The Sports Leigh-Out Nov. 8-14

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.

Ayuyus win fastpitch title via walkoff, 15-14

Kagman High School Ayuyus are champions again—this time in the Inaugural PSS-NMISA High School Fastpitch League 2025-2026 after winning the slow pitch title twice in a row. It comes after weeks of rain delays, but it didn’t douse their fire as they beat Marianas High School Dolphins via walkoff in a thrilling finals, 15-14, on Monday at the Capital Hill Softball Field.

KHS’ Kallan Seidler set the tone and kicked off his team’s offensive run with a leadoff homer at the bottom of the first, met by an explosion of cheers from his dugout and the crowd.

The game turned into a nailbiter, back-and-forth battle as both teams clamored for the coveted title. The score kept tying up, and every time one team pulled ahead, the other answered right back. Both teams’ pitchers were exhausted from the constant barrage of runs, but it all came down to the bottom of the last inning, where the Ayuyus had the final say. Santiago Seman broke the 14-14 tie with a base hit to walk it off, 15-14.

Ayuyus pitcher Javen Camacho held down the Dolphins in the first three innings, but the Dolphins found their swing in the fourth as they scored two runs. MHS were still down, 2-5, but took the lead in the fifth when they put up five consecutive runs by Mychel Deleon Guerrero, Jequinn Lizama, Joel Cabrera, Tyrese Monkeya, and Rayven Santos to turn the tables, 7-5.

The Ayuyus answered back at the bottom of the fifth however, when errors and well placed hits by Ethan Magofna, Seman, Nick Sablan, Seidler, and Herman Iguel allowed them to retake the lead, 10-7.

The Dolphins didn’t quit and tied and took the lead again at the top of the sixth for an 11-10 game. However, the Ayuyus didn’t want to let the title go quickly as they put up four runs for a 14-11 game. The Dolphins were determined to force a tie breaking game for the next day, but the Ayuyus wanted to end it right there after days of delay. The Dolphins tied the game up for the last time, 14-14 at the top of the seventh, and it wasn’t enough as the Ayuyus clinched their third straight title via walkoff.

The Ayuyus consisted of The team includes Javen Camacho, Herman Iguel, Ayden Magofna, Ethan Magofna, Jarrod Muna, Aiken Norita, Fabio Norita, Jesse Norita, Spencer Ngiraked, Benigno Sablan, Nick Sablan, Wallace Sablan, Kallan Seidler, Francis Tomokane, Abraham Falig, Sherman Camacho, and Santiago Seman.

Over 80 compete in Mats on Fire II; Agda takes heavy weight title

The stakes were high and the action was heated as the Trench Tech Promotions’ “Mats on Fire” submission grappling tournament went on all day last Saturday at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse. Over 80 competitors took to the mats with young guns showing out in the kids division, while upsets, revenge, and sweet victories were the forefront in the adult division.

The final matchup of the day in the Adult Heavy Weight division saw Kier Agda redeem himself with gold over Vince Masga who took silver. Last year’s champ, black belt Bryan Deleon Guerrero settled for bronze.

Agda, a purple belt and instructor at Latte Built Gym who lost to Deleon Guerrero in the first Mats on Fire last year, said the win this time feels good. “I’m totally not in shape for this right now, I just did it to support the whole event, you know this fundraiser for Trench Tech and to just even lead by example and just show a good example to my members and everyone that’s out here, all the kids—just inspiring them.”

When asked what he thought about seeing all the competitors this year, he said, “It’s good to see the improvement and just everyone getting into jiu-jitsu nowadays. Every year you see it’s getting more and more and it’s really good to see.” As for his team, they picked up two golds and a silver, and he said the important thing is they listened to him and he’s proud of them.

On what’s next, Agda said he just became a dad and would like to get back into shape next year to compete in more international competitions.

In the Light Heavy Weight class, Isaiah Sablan took gold, Bonny Sagana earned silver, and Jovano Taitano took bronze. For the Middle Weight division, James Garcia claimed gold, Evert Van Der Maas earned silver, and David Cruz took bronze.

Hundreds participate in 3rd Annual Veterans Day 5K

Over a hundred participants took to the new course at Paseo De Marianas in Garapan early on Veterans Day for the HYC-Run Saipan 3rd Annual Veterans Day 5K, honoring those who have served.

While most ran leisurely with friends and family, it was also a competitive race for some, with medals given out to the top runners in their respective divisions.

The spotlight was given to the veterans who joined the 5K. In the Male Veterans division, Matthew Furan took first place with a time of 24:23, followed by Leith Poole in second at 24:40, and Travis Spaeth in third with 26:08. For the Female Veterans division, Veronica Mendez-Arriola came out on top, finishing in 28:48.

Those who are currently serving in the military were also recognized. In the Male Armed Forces division, Terrence Leung clocked in at 24:14 for first, with Magic Cabrera close behind at 24:30, and Timmy Pangelinan in third with 25:47.

The Female Armed Forces division saw Hanoul Sky Lee finishing first at 26:05, followed by Joana Ridge at 28:48 and Kelsey Lizama at 32:07.

In the overall categories, speedster Victor Nash Santos is just racking up medals in all the races he’s joined, taking the gold with a time of 18:47, followed by Takeru Jim at 19:36 and Victor Neil Santos at 21:11. For the women, Dianna Zheng led the pack at 24:35, with An Bang in second at 25:20 and Lovel Spaeth finishing third at 26:22.

Furan, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp from 1990-1996 who served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, said that the race was important because all military branches were represented and recognized—whether active duty or veterans. “To see us come together in camaraderie and just to be able to get together, remembering the service of democracy and freedom, but also remembering those who couldn’t be here today,” he said. “For myself, I served with many who are no longer here—22 veterans a day committing suicide—it’s a pandemic and those who have died in the wars, after the wars. And so today, running, I’m running for those who can’t run anymore.”

Mokyang’s team wins 3rd Annual Beach V-ball Tourney

It was a day of movement and of honoring those who served as the 3rd Annual NMC Volleyball Club Veterans Day Beach Volleyball Tournament took to the sands of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

After a full day of action under the hot sun, Mokyang Kim’s team made up of himself, Jermaine Salas, Erica Zandueta, and Ella Hall took the title over second place team of Seth Hong, K.C. Nuyles, and Charlotte Amano. In championship play, the game point is 28, with Kim’s team winning 28-23.

Kim, president of the Northern Marianas College Volleyball Club, led by example with unhittable serves and acrobatic saves to secure their title, with national beach volleyball player Salas and girls high school volleyball champions Zandueta and Hall adding to their prowess in the sand.

After the whole day of play, Salas and Zandueta were named the MVPs and were awarded with beach volleyballs courtesy of FISU.

In pool play, the game point was 21, with the quarterfinals and semifinals game point at 25.

As a participant of the tournament when he was in high school, Kim said he loved how the community came out to participate and also celebrate Veterans Day, so when he became president of the club, he kept the tournament going.

The tournament, Kim said, had a good turnout with 10 co-ed teams and 44 players. The format was 10 teams were divided into two pools with five teams in each, with pool play in the morning and playoffs in the afternoon.

When asked how the beach volleyball level on the island is, he said, “honestly, the beach volleyball level right now, is developing. We are not really advanced in beach volleyball but since hosting this tournament, giving them exposure to beach volleyball, I think the level will slowly rise, and maybe one day we can compete more higher beach volleyball levels.”

The tournament was open to 13 year olds and up. “We just wanted to let the younger players also experience beach volleyball instead of just 16 or 18 year olds.”

Their sponsors were FISU, or International University Sports Federation for the volleyball prizes, NMC, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan for the use of the beach, and the NMI Volleyball Association for the balls and volleyball nets.

U17 men's team off to Vietnam for AFC qualifier

The U17 NMI National Men’s Soccer Team was sent off with well wishes during a sendoff ceremony on Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium ahead of the AFC U17 Men’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in Hanoi, Vietnam from Nov. 22-30.

They have been placed in Group C with host Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. They’ll kick things off against Malaysia on Saturday, Nov. 22, then against Vietnam on Monday, Nov. 24. After, they’ll go up against Singapore on Wednesday, Nov. 26, then against Hong Kong on Friday, Nov. 28, and will finally wrap up their campaign against Macau on Sunday, Nov. 30.

The team’s roster features Landon Pudney, Riku Takahashi, Taher Shakir, Theo Joab, Jerz Navarro, Yutaka Kadokura, Ezekiel Babauta, Bennetton Haro, Jerome Meija, Chan Seo Yeom, Bennet Haro, Kapua Hocog, Kian Estolas, Akoni Matsumoto, Landon Springer, Jayson Tagabuel, Arstin Tagabuel, Gauis Ranada, Julio Monserrat, Taiga Namai-Scoggins, Eamon Tang, Moshe Sikkel, and David Xing.

They are joined by head coach Jireh Yobech, assistant coach Ronnel Ocanada, goal keeper coach Atsushi Hanita, video analyst/assistant coach Naruhiko Tsutsumi, team manager Mikky Buno, equipment manager Aloyzeus Angeles, team physiotherapist Hazel Mabasa, and team doctor Brian Briones.

Before the qualifiers, they are flying tomorrow to the Philippines for a training camp.

Remarks were made by NMI Football Association president Jerry Tan and executive committee member Alex Sablan.

Team captain Akoni Matsumoto and Eamon Tang then thanked everyone for their support.

Before the ceremony, eight coaches were recognized for completing the AFC C Coaching Certificate Course. They were Catherine Attao-Toves, Bernadette Horey, Doemiko Flores, Brian Lubao, Daniell Pablo, Sunjoon Tenorio, Jody O’Sullivan, and Aloyzeus Angeles.

This sendoff comes after NMIFA’s 15th Ordinary Congress and celebration of its 20th anniversary last week.

Girls high school hoops underway

The PSS-NMIBF-IT&E Girls High School Basketball season is on at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with defending champions Saipan Southern High School winning their first game against Kagman High School, 47-16, and Marianas High School narrowly winning over Mount Carmel School, 23-16. In the junior varsity division, SSHS won over Saipan International School, 28-13.

Her World, Her Rules; Next Play Program held in Tinian

The NMI Basketball Federation brought the Her World, Her Rules Next Play Program to Tinian over the weekend.

The program was led by Mikki Kautz, who took part in FIBA Oceania’s Women in Leadership (WiLead) program earlier this year. As part of WiLead, she was tasked with creating a project, and she wanted to make sure both Tinian and Rota were included in any new grassroots initiatives.

Stay tuned for the full story.