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Saipan All-Stars set for district meet
Saipan’s bid to represent the CNMI in this year’s Asia-Pacific-Middle East Majors division regional tournament begins next week when they face Rota in a race-to-three series.
Batter Orren Cruz tries to avoid being hit by a Kiana Aldan pitch while catcher Devon Pangelinan looks on during the team’s practice session last Saturday at the Miguel Basa Pangelinan ball field. (Jon Perez)
The CNMI district tournament is set from June 18 to 20 in Rota with Tinian opting to skip the event as it failed to form a team. The regionals will be held at the Guilin Institute of Tourism in Guilin, China from July 13 to 21.
Saipan manager Joseph A. Flores said he and coaches Tomas A. Camacho and Michael A. Cruz scheduled practices four times a week where they spent two to three hours on the field.
“So they could get used to playing with one another. They came from different teams that is why the challenge is how to make them gel,” said Flores.
The team is a selection of a pitcher-heavy squad composed of the best 14 players from the 12 teams that competed last season.
“These boys can also hit but most of the players can pitch. In every selection, we choose to have more pitchers, since unlike in the regular season in your tournament, you can rest your pitchers. Pitch count is strictly monitored to avoid injuries,” said Flores.
Flores added that with the help of Camacho and Cruz’s guidance the team is again learning the basics of baseball.
“It is the same mechanics when playing. We’re teaching them again the basics like fielding grounders, batting, and pitching. These kids already know it but we just have to remind them,” he said.
“We also practice plays so they would know what to expect in the games, how to react and what to do if they encountered certain situations like how to prevent base runners from advancing, and making double or triple plays.”
Flores said that they are scheduled to leave for Rota on June 17. “We’re ready to go to the next level. We’ll do our best to win against Rota.”
The team is composed of lone female player Kiana Aldan, Jordan Babauta, Saipan Little League regular season most valuable player Vicente A. Camacho II, finals MVP Zachary Camacho, Justin Celis, Orren Cruz, Donaven Deleon Guerrero, Aven Evangelista, Kyle Kapileo, Antonio Deleon Guerrero, Norita, Devon B. Pangelinan, Sean Rabauliman, Joven Reyes, and Zakariahs Reyes.
