The Sports Leigh-Out Nov. 22-28

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.

U15 Baseball Team in Guam for Oceania Champs

The NMI U15 National Baseball Team that is on Guam competing in the U15 Men’s Baseball Oceania Championship 2025 was sent off with well wishes and good luck during their send off ceremony on Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

They flew out to Guam on Wednesday and are facing off against Guam and Australia, with a loss yesterday morning against powerhouse Australia, 0-15.

The team includes Gonshiro Sasamoto, Jarell Herman, Donray Barcinas, Kaleb Reyes, Kayden Lizama, Zekiel Falig, Aiden Lizama, John Fred, Eric Palacios Jr., Tiwsormal Taisacan, Kainoa Tenorio, Preston Santos, Payton Pangelinan, Dylan Barcinas, Tatum Jones, Caleb Cabrera, Liam Sablan, and Leighton Tomokane-Tenorio.

The coaching staff includes head coach Anthony Salas, Eric Palacios, Francisco Leito, manager Kyle Hocog, and head of delegation Alvin Takai.

NMI tennis promoted to Group IV after strong 2025 Davis Cup campaign

The NMI’s 2025 Davis Cup team made up of Colin Sinclair, Robbie Schorr, Colin Ramsey, and Anthony Gregoire lifted NMI to the next level in the Davis Cup with a promotion to Group IV after a strong campaign from last Wednesday to Sunday in Isa Town, Bahrain.

The team closed out the promotional playoff finals with a win over Maldives and was one of two teams out of 14 that secured a promotion from this year’s Asia/Oceania Group V tournament.

NMI’s No. 1 Sinclair powered through his match against Maldives’ No.1 with a 6-1, 6-1 win, just before Ramsey and Gregoire completed the 3-0 win, 6-2, 7-6. Schorr started off the team’s momentum giving them a 1-0 lead, 6-0, 6-1, against Maldives’ no. 2 player.

The team started off the tournament strong with a sweep of Yemen with Schorr winning the opening act with a 1-0 lead, winning 6-0, 6-2. Sinclair followed up with the same 6-0, 6-1 score. Ramsey and Gregoire then made it a 3-0 sweep, winning the doubles 6-2, 6-1.

On Friday, they went up against Laos and won, 2-1. Schorr took the first win, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0; and Sinclair bagged the second point with a 6-1, 6-0 win.

The other team that secured a promotion was Turkmenistan after they beat Guam, 3-0.

Rota’s varsity soccer team sweeps exhibition matches

Rota’s Dr. Rita H. Inos High School’s varsity soccer team flew up and showed off their skills on the pitch at the NMI Soccer Training Center with a sweep of their exhibition matches against Saipan schools on Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22. They first beat Saipan Southern High School JV, 4-2, and Marianas High School JV, 3-1.

“Girls with Game” fastpitch softball clinic draws over 70 girls

Fastpitch softball is making a comeback as the Saipan Little League “Girls with Game” Fastpitch Softball League hosted a two-day clinic to NMI’s future softball players ahead of its 2026 season at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Field in Susupe.

The two-day clinic for 9-12 year old girls on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 22 was led by league commissioner and fastpitch national team player Moriah Sablan, along with national team player volunteers. The first day of the clinic drew over 50 girls, while on the last day, the number grew to over 70.

Ahead of the season which is slated to begin on Jan. 10, Sablan said they wanted to give the girls—no matter the skill level, an avenue to experience the game and not be too nervous before jumping into the league. On the first day, the girls were taught skills and drills, while on the last day, they had a chance to experience some gameplay.

Karina Camacho, an 11-year-old at Tanapag Middle School said she joined the clinic because she wanted to get better in the game, and if she joins a league, she wants to make it to the All-Star team. She said she not only likes playing softball, but baseball too and has played since she was three under the guidance of her dad, Froilan Camacho, a coach of multiple teams in multiple leagues.

Connie Cosmes, a 10-year-old student from Garapan Elementary School, said she enjoyed batting, learning the rules of the sport, and making new friends during the clinic.

Marco Peter swings way to top 1st Crowne Plaza Saipan Golf Tourney

The Inaugural Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan Golf Tournament, which benefited the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, teed off at the LaoLao Bay Golf Resort West Course, and ended with an awards banquet and Ataari dinner show at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Saturday.

Finishing at the top of the Black Jack Double Peoria was Marco Peter with a score of 70. Second place went to Zhi Yun Li with a score of 71.4, followed closely by Joseph Muna in third place, also scoring 71.4. Rounding out the top four was Peter Mendiola, who claimed fourth place with a score of 72.2. They all received $500 each.

Peter said of the day, “It was great. Das Krishnan actually helped coordinate the whole event, so it was quite a crowd that came out to play today and got a full slate of players.” On his gameplay, he said, “In this kind of tournament when it’s a double peoria, they called out like three of my holes that I did bad on, so that gave me the advantage. I did well on most of the holes but the holes that I actually scored a double, we did the blackjack picking and they actually picked those holes, so that gave me the edge off the other scores.”

As for the first-ever tournament for Crowne, he said, “This is the first one and with all the sponsors, despite the economy, I think the businesses and the community come together for a cause—right now it’s for MINA. And the golfers, I always give thanks to the golfers, because without the golfers, you would not have a tournament, and without the golfers you would not have sponsors.”

From 5th to 8th place for a cash prize of $300 each was Joseph Sasamoto with a score of 72.4, tied closely with Sun Ho Kang in 6th place, who also posted 72.4. 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th places all came in at 72.6, awarded respectively to Ben Duenas, Harry Nakamura, Frank Nakamura, and Nick Sablan. Eleventh place went to JoJo Esteves with a score of 72.8, while Isaac Aguon rounded out the field in 12th place with a score of 73. Ninth to 12th place all received $200.

In the Consolation Prize category for the Black Jack Double Peoria, winners of the $100 cash prize included Jim Arenovski in 119th place with a double peoria score of 81.8, Kyung Ah Park in 99th place with 79.6, Ben Jones Jr. in 39th place with 75.6, and Alfred Aldan in 19th place with a score of 73.

In the Optional Play events, the Closest to the Pin winners were Gus Palacios on hole #3 with a measurement of 128.5 inches, Ned Norita on hole #7 at 121.5 inches, John Terlaje on hole #13 at 204 inches, and Luther Taylor on hole #17 with 48 inches. For the Accurate Drive Line, Ray Dela Cruz claimed the win on hole #14 with a drive measuring just 12 inches from the line.

The Accurate Circle event on hole #9 was awarded to Lydia Tan, which was determined by a raffle at the banquet. A total of seven players successfully landed in the circle, including Paul Kaipat, Freddy Salavaria, Peter Mendiola, Betty Bai, Lydia Tan, and Sixtus Aquino.

Trench Tech off to Japan for East Open Kids and Masters Champs

Trench Tech Purebred Saipan is sending a big delegation to compete in Japan for the East Open Kids and Masters JiuJitsu Championships set for today until Nov. 30.

The team includes professor Clinton Dela Cruz-Masters 2 Black Belt, Paulo Sangalang-Masters 2 Purple Belt, Jessica Ma-Adult Blue Belt, Vince Aguon-Masters 1 White Belt, Drey Aldan-Adult White Belt, Gabriel Mitchell-Kids Orange Belt, Mariana Alvarez-Masters 5 Blue Belt, James Choi-Masters 4 White Belt, professor Justis ‘Cuki’ Alvarez-Masters 5 Black Belt, and Sophia Choi-Kids Grey Belt.

The sponsors include IT&E, Monster Energy, Century Hotel, Hafa Adai Rental Car, Marianas Bingo, Blades by Crank, DC Pro Rentals, TSL Sports Complex, the Naputi family, Haiden Gifford, Evert Van Der Maas, 4Ever CNMI, and James Choi. Special thanks are also extended to the MOF competitors, as well as the athletes’ families and friends.