(NSA) — In Dec. 2024, the Natibu Sports Association received a request for assistance in setting up a friendly baseball match with the Kim Tae-kyun Baseball Organization from Hongseong, South Korea. The organization was planning to hold a baseball camp on Saipan around Feb. 2025 and wanted to play against a team of 11- to 12-year-olds. NSA agreed to help organize a friendly match with the Little Braves for February at Tan Ge Field.
Unfortunately, the baseball camp on Saipan was eventually canceled and never took place. However, in Jan. 2025, NSA received an invitation to participate in potential baseball exchange games planned for October or November 2025. This will be the 3rd Annual Kim Tae-kyun Baseball Exchange Games, in which teams from Japan and Korea have participated in the past. NSA accepted the invitation but could not guarantee participation until more details became available and costs were determined.
The tournament was later confirmed for Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2025, in Hongseong, South Korea, with two teams from Japan and one team from Korea participating, along with the Little Braves representing the CNMI. This marks the first time a team from the CNMI has been invited to play in this event, and NSA hopes to represent the CNMI well while continuing to build these international relationships. The event will consist of three games and will also include training sessions with teams from Korea and Japan to help local youth develop their skills and experience competition at a higher level.
Over the past few months, NSA, the Little Braves, and their parents have been soliciting and fundraising to help defray the cost of airfare and other travel-related expenses. NSA is a community-based nonprofit organization that has promoted youth delinquency and substance abuse prevention through sports and athletics since 2010. The association is very grateful for the opportunity to represent the CNMI, and any amount of support donated to NSA will be greatly appreciated. With the help of parents, the team has also set up a GoFundMe account to receive donations from the mainland: https://gofund.me/2a3153cf7
A very big thank-you goes out to all those who have helped sponsor and contribute to making this event possible.
The team is comprised of 11 players ages 11–12 and is headed by Manager Vince Camacho and Coaches Ian Norita and Nick Nekai. The players are Dylan Barcinas, Nate Nekai, Chance Reyes, Damian Herman, Dayton Marchadesch, Damian Sablan, Ralph Magofna Jr., Lennox Sablan, Jesse Cabrera II, Elijah Babauta, and Nethaniel Neth. The team has been practicing and is looking forward to this first-time participation — and hopefully more in the future.
