Mc Donald’s commitment in sponsoring one of the league’s Major Division teams will continue to help the CNMI children achieve their dreams of becoming baseball stars.
Mc Donald’s has been sponsoring the team for eight years now. It was through the effort of Saipan Little League led then, by Joe Salas when Team McDonald’s composed of kids nine to 12 years old was formed in 2002.
Since then, Ayuyu has ensured Team McDonald’s never miss a Little League season. Some members of the pioneering team, according to Tenorio are now in the Big League.
Today, more opportunities are coming their way.
The high school level Little League in the U.S., according to Tenorio has been scouting Pacific insular areas for young talents. Just recently, coaches from Williams Sports conducted baseball clinic on Saipan.
Also, the Asia-Pacific Little League is growing rapidly with more countries joining this year, which gives young baseball players bigger challenge and greater prestige.
On Saipan however, little leaguers continue to face their own challenge as a result of economic downturn. While organizers see a growing support among children on baseball, they also watch the number of sponsors dwindle away.
The number of teams in Major Divisions, Tenorio said went down from 16 to 13 because some businesses are having a hard time stretching their finances.
As a result, only a few boys who are still in the Majors age level have to join the surviving teams.
How about the others who are not chosen? Where are they going to go?
That is the problem now, Ayuyu said, that Saipan Little League is facing. That is why he is calling to other businesses to support the organization so that the smaller boys will not be displaced.
