The Sports Leigh-Out: March 14-20

Hafa Adai yan Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases bringing you Marianas Press’ weekly wrap up—the Sports Leigh-Out for the week of March 14-20.

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.

Play ball! Little League Baseball is back

The smell of spring, the sound of bees buzzing, the swirl of dirt, and the slick of dew on the grass signal the start of baseball season, and this year brings back Little League Baseball after the reformation of the Saipan Baseball League Inc.

After a five-year hiatus, eager children are back on the diamond with a full season of baseball that started last Saturday and Sunday.

There are 10 teams in the major league division (11-12-year-olds), and four teams in the minor league division (9-10-year-olds) that are played at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Baseball Field. At the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field, there are six teams in the junior league division (13-14-year-olds), and three teams in the senior league division (15-16-year-olds).

Before the first games that started the season, an opening ceremony and a parade of teams were held that was attended by each team, parents, supporters, and the SLLB board including president Ray Yumul, vice president Annie Flores, treasurer Piding Tenorio, secretary Luisa Cabrera, player agent Lina Aguon, and safety officer Mike Guerrero.

The junior league division started the whole day of games with a showdown between the Braves and the Blue Jays, with the Braves collecting their first win, 14-2. The major league division saw the Ol’Aces win, 19-9, against Falcons II—which is the only team in the league that consists of a majority of girl players.

In other results of the junior league, the Bears mauled the Cobras, 29-22, and Ol’Aces drowned the Marlins, 25-10. In the other major league games, the Comets flew past the Cobras, 9-6, the Cubs clobbered the Falcons, 17-9; the Braves beat the Marlins, 12-2; and the Dodgers shot down the Blue Jays, 11-5.

As for the senior division, Ol’Aces beat their foes on both days—9-8 against the Braves, and 14-11 against the Comets.

Dane Tibayan’s buzzer beater stuns Prospects 1

It was a dramatic come-from-behind win for Madflex 1 as Dane Tibayan splashed the buzzer-beater against Prospects 1, 40-39, in a thrilling battle that had the feel of a championship game in the continuation of the 2025 NMIBF 15U Boys Basketball League at the Koblerville Gymnasium on Saturday.

In other results that day, Junior Ol’Aces beat Madflex 2, 39-32, and G Rollers 1 defeated YG G Rollers 2, 76-29.

As of last Saturday in the standings, Madlfex 1 and G Rollers retained their undefeated record of five wins each; Junior Ol’Aces were at 4-2; Prospects 1 and Madflex 2 had an even 3-3 record; Prospects 2 were at 1-4; YG G Rollers were at 1-5; and Peacemakers were at five losses.

TMS takes fastpitch tiara

The north side is definitely home to the bat-and-ball sport as Tanapag Middle School Lady Tatagas claimed their second softball title in a row—this time in the PSS-NMISA Inaugural Fastpitch Softball 2024-2025 season over a formidable Mount Carmel School Lady Knights team on Saturday at the Dandan Softball Field.

The Lady Tatagas went up against an MCS team that was equally as hungry for the title as the Lady Knights fought and forced their way into a winner-take-all second game, but the sluggers of the north kept their composure and sealed their title with a 14-4 win.

Kyria Ngiraked pitched both games and was rewarded with the championship for her efforts in the final game, where she held down the exhausted Lady Knights. She allowed just four runs and nine hits, while her offense supported her in the fourth inning, scoring eight of their 14 runs, which led to their eventual victory.

Lady Knights ace Miana Dela Cruz put up a good fight until that fateful fourth inning when she couldn't get out of the jam as TMS tacked up the hits and found holes in their defense.

The first game was a rollercoaster ride and a whirlwind, as MCS won by a hair, 11-10, forcing the final game. However, their energy ran out as TMS locked in during the final game and sealed their supremacy in softball—just like their boys' team, which won the slow-pitch season last year and the fast-pitch season this year as well.

Oceania Masters Athletics Day 2025 competition ongoing

For the first time, Oceania Athletics is celebrating Oceania Masters Athletics Day 2025 with a series of track & field events for athletes aged 30 and up.

In the CNMI, Northern Marianas Athletics is participating in this event and held its first competition last March 8 at the Oleai Sports Complex track & field. They had competitions in the 60m, 100m, hammer throw, javelin throw, and long jump. Last Saturday was Day 2 of competitions in the 200m, 400m, shot put, discus, and 1,500m events. Tomorrow, Saturday, March 15, the competition will be in the 800m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m mixed relay.

The celebration of masters athletes is until May 20.

Tokahao beats Ngatpang; Eagles Rays drowns Peleliu in BASA

In the continuation of the 2025 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association masters and women's league, Tokahao overpowered Ngatpang, 13-2, while the Eagle Rays drowned Peleliu, 18-8, last Sunday at the Dandan Softball Field.

In other results of the masters division that day, Sufa edged Cholos Familia, 14-7; Hagu La’mun said goodbye to Whass Up, 14-9; and Asahi clobbered Man Amigos, 22-12.

In the women’s division, Batties drubbed Wettz, 15-5; Lady Sufa trounced 89ers, 14-4; and 670 Magas Babes showed Bat & Boujee who’s boss, 10-6.

Guam Cal Ripken Baseball League hopes to take a swing in the CNMI

After the CNMI’s youth were deprived of consistent baseball for five years, the Saipan Little League Baseball finally started just last weekend, while another baseball league hopes to take a swing here in the CNMI—the Cal Ripken Baseball League Babe Ruth Inc.

The Guam Cal Ripken Baseball League, which has been in existence there for 56 years, held a presentation and introduction of their nonprofit organization on Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room for the CNMI baseball community and organization leaders, with the goal of creating more opportunities for youth to play baseball.

The presentation was led by Cal Ripken 12U president Roke Alcantara Jr., league commissioner Roke Alcantara Sr., and assistant commissioner Joe Young.

In attendance were Saipan Baseball League president Jay Santos, NMI Softball Association president Froilan Camacho, representatives from the Natibu Sports Association, National Baseball Team manager Jay Kintol, and baseball officials and umpires.

The league’s mission as stated in their flyer that they passed out in the presentation, is “to provide boys and girls between the ages of 4 through 18 years a wholesome physical fitness environment while enhancing character development, team building and sportsmanship skills.”

Alcantara Jr. presented the history of the league, the different divisions and rules, and opened the floor to questions and comments.

He mentioned a few times that, “we’re not here to compete, nor are we here to say ‘choose sides.’ Our intention is to coexist.”