The Sports Leigh-Out Aug 30-Sep 5

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.

Only Famz, Isao, SOW, Lady Tribe are 20th CNMI Labor Day champs

After the biggest Marianas event ever held in the U.S.—the 20th anniversary of the CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament in Tacoma, Washington on Sunday—Only Famz once again took the crown in the men’s division. Isao dominated the masters division, SOW came out on top in the men’s lower division, and Lady Tribe ruled the women’s bracket.

This wasn’t just a tournament—it was the ultimate reunion. Sixty teams, over 6,000 spectators, tons of vendors, and three straight days of nonstop energy, culture, and island pride. From Friday to Sunday, the Marianas community showed up and showed out like never before.

Skoba, K-Town Batties are 2nd Annual CNMI Softball Labor Day champs

Skoba defended their title as men’s division champions as they won the 2nd Annual Labor Day Softball Tournament on Sunday, defeating Mamaaw in the double-elimination finals at Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Mamaaw took second place while Blue Jays finished in third. The championship MVP went to Skoba’s Nathan Camacho.

In the women’s division, K-Town Batties beat Lady Sufa for the championship.

Norita, Jeon tops low gross of 5th Marianas Classic

Ned Norita topped the low gross category of the 5th Annual Marianas Classic Golf Tournament held last Aug. 30 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.

The former Saipan Baseball League player shot a gross score of 70 to top the field. Brian Camacho came in second with his gross 71, while Zhi Yun Li actually tied the latter but settled for third place on a scorecard tiebreak.

Pete Sablan, meanwhile, won the men’s double Peoria category with his 69.20 score, followed by Fr. James Balajadia, a former junior national golf player, and Peter “Dung” Tenorio finished tied with their identical 70s. The parish priest of Kristo Rai Church, however, edged Tenorio for runner-up honors with a birdie on hole No. 7.

In the closest to the pin competition, Chris Leon Guerrero took the plum on hole No. 4. Ditto for Sean Sablan on No. 6, while Harry Nakamura and Jerry Lin topped holes 11 and 15, respectively.

In the accurate drive tilt, Carl Hocog won on No. 9 and Perry Inos was king on No. 7. Longest drive on No. 18, meanwhile, belonged to Keith Kintol.

In the women’s low gross, Me Ae Jeon edged Sylvia Cai, 77-78, to take the plum.

In the women’s double Peoria, Yuko Togawa reigned supreme with her 72.40, followed by the 73 of Sae Hee Kim.

Santos resets Run Saipan’s Half Marathon

Victor Nash Santos reset the course record for Run Saipan’s 21-kilometer standard after topping the 4th Annual Half Marathon last Aug. 30.

The 17-year-old senior from Saipan International School ran the course from the parking lot of Marianas Beach Resort to Pacific Islands Club Saipan and back in 1:30:03to eclipse the old record of 1:42:15 set by James Munnis last year.

Finishing second to Santos was Landen Tafflinger in 1:40:29, while third place went to Jun Kawano in 1:44:44.

Akiko Miller, meanwhile, topped the women’s half-marathon in 1:45:05, despite not being able to train for the 21-kilometer run.

Krista Hawley and Ann Bang came in second and third after Miller, clocking in at 1:56:36 and 2:08:16, respectively.

The age group winners were Pete Phair (men’s 13-18), Jordan Ruiz (men’s 19-33), Matthew Giovannoni (men’s 34-39), Matthew Furan (men’s 50-54), Raymond Tolentino (men’s 55-59), Antonio Mammoli (men’s 60-64), Paul Khang (men’s 60 and over), Hanoul Sky Lee (women’s 19-33), and Kathleen Tolentino (women’s 40-44)

In the side event 10K run, Sildrey Veloria was the fleetest afoot in 42:39, followed by Victor Neil Santos and Kevin Guerrero Jr. with times of 49:26 and 50:31, respectively.

In the women’s, Addalee Tafflinger was the first to cut the tape in 53:00.12, immediately followed by Heather Brook in 53:00.15. Dianna Zheng claimed this in 55:15.