The tournament in 2018 was hosted by Washington state. In 2019, it was Oregon’s turn. Nathan Camacho had the privilege to participate in both events.
The annual tournament allows people from the CNMI now residing in the U.S. to get together and spend quality time while enjoying a game of softball. The added bonus, Camacho said, is the opportunity to see family members from the different states.
Camacho played for Pac Chain. “As far as performance goes, we did fairly well,” he said. “Our team was known to be one of the top teams to beat.”
In 2018 his team finished second, but ended up fourth in 2019. “Every team had great talents,” Camacho said. “There were players on almost every team who would have amazing stories to share about their experience in baseball or softball.”
Nathan Camacho, second right, poses with his brother Brian Camacho, left, and first cousins Jordan Pangelinan and Tony Salas during the 2019 CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament in Oregon. Contributed photo
The 22-year-old Camacho has been holding a bat since he was 4. He has won a total of five Little League Baseball championships and has been selected nearly every year since 2011 to represent the CNMI in off-island events. He played for the 2014 and 2015 Asia-Pacific team, which saw action in the Junior League World Series of Baseball. In addition, Camacho was a member of the CNMI national team in the last Micronesian Games and at the Micronesia Baseball Classic held on Guam.
When it comes to the Labor Day tournaments in the U.S., he said it is his moments with his family that he cherishes the most.
He said his best memory of the 2019 Labor Day tournament was “how my brother, Brian, and I got to be teammates with our cousins Tony Salas and Jordan Pangelinan. They had all represented the CNMI, and were members of All-Star teams as well. The Labor Day tournament is really something to look forward to every year.”
