U12 baseball team to compete in Guam; fundraisers ongoing

An 18-player CNMI Jr. National U12 Baseball Team roster is competing in the upcoming 2026 WBSC Oceania U12 Baseball Championships at the Dededo Sports Complex in Guam from Nov. 27-30.

The team is made up of Madex Standish, Kayden Cruz, Rockson Cabrera, Zachary Scaliem, Desmond Babauta, Jayven Sablan, Leland Ogumoro-Kintol, Xander Ngeskebei, Oshean Garde, Landon Lieto, Nathaniel Reyes, Xayvion Neth, Kiean Tomokane, Isaiah Arriola Mook, Legend Coldeen, Jesse Ramon, Sasuke Castro, and Lyle Muna.

Their manager is Kyle Hocog, with the team coached by head coach Dominic Yumul, assistant coach Francisco Lieto, and team lead Alvin Takai.

The team is competing against Australia and Guam. They are going up against Australia and then Guam on Nov. 27. They will then face Guam on Nov. 28, Australia and then Guam on Nov. 29, and Australia again on Nov. 30.

The team ranked first at the end of the tournament will be crowned champions and will qualify for the 2027 WBSC U12 Baseball World Cup that will be held in Taiwan.

With preparations about three months in, the CNMI team is continuing its fundraising efforts, with a GoFundMe link available on its Saipan Baseball League social media pages and here: https://gofund.me/027fd986c  They will also be holding a hot lunch fundraiser in collaboration with OhMyGrill on Nov. 21.

Before they fly off, the team is hosting a send-off ceremony on Monday, Nov. 23, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Manager Kyle Hocog thanked those who have already donated during one of their practice sessions at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Softball Field, saying, “A huge thank you to the people who have already donated. I know the players are very thankful as well for giving them the opportunity and helping fund that.”

The team will be spending Thanksgiving on Guam for the third year in a row, with Hocog saying that the opportunity is “amazing.”

Last year, a CNMI U15 team competed in Guam and settled for second place after sweeping Guam, with Australia getting the ticket to the 2026 World Cup in Italy.