The Sports Leigh-Out Sept.19-Sept. 25, 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.

King-Hinds joins her 2nd Congressional Women’s Softball Game

CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds was on the diamond again for Team Congress for the Annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game 2026 on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

At the end, the Bad News Babes beat Team Congress, 22-16.

In her social media post, King-Hinds said, “I am playing because my mom and my sister are both breast cancer survivors. But far more importantly, there’s too many women and people in general in our community that have had to deal and battle with cancer, and so I’m playing for every single one of them when I go out on this field. I love you CNMI.”

This year’s event raised $882,596 for the Young Survival Coalition, bringing the event's lifetime fundraising total to more than $5.8 million.

Northern Marianas Jiu Jitsu Fed holds 1st meeting, lays out goals

The Northern Marianas Jiu Jitsu Federation is the newest sport to join the Northern Marianas Sports Association and held its first board meeting on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

Its board officers include president Clinton Dela Cruz, vice president Angel San Nicolas, secretary Clarinda Ocampo, and treasurer Woong “James” Choi. The board of directors include Raymond Santos, Jemma Manibo, Joseph Ocampo, Jaclyn Quitugua, Joseph Rios, Jason Atrero, Shane Alvarez, Song “Ballen” Zi Qiang, and Daryn Roufus.

Dela Cruz, a black belt with 17 years of experience in the sport said that the ultimate goal is to “help support and develop jiu jitsu here in the CNMI.”

Having the federation is important for local practitioners and jiu jitsu gyms, said Dela Cruz. “It’s a disservice to the athletes here because there’s a ton of athletes that are practicing jiu jitsu and they’ve done so for many years, so having representation is really important. I’m glad we’re able to start this and support the gym, the professors, the coaches that are doing the work to train the athletes here, to bring up the youth—so we’re very excited.”

San Nicolas, for his part, said the federation is here to spread awareness of jiu jitsu. “Instead of looking at it as a fighting sport…. having a federation helps break that barrier, that boundary—it’s an actual sport. If Taekwondo, boxing, even judo, can be an Olympic sport, why can’t jiu jitsu.”

The federation also hopes to provide local athletes with opportunities to showcase their skills in larger tournaments, potentially leading to lifelong passions or business opportunities.

Read the full story on our website.

Davy Laxa graduates from AFC Referee Academy

After three years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, CNMI’s Davy Laxa has graduated from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referee Academy, becoming the first referee from the CNMI to complete the program.

Laxa graduated with Batch 5 on Sept. 18, in Malaysia alongside 43 referees from across Asia.

For Laxa, completing the Academy is more than just a personal accomplishment. He said he hopes his journey will show young people in the NMI that there are opportunities to build a future in football beyond playing and coaching.

“I really hope that my participation in this three-year-long Academy can show that referee development deserves to be prioritized alongside the development of players and coaches because there is a future in football beyond playing and coaching,” Laxa said.

“Refereeing can also be a career choice in the world of football—a chance to represent our islands, pursue our passion, and reach the highest level of the sport.”

When Laxa started the Academy in 2023, he said he had three goals in mind. His first was to create a vision for aspiring referees in the NMI and show them that there are other pathways in football besides playing and coaching.

His second was to officiate at the highest level of football he could achieve through the program, and his third was to open doors for him to officiate in other countries and gain experience at the international level.

Read the full story on our website.

Send off held for NMI U17 Women’s National Team

A send off ceremony was held on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium for the NMI U17 Women’s National Team, as they head off to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers from Oct. 5-11.

They are in Group D and will be going up against Kyrgyz Republic on Oct. 5, against host Vietnam on Oct. 8, and against Palestine on Oct. 11.

The team is made up of team captains Aubrey White and Alyssa Borlongan, along with Jacqueline Cepeda, Christina Napitan, Aira Daca, Angel Calayag, Orica George, Ye Lynn Ha, Beatrice Gross, Talina Aguon-McClure, Cassidee Flores, Rhiana Macalinao, Elyza Brillo, Jade Pascual, Princess Gariguez, Leilani Ruszala, Alyssa Brasuell and Rhodalyn Zandueta.

The Team officials include head of delegation Luam Khen Koo, head coach Mae Ito, assistant coaches Ronnel Ocanada and Bernadette Horey, goal keeper coach Mark Chavez, team manager Dianne Pablo, assistant team manager Yu Hung Emma Lee, team doctor Brian Briones, and team physiotherapist Hazel Mabasa.

PSS Athletic Programs wrap up 2nd week

Despite rain threatening over the past two weeks, the PSS Athletic Programs are well underway all over the island. PSS-NMIFA Interscholastic Co-Ed Elementary School League just wrapped up their third day of games yesterday, Friday, Sept. 25, while the PSS-NMA All School Cross Country is on their third qualifier today along with the Gecko 5000 at Banzai Cliff. As for the PSS-NMIVA Girls High School Volleyball League, they just wrapped up their mid-season with Rota and Tinian getting some play time on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25. The rest of the season is still ahead so stay tuned for more stories.

Byron, Rosie lead 2026 BASA batters as of Sept. 13

Master’s Division

Batting Average Top 3:

-Byron Kaipat, Asahi: .784

-Kevin Kapileo, Wassup : .778

-Taylor Germance, Asahi : .775

Women's League

Batting Average Top 3:

-Rosie Saralu, Lady Akkari: .737

-Kiana Camacho, Dirty Diamonds: .632

-Allana Sumang, Belias Bat Girls: .630

Master’s Team Standings:

-Tokahao: 10-1

-Asahi: 10-1

-Man Amigos: 7-4

-Sufa: 7-4

-Wassup: 6-5

-Hagu Lamun: 5-6

-Peleliu: 5-6

-Mix Breed: 4-7

-Latte Faya: 1-10

-Chalek Ha: 0-11

Women's Team Standings:

-Dirty Diamonds: 7-1

-670 Magas Babes: 7-2

-Lady Sufa: 6-2

-Belias Bat Girls: 5-4

-Lady Akkari: 5-4

-Rebelz: 2-6

-Bat Pitches: 1-6

-89ers: 0-8

Results from 9/20:

Masters:

-Tokahao vs. Peleliu: 11-1

-Sufa vs. Man Amigos: 17-5

-Mix Breed vs. Chalek Ha: 10-7

-Wassup vs. Hagu Lamun: 10-5

-Asahi vs. Latte Faya: 24-8

Women’s:

-Lady Akkari vs. 89ers: 21-7

-Lady Sufa vs. 670 Magas Babes: 20-0

-Rebelz vs. Bat Pitches: 20-0

Read the full story on our website.