‘Tan Ko’ baseball field to get facelift

Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada said the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field will be spruced up in time for the 2015 Junior, Senior, and Big League Asia-Pacific-Middle East Regional Tournament, which Saipan is hosting later this month.

“We’ve hosted and done this before so we’re ready to do it again. We’ve been doing this for many years and the last we hosted a regional tournament was in 2008,” said Ada, who is also the regional tournament director.

Ada said DPW personnel and Northern Marianas Sports Association staff would do the renovation which will run from June 15 to 24. The regional tournament will be from June 26 to July 4.

“We’ll make sure the Tan Ko field is ready and in good condition to hold the games. Grounds crew, DPW staff, and also staff from the gym will work together,” said Ada, a former CNMI district administrator.

“The logistics are in full gear and we expect the refurbishing to be done just in time before the June 26 opening. A grounds crew is also tasked to maintain the infield and outfield of the baseball field,” he added.

The grandstands and dugouts will be given a fresh coat of paint, along with the officials stand, while new nets will also be put in place around the areas where fly balls or home runs might land.

The nets will also protect the glass windows and doors of the rooms at Sun Palace Hotel, which is near the ballfield. Fly balls and home runs often land beside the said establishment.

NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi would help coordinate the project since the Oleai Sports Complex is now under the Commonwealth’s sports governing body.

Ada also thanked Lynn B. Duenas for her more than two months of service as the organizing committee’s secretary/treasurer. Duenas resigned last week due to personal issues.

“Though we’re sad that Lynn resigned. Taking care of her mother is her top priority, we respect her decision and we’re sorry to see her leave the committee but family always comes first,” said Ada.

He already appointed Saipan Little League vice president Annie Deleon Guerrero Flores, who is also tasked to handle the accommodation of the regional tournament, as Duenas’ replacement.

Ada said that the Philippines’ Big League team along with Australia and Hong Kong, which will be competing in the Junior and Senior divisions, are expected to arrive on June 24, while the other 12 squads will be on Saipan in time for the June 25 managers meeting and welcome reception.

Chinese-Taipei, Guam, and host CNMI are the other competing countries and they will be joined by Australia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines in the Junior League. The CNMI, Guam, Hong Kong and the Philippines are the Senior League teams, while Chinese-Taipei will defend its title against the CNMI, Guam, and the Philippines in the Big League.