near first base was completely down as a Commonwealth Utilities Corp. pole hit it. The press box was partially damaged, while the facility’s sign was completely broken. Some parts of the fence at the track facility were also down, while tree branches, trunks, and leaves were scattered around the oval.

“Obviously, we can’t open the Oleai Sports Complex with the kind of damage it sustained from the typhoon. There will be no games until further notice,” Rogolifoi said.

Postponed tournaments

The batting cage is no more as the facility beside the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field crumpled when Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan last Aug. 2. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Soccer School is postponing its U13 co-ed futsal tournament while the island is still recovering from Soudelor.

Games in the futsal contest were originally scheduled from Aug. 9 to 22 at the TSL Sports Complex, which remains close for clearing.

SSS is also resetting the kickoff of the Summer Sports Fest with the new date to be announced later. The event was supposed to start last Aug. 3.

Another event set for this month—the Marianas Paddlefest—will be rescheduled. The clinic and races were initially slated on Aug. 29 and 30.

Golf courses updates

Meanwhile, the 18-hole east course of Laolao Bay Golf & Resort is now open, while only the first nine holes of the west course is available for play.

Over at the Marianas Country Club, only the first nine holes is open and for in-house guests of Mariana Resort only. Limited slots will be made available by Aug. 13 as clearing operations are still ongoing at the Marpi course.

Down south at the Coral Ocean Point, the entire course is unavailable until further notice.

Kingfisher Golf Links has yet to make an announcement regarding the availability of the Talafofo course.