The NMI Junior National Baseball Team members pose for a photo during the 2023 Palau-CNMI Goodwill Tournament at the Asahi Baseball Stadium in Koror, Palau.
THE NMI Junior National Baseball Team ended their participation in the 2023 Palau-CNMI Goodwill Tournament on a high note, winning two of three games at the Asahi Baseball Stadium in Koror, Palau.
The tournament was held from June 19 to 23 with the NMI losing 0-5 to the Palau National Team on day one.
Both teams were unable to break the silence in the first two innings, but in the bottom of the third, Palau’s defensive pressure started to affect the NMI’s rhythm.
Palau stole bases and notched three runs for a 3-0 lead.
The NMI failed to get out of the gutter while Palau scored a run in the fourth and the sixth to triumph, 5-0.
Back-to-back wins
The NMI made up for their initial loss with back-to-back wins in the next two games against Palau’s U19 Team.
In their first game against Palau’s U19, the NMI established control in the opening inning with Albert Adriano sneaking past home off an error for a 1-0 lead.
The NMI seemed to have the win in the palm of their hands after five scoreless innings.
However, Palau U19 bagged a run in the sixth inning to tie the score, 1-1.
Neither team could score a run in the seventh and final inning, but in the extra inning, the NMI’s JR Suel walked off a single to notch victory, 2-1.
In the second game, the NMI slipped in two runs in the top of the third inning, but Palau answered with four runs in the top of the fourth to seize the lead, 4-2.
The NMI returned the favor by scoring two runs in the next two innings to tie the score and force another extra inning.
Palau regained control with a run in the top of the ninth, but committed defensive errors that allowed the NMI to notch two runs and seal the deal, 6-5.
“We really had to dig deep for both wins in extra innings,” said NMI Team Manager Joey Dela Cruz.
The NMI players had butterflies in the first few innings, but they eventually settled down and played their game, he added.
Learning experience
For Dela Cruz and the rest of the team, “this experience is not only beneficial for the players, but for the managers and officials and the baseball program as well.”
He added, “Administratively, we are able to grow. This is how we need to prepare, and what we need to do. At the end of the day, I believe this is a win-win for CNMI baseball, especially for the junior national program.”
Dela Cruz said he was satisfied with the outcome of the goodwill tournament, “but that was not my priority.”
He said he wanted the NMI players “to get exposure and experience and build relationships with regional baseball players.”
Dela Cruz noted that Palau is an Olympic member “so their resources and access to baseball training is larger than ours.”
Dela Cruz also said that they took the NMI boys to the Palau International Coral Reef Center where they learned about the eco-system and solid waste management.
“They also learned how used beer bottles and other glass objects could be recycled into works of art by glass blowing,” Dela Cruz said.
“Palau was a great host — their hospitality is unbeatable,” he added.
“We are also grateful to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Rep. John Paul Sablan, the SNILD members, as well as businesses such as Joeten, D&Q, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and most especially our JR Nationals’ parents,” said Dela Cruz
He added that Palau wants to host the goodwill tournament annually and will invite more age groups such as U15 and masters as well as players from Tinian and Rota.
