The 670 Magas Babes are stepping up to the plate at the CNMI Labor Day Softball tournament in Las Vegas.
THE 670 Magas Babes are ready to represent Saipan in the annual CNMI Labor Day Softball tournament on Sept. 2 in Las Vegas.
The tournament is an annual gathering of stateside CNMI residents for a day of fun, family and softball.
Erlinda Naputi, 670 Magas Babes team co-founder and president of the 670 Babes Familia Association, is “excited and confident.”
“The best part about participating in this year’s tournament is the experience of playing softball abroad and meeting our people, Chamorros and Carolinians, residing in the mainland,” she said. “When we formed the 670 Babes in 2011, it was to support the Chamolinian League. I never imagined we would travel this far to participate in the annual CNMI Labor Day softball tournament in Vegas. Bringing this team to a stateside tournament is one of the greatest experiences this team has offered its players,” she added.
The team was formed by Naputi and Pauline Camacho from two earlier squads: the 670 Babes and the GSM Babes. It is a “family team” managed by Martin Naputi, who is assisted by Angel Demapan. Demapan’s wife, TaAnn, plays second base. Camacho’s husband, Bill, coaches the team, assisted by Nate Torres and Paul Salalila. Their wives are also on the team.
They have participated in various on-island tournaments and in civic activities as well, such as celebrity bagging events and the Typhoon Soudelor relief in 2015, Erlinda Naputi said.
She thanked the team’s several sponsors, including Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Oh My Grill!, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Rep. Roy Ada, Rep. Marissa Flores, Rep. Diego Camacho, the 23rd Tinian & Aguiguan Legislative Delegation, and Sen. Karl King-Nabors.
Demapan said the team members also formed a non-profit organization to raise funds over the past six months to pay for the costs of their team’s participation in Vegas. He said their team is on the hunt for the tournament trophy, bragging rights, and much more.
“For our team, the big win is the mere opportunity to represent Saipan and to build camaraderie with our fellow residents who are currently residing in the U.S.,” Demapan said. “The experience and exposure for our ladies, some of whom are traveling outside of the Marianas for the first time, is also a big win for our team.”
One new traveler, Franica Masga, said her “excitement is through the roof.”
“It was always hard for me to come across opportunities to play women’s softball again after high school, so once the opportunity presented itself, I did not hesitate to take it,” she said. “When I was told that the Babes are participating in the Labor Day event [in] Las Vegas, I didn’t think twice about having to leave home for the time being because the Babes are no doubt a team filled with different personalities and skill sets that make the team whole. No one tries to be the best at one thing, but they all try to do and be what’s best for the whole team. I couldn’t have joined a better team for this event. I love softball!”
Another team member, Bel Igitol, is “in it for the experience.”
“New field, new people and making new lifelong memories —it’s a blessing to be a part of the team with a great group of ladies and coaches and managers,” she said. “I’m feeling super excited to play stateside, it’ll be the first for me. However, I’m not so excited about the Vegas heat. But either way, I know it’s going to be fun and we get to meet the other ladies.”
