By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

JR Hattig shared some tips with young local baseball players, things that helped him make it to the Major Leagues during a two-day mini camp over the weekend at San Vicente Elementary School Ballfield.
The mini camp was organized by the NMI Crime Stoppers through Jerry Ayuyu and the Saipan Little League.
The mini camp was held on Saturday and Sunday and close to 100 kids had the chance to learn from the Toronto Blue Jays’ third baseman. The camp was divided into five sessions to give Hattig the chance to concentrate on a smaller group instead of teaching a large group.
Five teams from the Majors division were the first to take the field while players from Tinian, the CK Bears, Ol’Aces 1 and 2, Matrix and Red Sox were Hattig’s students after a 30-minute break.
The camp resumed at 1:30 p.m. after lunch with four more Majors division teams learning from the baseball pro.
Hattig ended the day with the Juniors division players at 3:30 p.m. The Senior and Big League division teams were Hattig’s final trainees on Sunday.
Hattig was pleased with the great turnout, support and warm welcome given to him on Saipan by the community. “To the organizers and the whole community, I would like to thank you all for the support and warm welcome you have given to me.”
“It was a great turnout. I was excited about teaching the kids. It was a great opportunity for me to give something to the kids of Saipan,” said Hattig, who also has some relatives here on Saipan.
He returned to Guam yesterday and will leave on Feb. 12 for the mainland. He will then head to Tampa Bay, Fla. on Feb. 22 to join his teammates for the start of the Blue Jays’ spring training.
Hattig was impressed with the skill level of many of the kids. “There are a lot of kids who are good and some still need to be fine tuned.”
“I was pleased with how eager they were to learn and follow every instruction that I gave them. They performed everything as I expected them to.”
Hattig became Micronesia’s first Major League ballplayer when he joined the Blue Jays this season. He played 13 games with Toronto.
Saipan Little League Board president Joe Salas thanked Hattig for the time he spent with the kids. “It is nice to learn something new from one of our own. We thank JR for teaching the kids.”
The sponsors of the event were Sorensen Media Group, IT&E, Pacific Trading Com., Pacific Islands Club, Aquarius Beach Tower, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Microl Corp., JG Sablan Ice & Water, Saipan Little League Baseball Association and the CNMI Crime Stoppers.