The Sports Leigh-Out January 17-23, 2026

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.

Third place for 670 Babes in Queens of the Pacific softball tourney

In sports, it’s never over until the final out, the last whistle, or time expires, and the 670 Babes proved that point with a late tournament surge to finish third in Guam’s inaugural Queens of the Pacific Softball Tournament, held Jan. 16–18.

The tournament was held in memory of Jesse Balajadia, a highly respected figure in Guam’s baseball and softball community who passed away in 2024, and featured teams from Korea, Japan, the CNMI, and Guam.

After starting the tournament in last place, the 670 Babes battled their way back to claim the bronze medal. In the final day of games on Sunday, they opened it up with a strong 14-6 win over Queen B’s, then followed it up by beating K-Town Batties 10-6. In their final game, the Babes fell to Smokin Hot, 5-12, to clinch the bronze.

On Saturday, it was another full slate for the Babes. They were shut out 0-12 by American Legion in the opener, but bounced back in Game 2 with a 13-5 win over the Warriors. The day ended in a tight matchup against K-Town, with the Babes coming up just short in a 12-11 loss.

The tournament opened Friday with three games for the Babes. They dropped their first game to Smokin Hot, 6-9, then fell again in Game 2 against K-Town Batties, 3-8. In their final game of the day, the Babes were defeated by Queen B’s, 5-12.

Second place went to American Legion, while the champions were Guam’s Smokin’ Hot.

SIS tennis tourney underway

The annual Saipan International School Tennis Tournament is underway and wrapped up its junior division last weekend, Jan. 16-18 at the American Memorial Park tennis courts and Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan tennis courts.

The adult division is from Jan. 23-25.

In the junior division results, Matt Zhu captured gold in the U16 boys division and Daniel Kang finished with silver. Kang later returned to the court alongside Vivian Chung to claim gold in U16 mixed doubles, while Zhu and Jenna Pascual earned silver.

In U18 play, Siwoo Lee topped the boys field with gold and Jyle Landicho secured silver, while Anne Lee claimed gold for the girls and Vivian Chung followed with silver. U14 action saw Fiona Yu win gold in the girls division with Scarlett Loken taking silver, while the U14 boys finals are scheduled to be decided this weekend.

In the U12 boys division, Isaiah Mook earned gold and Evan Zhang finished with silver, and mixed doubles play featured Yu and Tim Watson taking gold, with Gabriel Walsh and Harper Loken placing second.

Mini Tennis wrapped up the event, led by James Su with a gold medal finish, followed by Annabella Zhu in silver and John Kim earning bronze.

Markus Toves signs with Tuloy FC in Philippines

NMI’s Markus Toves, who played for the national team and NMI Football Association’s Kanoa FC, signed with Tuloy FC, a Philippine professional football club based in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

In a social media post by his mother, Catherine Attao-Toves and NMIFA executive committee member, she said, “Absolutely proud of our son, Markus Toves. A son from our beautiful Commonwealth, who grew up in a system of strong leadership, great coaching, amazing teammates and fabulous supporters, since the age of 6. Continued to enhance his skills and ignite his passion for this sport through the NMIFA Leagues and programs. From those who laid the ground work before him (Ex-Co, coaches, officials and opponents), to the most recent- as they say, "iron sharpens irons." Thank you!! Lets do this, son!! BIBA Tuloy FC!!!”

 Team Korea revels in Saipan’s tropical weather ahead of WBC

South Korea’s World Baseball Classic hopefuls soaked up Saipan’s tropical weather while sharpening their skills during a far from ordinary ten-day training camp. Managed by Ji-hyun Ryu and featuring Los Angeles Dodgers utility infielder Hyeseong Kim, the team made the most of the island’s warm climate, modern facilities, and short flight from Korea as they get their early preparations in for the 2026 WBC.

The camp ran from Jan. 10 to Jan. 20, with coaches using the sessions to evaluate talent and move closer to a final 30-man roster for March. The last members of the team left on Jan. 21, with the players reconvening with their clubs before they meet up again for another training camp in February, this time in Okinawa, Japan.

In an exclusive interview with manager Ji-hyun Ryu during a mid-camp training session one week in, he said through interpreter Sung-hyun Yoo that the camp was going well. With Korea still in winter, Ryu said that Saipan provided optimal weather—despite some rainy days—and the short flight made it ideal for their first training camp.

Their focus during the camp, he said, was conditioning and building up their pitchers for both the WBC and the KBO season afterward.

The team used the track and field, the weightroom, the baseball field, and the bullpen, with Ryu scouting the facilities in 2025. When he saw the facilities, he said he was very satisfied and thought that it “will be helpful for our team to build our conditions here.”

Ryu said that he himself has trained in Saipan in 2009 before when he was a pro baseball player, and that also some of the players in the camp had visited Saipan before. When asked if they had the chance to go around and do some sightseeing, he said that they did not have enough time in between their training.

But to cap it off, Ryu said, “we reached the goal of building up our condition before going back to Korea.” When asked if they would consider coming back to train, he said he likes Saipan, so if they have a chance, they would want to come back. He did add that he was sad that the T-Galleria shut down.

Hawley rolls through Sugarcane Railroad 81km course

Before the sun even peeked out over the horizons of the Marianas, 24 runners were already on the move—setting off on a far from ordinary day in the island’s first ultramarathon-style run, one that traced history and pushed the limits of the human body. The Inaugural Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run 81km, organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority and Sports Aid Japan, began at 5am Saturday, Jan. 17, in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Haruji Matsue, the legendary “Sugar King.”

Hours later, with much of the day already gone at around 3:27pm, CNMI’s Krista Hawley crossed the finish line as the first-place solo runner, completing the grueling course in 10 hours, 28 minutes. She Runs Next, the only relay team to take on the brutal course, posted a time of 9:31:34.

CNMI’s James Munnis and Joel Phair finished in tandem, both with a time of 12:11 flat, while Angela Taflinger clocked in at 12:23:51.

Starting at Micro Beach Road, the course sent runners through a punishing island-wide loop under hot and humid conditions—climbing toward Mt. Tapochao, winding through Marpi, dropping down to Beach Road and Sugar King Park, then following the scenic beach path south through Koblerville. From there, runners pushed on through San Vicente and Laolao, up Papago and Capitol Hill, before finally circling back to the finish line at Micro Beach Road—an 81km journey that pushed their bodies to the limit, yet unfolded through paradise.

Hawley, an avid runner who recently won medals in the Oceania Athletics Cup Masters Championship last year, took on the journey of her life—her first 50-mile race ever. She said upon hearing that it will be hosted by Sports Aid Japan and MVA, she and her fiance, James Munnis knew they wanted to join. “From my understanding, this was the first ultra marathon on Saipan and since I love running, there was no excuse for not joining. We were both very excited to be part of such a challenging event on Saipan.”

Upon running through neighborhoods, up steep hills, and from the north to the south of the island, she said finishing first was unexpected. “I love the quote “live your life saying ‘I can’t believe I just did that!’ Not ‘I wish I would have done that’”. Running this sunny, hot & humid 50 miles definitely falls into that category. Coming in first was unexpected, but a good reminder that age and gender do not define what someone is able to accomplish.”

Team Chee wins NMIVA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day beach v-ball tourney

Team Chee won first place in the NMI Volleyball Association’s MLK Jr. Day Beach V-ball Tournament on Monday, Jan. 19 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan beach.

Team Chee, made up of Seth Balakrishna, Jairo Guilas, Noah Lee, Jana Agbuya, and Lina Tsukagoshi defeated Bomba Beachers in a best-of-three sets, with a sweep of the first two sets, 23-21, 21-19.

According to NMIVA’s Ryutaro Litulumar, this was a tryout and fundraiser for the NMI team that will represent in the 2026 Pacific Jam in Guam on March 20-22.

Good Game Island Esports tourney every Thursday

Get your game on at the new spot in town for gamers who want to compete, connect, and even earn a little cash: Good Game Island, an esports and gaming hub for local players. The tournaments are every Thursday from 6-8pm at the third floor of the Casa Marianas (the former Gold Beach Hotel). Show what you’ve got—they’re hiring 24 players to play full time.

Players will go head-to-head in NBA 2K, MLB, and Madden NFL. January is all about football, with the NFL block taking over the consoles after December’s NBA 2K run. Baseball fans won’t have to wait long—MLB takes center stage in February.

The format is a single-elimination bracket, with spots limited to the first eight players to sign up. There’s no entry fee, and it’s free to play. Cash prizes go to the top finishers: $25 for first place and $10 for second. Players must be 18 or older, and the event is alcohol and drug-free, with all prizes paid in cash.

E.J. Blanco, manager of the esports program said that he hopes he can get the local community into the digital economy. “I don’t discriminate—I’d love to see female representation and any ethnicity,” he said. “I know for a fact that people in the CNMI are very driven in sports and athleticism and I believe that through the digital media, it’s no different. All of us are very competitive and very spirited, and I think that this is a great avenue to introduce the world to the CNMI and hopefully we can have amazing representation within this industry.”

Esports has become a huge industry worldwide, with professional teams, leagues, and a big following. In South Korea, it’s treated like any other professional sport, complete with organized competitions and a strong competitive culture. In North America, esports is also growing fast, with professional leagues and college programs giving players more ways to compete and also turn their gaming into a real career.

At Good Game Island, Blanco said their revenue comes from a buyer that purchases data from gamers in the U.S. who play American sports games. “I just know that here in Saipan, football, baseball, and basketball are such big things here in the community that I just think that this is a great fit for anybody that wants to stick their foot in the door and get started in the digital industry in esports specifically. That’s all I hope personally.”

Learn more about Good Game Island at esports.mp

Girls Middle School v-ball playoffs underway

The PSS-NMIVA Girls Middle School Volleyball League playoffs kicked off on Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Koblerville Gymnasium. The championship rounds are slated for this morning.

Stay tuned for the full story.