From Saipan Major League and Saipan Little League teams, the NMI now has a complete draft picks who will leave for Palau next month for the 2010 Micronesian Games.
The team roster includes 2006 gold medalists, in-fielder Jester Garcia, catcher Manny Sablan, infielder, Jess Mesa, outfielder Tyrone Omar, SML pitcher Shane Mendiola, infielder Mike Pangelinan, pitcher Thomas Joab, infielder Shane Yamada, catcher-outfielder Vince Sablan, pitcher-outfielder Jason Hayes, infielder Ryan Ada, infielder Franco Torres, out/infielder Jesus Iguel, pitcher-outfielder Justin Alexander and Little League big division in-outfielder Anthony Tenorio and catcher-outfielder Vince Cepeda.
After being nominated by their respective team managers from both leagues, the players were selected by the panel composed also by team managers. From the 22 initial picks, the roster was narrowed down to 16 players, because some of the early nominees won’t make it for different reasons.
With Garcia, Sablan, Mesa and Omar, the NMI national team went undefeated in 2006 and its players won their first gold medals by defeating Guam in the finals.
The roster in hand, according to NMI national team manager, Tony Rogolifoi has the minimum number of players. A technical meeting will be held in Palau prior to the event, to decide whether to require all participating islands and countries to maximize the roster. When that happens, they would have to bring in more players to complete the maximum which is 22 players.
The NMI national teams will leave two days prior to the event.
