The Sports Leigh-Out Aug 23-29

Hafa Adai and Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases with this week’s Sports Leigh-Out brought to you by Joeten Motors!

Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, pools, or the beautiful ocean.

‘Marianas Night’, managers’ meeting kicks off 20th Labor Day Tournament in Tacoma, Washington

A historic 60 teams will bring Marianas pride to the Sera Sports Complex in Tacoma, Washington from Friday, Aug. 29, to Sunday, Aug. 31 for the biggest CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament yet on its 20th anniversary.

Ahead of the tourney, coaches and team managers representing the 60 teams from across the States and the Marianas convened yesterday to discuss the rules of the game and bond ahead of fierce competition. This is a record number of teams participating in the event and is expected to bring over 3,000 spectators over the 3-day tourney.

The night before the meeting, “Marianas Night”, a concert that featured Parker, J.J. Concepcion, One Marianas Band, plus special appearances from Netty Cee, Zori Talks, Magahet, and more, kicked off the tourney at the Palace Casino in Lakewood, Washington.

Thomas Manglona II and Leigh Gases are reporting live in Washington. Brought to you by Joeten Motors.

670 Magas Babes, Asahi are BASA champs

The 670 Magas Babes and Asahi are this year’s champions in the 2025 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association women’s and masters league after the championships on Sunday at the Dandan Softball Field.

The Babes seized the tiara in the women’s division with a sweep of the Batties in two straight games in the best-of-3 format. In the first game, they won, 10-3, and in the second, they clinched the title with a commanding 24-2 final.

When it came time for awards, Babes’ ace Janice Celis earned playoff MVP honors for silencing the Batties’ bats. Rachel Salalila claimed both regular season MVP and batting champ, going 24-for-37 with a blistering .649 average.

The runs scored champ was Virly Secharmidal with 21 runs; the doubles champ went to Cat Dela Cruz and Miyah Duenas with six each; home run champs were Amy Cabrera, Carey Demapan, Emy Oiterong, and Secharmidal with two each; RBI champs were Demapan and Dela Cruz with 23 each; earned run average champ was Celis with a 2.25 ERA; and strikeout champ was Ofing Shoking with 70.

In the men’s masters division, defending champs Asahi clobbered Tokahao in two straight games as well. In the first game, they won, 30-11 and in the second game, they beat them in another blowout, 24-4 final.

The playoff MVP was Taylor Germance while the regular season MVP and batting champ was Paython Rdiall who went 49 for 69 with an average of .710. The doubles champion was John Terlaje at 13; the triples champ was John Taitano with five; the home run champ went to Rdiall with 51; the earned run average champ was Jerry Guerrero with 6.08; and the strike out champ was Leo Bobai with 40.

Swim team breaks records, PBs in Romania

Moshe Sikkel, Maria Guerrero, and Justin Ma are in Otopeni, Romania for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships 2025 that wrapped up on Sunday.

Sikkel swam in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and the 50m freestyle; Guerrero swam the 50m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, and the 50m butterfly; and Ma is swimming the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, and the 50m butterfly.

Sikkel broke the 15-16 age group record in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday with a time of 1:03.22, then broke the 50m backstroke age group record with a time of 28.72 seconds, and also broke some personal best times. He reset his 50m freestyle time to 20.05 seconds, and in the 200m backstroke with 2:21.19.

Guerrero set a new best time in her 50m freestyle, and swam a 1:15.69 for a new 100m backstroke time.

And Ma, for his part, swam in a 50m pool for the first time and swam a 200m freestyle time of 2:09.07; reset his 50m freestyle time to 26.24 seconds, and reset his 100m freestyle time.

2nd Annual 4 Starz Fall Fest Volleyball Tournament 2025 tips off

The 2nd Annual 4 Starz Fall Fest Volleyball Tournament 2025 has officially tipped off at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, setting the stage for a fierce and electrifying showdown on the court.

Opening night on Monday did not disappoint. In the co-ed division, Angry Penne served up a sizzling performance, overpowering the Geckos in straight sets, 25-21, 25-16.

Over in the women’s division, the Spike Girls turned up the pressure and extinguished the flames of the Heatwave Hitters, clawing their way back after dropping the first set to win it all in a thrilling three-set battle, 19-25, 25-19, 15-11.

Meanwhile, the men’s division saw a dominant return from defending champs Bomba, who stormed the court with explosive energy, blasting past the Hammahz in a commanding 25-19, 25-17 victory.

The tournament continues through September 20, with games every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Pirates are T-ball champions

The Pirates are the champions of the Northern Mariana Islands Softball Association’s 2nd Annual Summer T-Ball League 2025 after securing the most points overall with 166 at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ball Field last Saturday.

They won 38-21 over the Mariners in their final game, boosting their overall points to 166.

The Pirates’ roster includes Waylon Beyer, Huck Bauer, Callam Torres, Isaih Ito, Scarlett Flores, Cece Willsey, Kaiyo Alepuyo, Veeda Beyer, Juriah Santos, and Denisha Santos.

Second place went to the Blue Jays with 134 points, while third place were the Comets at 124 points. Fourth place went to the Athletics with 123 points, followed by the Padres with 119, and the Mariners with 99.

MP United set to defend title in Pacific Ocean Cup

MP United Football Club flew out to Japan this week to defend their title in the Pacific Ocean Cup. Last year, they won the Pacific Ocean Cup XIV after they won three out of four matches.

The Nibbler wins 1st place, Mike’s Cup in 7th Mafuti Derby

The Nibbler was crowned king once again after falling short last year—this time in the 7th Annual I Sanhalom Laguna Anglers Association (ISLA) Mafuti Derby on Saturday at the Smiling Cove Marina.

The boat, captained by Ed Diaz along with his crew—kids Ed Diaz II and Liam Pangelinan Sablan, hauled in a total of 7.5-lbs for the Mike’s Cup (total weight) award, and reeled in the biggest catch of 5.95-lbs for first place overall and the cash prize of $1,000.

Second place and $700 went to the boat Reel Ri captained by Lufo Babauta with a catch of 4.90-lb.

Third place and $500 were seasoned anglers of the boat Sunrisers captained by Ton Tudela with a haul of 3.20-lb.

ISLA was established in 2018 by a group of anglers that treat fishing as a way of life. The Mafuti Derby is restricted to the waters inside the Saipan lagoon and participating boats can’t exceed 17 feet in length.