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Weather is Senior Leaguers’ main concern
The weather in Bangor, Maine is the main concern of Senior League World Series-bound CNMI All-Stars manager Greg Camacho.
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- Rep. Angel T. Demapan (R-Saipan), right, presents CNMI Senior League All-Star team manager Greg Camacho the House Resolution he authored commending their effort in the recently concluded Asia Pacific Middle East Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Baseball Tournament held on Saipan. The CNMI All-Stars will represent the ASPAC region in next month’s World Series in Bangor, Maine. (Joel D. Pinaroc)
Camacho said that cold weather would greet them in Bangor when they open up their World Series campaign against Europe-Africa representatives Lazio League of Italy on Aug. 2 at 2pm local time.
Host Maine, Central US, and Canada will be joining Europe-Africa and the CNMI, the ASPAC representatives, in Pool B in the Aug. 2 to 8 World Series. Curacao’s Liga Pariba leads Pool B along with US East, Southeast, Southwest, and West.
Temperatures at the Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, the site of the Senior League World Series, hit 18 degrees Celsius or 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit last Monday unlike on Saipan where it can reach above 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Weather has been the coaching staff and the returning players’ concern. We’re not sure how the other boys would react to the cold weather. And from what we’ve learned, it is cold there in Bangor,” said Camacho in an interview before the team’s practice session last Monday afternoon.
Camacho said that returning players Craig Michael Aguon, Nathan Paul Camacho, Franko T. Nakamura, and Jobe Anton Reyes told the coaching staff that they had some difficulty adapting to the cold weather in last year’s World Series.
“Their body is not used to the cold weather since we don’t experience that here on Saipan. The cold weather affected the way they hold the ball. For me, I think it’s best to be there four days before the games begin so they can get used to the cold weather,” added Camacho.
“Two days is not enough for them to adjust to the weather and the time difference. Hopefully we could arrive there earlier and without delays on our flight schedule.”
Overall, Camacho—along with head coach Lawrence Camacho and assistant John Manibusan—said they are satisfied on the team’s performance every practice.
“We’re confident with these team since they have the right attitude. Skills wise, they already have that. It all depends now on how they perform in the games at the World Series and how much they want to win,” added the Senior League manager.
The team’s practice is divided into field sessions (batting, pitching, fielding, defense, and offense) every Mondays and Fridays, and strength and conditioning every Wednesday.
Camacho said that they wouldn’t underestimate all the other teams that they will be facing in the World Series especially a virtually unknown Europe-Africa region in their first game.
“We don’t want to underestimate the other teams. I’ve already learned my lesson where I took a team lightly and I lost. I always try to remember that even though a team has never won a game, they can still beat you anytime.”
John Richard Paul Atalig Jr., Anthony Joseph Agulto, Ethan Franklin Babauta, Joaquin Jose Chong, Kekuni Yamaduke Kaainoa, Franklin Jay Lizama, Henry Jesus Lizama, Aurel Joe Mendiola, Brandon Win Pua, Lorenzo Lee Sebaklim, Robin Virgil Secharmidal, and Roke T. Tenorio are the other members of the team.
