The Sports Leigh-Out July 25-31, 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.

66 teams ready for 2026 CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament

The 2026 CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament has announced 66 participating teams in the tournament to be held in Delta Park Sports Complex, Portland, Oregon, from Sep. 4-6.

Men's Upper (E+D) – 14 teams:

KMMNNWLTH, Guahan Athletics, Coconutz, Hungloose, Only Famz, Pacific Hustlers (Fat Boiz), Isao, Tomba, Bulacheros Hawaii, Kalakas, Kompai (Da Couve), Island Pure, Island Kingz, and Ready Mix.

Men's Lower (E/Rec) – 26 teams:

Kiridus, Familia, Sakudi, Lelu Boiz, Tomba Young Guns, Chiba, Saolak, Mangagu’, One Shot, HitNRun, Basta Nut, Panak Boiz, Che' LUTA, Che'lu, Unklasi, Lokal Stauz, Hazzi Nex, Be' Chiba Fam, Only Spam, Manhita, Basta D, Hammah Time, Warriors, Maneluta, Das Soblas, and P.O.M.

Women's Division – 10 teams:

Lady KMMNNWLTH, Tomba, LMFAO, Lady Tribe, Hammah Time Queen, Bwura, Sisterhood, CocoTitz, One Shot, and Lady Sufa.

Master's Division – 16 teams:

Zarpana, Bulacheros, Isao 67old2, Old Man by the Sea, Oldregon, Panak Boiz, OG Hammahz, Che'lu, Yahnoh, Tomba (TriBihu), Coconutz, Team SEA-NMI, Sufa, Hustle, Island Time, and Ready Mix.

Addalee Taflinger to represent NMI in Patriot Games

Student-athlete Addalee Taflinger, a 16-year-old junior at Saipan International School, is preparing to represent and wave the CNMI flag high and proud during the inaugural 2026 Patriot Games on Aug. 9-11 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.

Taflinger is one of 120 athletes selected from across the United States, U.S. territories, and tribal nations for the new competition, which is part of the Freedom 250 celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. She will represent the CNMI alongside high school athletes from across the country ages 14-17.

Taflinger, whose main sport is running, said that when she found out she was accepted, she was shocked. “There’s a lot of nominees and stuff and it’s like a big deal in the states right now, so I was really shocked that I got accepted and get to represent Saipan on this national stage,” she said.

Unlike traditional sports competitions, the Patriot Games combine a variety of physical and leadership challenges. Athletes earn points based on their finish in each event over the first two days. The top 16 boys and top 16 girls advance to Day 3, where the field is narrowed to eight athletes before the semifinal and final challenges.

Day 1 includes kickball and dodgeball, while Day 2 features a military-style obstacle course, and an All American Sports Circuit. The final day includes tug-of-war, Pop-A-Shot, and the semifinal and championship rounds.

Taflinger said the opportunity to represent Saipan means a lot, especially after the challenges the islands have faced in recent months—including two super typhoons.

“It means a lot. Coming back after the typhoon and being able to go to Australia [during the Oceania Athletics Championships]—this is just another opportunity for me to represent Saipan and everything that we’ve been through in the last couple months and just to go out there, show my island pride, and support Saipan in the sports that I’m doing.”

Her goal during the games, she said, is to “try and make it through the first round and just bring more awareness to the island of Saipan, because I know not a lot of people know about it even though it’s part of the United States. And so I just want to bring awareness about Saipan, the typhoons, and all that we’ve been through and how we’re still able to go out and do cool things like this after.”

The Patriot Games will stream on the ESPN App, while the finals will air on ABC on Aug. 13. The top overall male and female athletes will each receive a $250,000 college scholarship.

NMI Davis Cup men’s team retains Group IV status

The NMI Davis Cup men’s team retained its Group IV status after earning a 2-1 win over Turkmenistan on Saturday, July 25, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Robbie Schorr and Colin Sinclair delivered the deciding point in the doubles match to secure the victory for the NMI. The team opened the tournament with a narrow 2-1 loss to Qatar but bounced back against Turkmenistan to remain in Group IV while dealing with food poisoning issues throughout the competition.

With Schorr and Sinclair were Colin Ramsey and Tomas Abel.

Team NMI's Isaiah Orr earns 1st int'l victory in Karate Dream Fest

Isaiah Orr, the youngest karate athlete on Team NMI at just six years old, earned his first international victory at the Karate Dream Festival, the world's largest full-contact karate championship, held from July 18-19 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

Orr was among seven Team NMI athletes who competed alongside WKO Shinkyokushinkai Guam as a 17-member Team Marianas while representing their respective islands.

Competing in the Beginner Kumite Young Boys & Girls Heavyweight division, Orr won his opening full-contact match with a strong performance to capture his first win. "For a child that young to step onto the floor at Yoyogi National Stadium and compete the way he trains at home—that's the future of our program," said Team Marianas branch chief Chris Biolchino. "Isaiah's first international win is a moment his family, his dojo, and the CNMI can be proud of."

The combined Marianas delegation also made history by fielding the region's first-ever group kata team at the tournament and earning three individual kata victories.

Joining Orr on Team NMI were Airie De Leon Guerrero, Mileah Dowai, Alex De Leon Guerrero, Spencer Floyd, Eric Atalig, and the oldest member of the group, 70-year-old Danny Banez.

For NMI athlete/coach Eric Atalig, simply making it to Tokyo was a victory after the CNMI spent weeks recovering from two super typhoons. He said, "After two super typhoons passed through the CNMI, we were still in recovery mode before departing for Tokyo. However, our commitment to compete was important as we represented the CNMI alongside Guam as Team Marianas.”

"We showed our true fighting spirit as Shinkyokushin practitioners. Regardless of the hardships and challenges we endured, we continued to move forward,” said Atalig.

Atalig then credited the athletes' parents, the CNMI Shinkyokushin community, Rep. Vincent Aldan, Sen. Celina Roberto, Sen. Jude Hofschneider, and the Saipan Mayor's Office for helping make the team's trip to Tokyo possible.

The Karate Dream Festival drew a Guinness World Records-certified 4,057 competitors, making it the largest full-contact karate championship ever held.

Sakura sweeps, Shogo upsets

Sakura Masuki swept both women's single titles in the YONEX Northern Marianas Open and the

CROWNE PLAZA International, while Shogo Ogawa made an epic comeback in the men's singles to upset YONEX champion Sang Yong Park on Saturday, July 25, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The Inaugural Oceania Masters in Paradise is ongoing until Aug. 4.

Masuki took the women’s singles title after beating N. Sunakawa, 21-13, 21-16. In women’s doubles, M. Konegawa and A. Uesugi won the championship by walkover against M. Aiso and M. Niimi.

In the men’s singles final, S. Ogawa came back after dropping the first set to defeat Park S.Y., 12-21, 21-19, 21-18. Jeong N.E. and S. Cho won the mixed doubles championship after defeating Y. Nakashizu and M. Yamakota, 21-13, 21-15. The men’s doubles title went to C. W. Wei and P. Yang, who beat T. Aizawa and D. Sano, 21-16, 22-20.

Talaya Club teaches youth the art of the talåya

The Talaya Club hosted a youth workshop on Friday, July 24, at American Memorial Park/Micro Beach to pass down the art and tradition of the talåya to the next generation, while also serving as an opportunity to join their "Fishing as a Family" program.

Club instructors—Jesse Chong, Slade Adelbai, and Jeremiah Benavente, taught 18 students from Koblerville Elementary School, eight from Da'ok Academy, and about a dozen other youth from the community about the cultural significance of the talåya, how to properly prepare and handle the net, proper throwing techniques, reading the tides, and understanding fish behavior along the shoreline through hands-on practice.

Since the club’s inception in 2022, it has introduced approximately 400 youth to the traditional skill. Club members hope to continue those efforts, noting that while there is still a community of talåyerus, not enough people are passing the knowledge and tradition on to the next generation.

JKPL wraps up summer program with 3-day batting alley session

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library wrapped up its Summer Reading Program with movement and skill development during its three-day health and wellness portion at the Marianas Batting Alley, where participants took part in a baseball and softball clinic with volunteers from Wednesday, July 22, to Friday, July 24.

The Summer Reading Program, which began on June 15 and ended on the last day of the clinic, brought together over 60 children for activities focused on literacy, health, and community engagement. And, in the midst of recovery from two super typhoons, the program saw a strong turnout and provided participants and library staff with a sense of normalcy while giving youth a chance to stay active and engaged.

Library staff thanked Marianas Batting Alley for helping make the clinic possible, along with volunteers Ashley Angui, Moriah Sablan, Christy Palacios, and Kyle Hocog, as well as the Commonwealth Library Council, library staff, the Office of the Governor, parents, participants, and the CNMI Public School System meal program for their support throughout the summer program.

NMI women off to LPK Cup in Cambodia

The NMI Women’s National Soccer Team is in Cambodia for the 2026 LPK Cup from Aug. 1-5.

They are competing against Tuloy FC Women’s on Saturday, Aug. 1, then AFESIP XO (U16) on Monday, Aug. 3, then XO United FC Women’s on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The roster is made up of almost the same roster that went to Guam for the EAFF tourney in June. It consists of Dianne Pablo, Gabrielle Race, Bernadette Horey, Jerlyn Castillo, Khristelle Itaas, Jannah Casarino, Christina Atalig, Sophia Quintos, Summer Manahane, Mia Abuan, Kaithlyn Chavez, Julie Chavez, Stacy Arriola, Iris Rasa, Hailey Benavente, Alyssa Borlongan, Aubrey White, Orica George, Deseha Mendiola, and Joselynn Atalig.

The officials are Luam Khen Koo (Head of Delegation), Yu Hung Lee (Head of Delegation), Mae Ito (Head Coach), Ronnel Ocanada (Assistant Coach), Merrick Toves (Goalkeeper Coach), Hazel Mabasa (Physiotherapist), and Marrielle Gariguez (Team Manager).