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‘Tan Ko’ honored at MBC opening ceremony
Micronesian Baseball Classic Organizing Committee chair Rose Igitol congratulates Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios before handing over the plaque of appreciation in recognition of his contribution to the sport for more than five decades, during the opening of the Inaugural Micronesian Baseball Classic last Saturday at the “Tan Ko” ball field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios was recognized during the opening of the Inaugural Micronesian Baseball Classic last Friday at the field named after him.
MBC Organizing Committee chair Rose Igitol led the awarding of plaque of appreciation to “Tan Ko” for his contribution to baseball for more than 50 years. “Tan Ko” used to be the scorekeeper/statistician of baseball games on Saipan and selected matches featuring Micronesian teams, including the historic Saipan vs Palau gold medal game in the 1969 Micronesian Olympics. He retired in 2007 and baseball scorekeeping was never the same.
“I am honored with this recognition. I still have the memories and scoresheets of the games I worked with,” said “Tan Ko” through his grandson Rep. J. P. Sablan.
“I am happy to witness the opening of the Micronesian Baseball Classic and see that baseball in Micronesia is well and alive,” he added.
The recognition is an advanced gift for “Tan Ko,” as he will celebrate his 87th birthday next month.
Meanwhile, action in the MBC continued last Sunday with the CNMI Junior Nationals beating Palau in the evening match, 14-9.
The Commonwealth’s junior crew had a steady offense in the first three innings to gain control of the match. Palau, on the other hand, scored only in the second of the first seven innings, allowing the CNMI to take an 11-4 advantage.
The home team got two runs in the first off Jhace Palacios’ RBI triple and A.J. Evangelista’s sacrifice out; added three runs from Palau’s miscue in the second plus Evangelista run (stolen base); and one run off a fielder’s choice, a RBI walk, and Jesse Brel’s RBI single in the third. Palau scored four runs in the second inning off a wild pitch, passed ball, fielder’s choice, and Stud Alfred’s single before going cold from the third to seventh inning.
The CNMI was also without runs in the fourth and fifth, but managed to tack on two each in the sixth and eighth and one more in the last for more cushion to foil Palau’s comeback bid. Palau tallied one run in the penultimate inning and added four in the last before Peyton Lizama halted the rally with a 1-3 putout play and a strikeout.
