THE Saipan Baseball League has announced that the NMI U18 Junior National Team will not be able to participate in the World Baseball Softball Confederation Oceania Qualifier in Auckland, New Zealand on Dec. 12-15, 2022.
“We had plans to go but we received the funding late and looking at our trip, the itinerary was tight,” SBL President Jay Santos said on Wednesday.
“Considering the long layovers and other complications, we thought it wasn’t in their best interest to go through with the trip,” he added.
On Tuesday, Santos had to deliver the bad news to the parents of the players.
He said the parents and the players understood the situation. “We’re extremely disappointed, but it’s not the end of the world,” he added.
The team’s hard work will not go in vain, however. Santos said the U18 team will see action in the upcoming SBL season which may start in February next year.
In addition, SBL still plans to send the team to off-island competitions, Santos said, adding that they are already in the talks with baseball associations in South Korea and Palau.
The U18 Junior National Baseball Team consists of team captain Charles McDonald III, co-captains Angelo Igitol and Jeremiah Suel III, Noah Aguon, Joell Borja, Justin Camacho, Joey Dela Cruz Jr., Joel Deleon Guerrero, Derrence Diaz, Jon Diaz, Achilles Evangelista, Christopher Gonzales, Andre Iguel, Keahie Omapas, Benjamin Palacios, Jylon Sablan, Michael Tomokane, and Jesus Tyquiengco. The team manager is Joey Dela Cruz while the coaches are Manny Sablan, Mike Cruz, Jeremiah Suel, and John Peter Sablan.
Ballplayers pose for a photo during a break from the NMI U18 Junior National Team tryouts.
