By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE number of participating teams in the 2007 season of Saipan Little League Baseball increased from 30 to 34 last week, according to SLLB president Joe Salas.
With this large number, Salas is encouraging team representatives to submit the requirements as early as possible. Requirements include waiver forms, rosters and entrance fees.
“We’re asking them to submit the required documents before the deadline because we have a lot of paper work to do. We need to check these documents and then make the schedule of games for the four divisions,” Salas said.
The deadline for the submission of the requirements is Thursday, Feb. 8.
The 2007 season of SLLB will start on Feb. 16 with competitions in the Majors, Junior, Senior and Big leagues.
Salas said a brief opening ceremony will take place at 6:45 p.m. at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
“We might have one game in the Big league after the opening,” Salas said.
After the opening, SLLB will follow its original game schedules.
Matches in the Major, Big, Senior and Junior leagues will be played every Saturday and Sunday for the whole day. Teams in the Big, Senior and Junior divisions will also play every Friday night.
When the league opens next Friday, all eyes will be focused on three teams. They are the Patriots, the Hustlers and the Ol’Aces.
The Patriots notched the pennant and championship in the Majors division while the Hustlers topped the Juniors.
The Ol’Aces were the champions in the Senior and Big league divisions.
At the opening and for the duration of the league, SLLB will be implementing pitch counts to prevent injuries.
Pitchers will be allowed to pitch a certain number of times and when they reach the limit, they must be replaced.
Meanwhile, a mandatory meeting is scheduled for today at 6 p.m. at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Pitch counts forms will be distributed at the meeting.
Team representatives will also receive copies of ground and league rules.
For more information, contact Salas at 285-1643.