By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
A WEEKEND of fast-pitch softball clinics drew over 70 young girls over two Saturdays, giving them an opportunity to experience the sport — from batting to running the bases and fielding — while having fun at the Miguel “Tange” Basa Pangelinan Ball Field in Susupe.
Themed “Girls with Game,” the clinic for girls aged eight to 12 was hosted by the Saipan Little League Baseball Inc.’s Girls Majors Fastpitch Softball Division and the NMI Women’s National Fastpitch Softball Team. It began with 58 girls on Nov. 15, 2025, and concluded on Nov. 22, 2025, with 73 participants.
Mariah Sablan, the NMI national team’s first baseman and organizer of the weekend clinics, said the sessions will lead to an actual league starting on Jan. 10, 2026, during which the new players will compete in 12 games.
“Over the last two Saturdays, the clinics have provided an avenue for the girls to experience the sport,” Sablan said. “Basically, it was just to coach the young players on how to bat and catch the ball, enjoy themselves, and hopefully develop a high-performance fast-pitch team in the future.”
No scores were kept, and there were no umpires. “We are not trying to make them worry about that aspect. We just want them to have fun,” she said.
“A lot of the girls are very new to the game; some have experience, and some don’t,” Sablan added.
Sablan hopes to build a strong team of young fast-pitch players, as most members of the current national team are older. “Having young players come up through the ranks would be great for the national team,” she said.
She added that the clinics create an avenue for the girls to learn, train, and reach a high level of play at a young age. “We want to start at younger ages so we can grow into older age groups and have a really good league,” Sablan said.
Besides Sablan, other NMI Women’s National Fastpitch Softball Team members who coached the girls included catcher Destiny Pangelinan; shortstop and second baseman Regine Palacios; pitcher Jenny Dela Cruz; second baseman/outfielder Kiana Camacho; outfielders Ashley Angui and Britney Palacios Gopez; catcher Ashley Aguon; third baseman Christy Aldan; first baseman Trina Palacios; and coaches Erlinda Naputi and Mark Flores.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
