OVER 50 players, most of whom are former Little Leaguers, have joined the ongoing tryouts for the CNMI men’s baseball team that will represent the Commonwealth in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.
Organized by the Saipan Baseball League, the selection process began with 32 players attending a conditioning session at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field on Saturday. The number grew to 57 on Monday as the session resumed at the Miguel “Tange” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.
The CNMI’s baseball squad will be headed by manager Manny Sablan, head coach Derron Flores, assistant coach Gary Cruz and conditioning coach Joey Tudela.
Flores said Saturday’s session included stretching, running, short and long sprints. On Monday, the aspiring team players again performed stretching and running exercises, as well as other routines that will “get them back to baseball rhythm,” Flores added.
The selection of the players will take about two months, Flores said. “It’s going to be a tough selection as there are lots of talents to choose from,” he added.
“We always remind the guys that if we could take everybody, we’d take everybody, but the Mini Games organizing committee allows only 20 players per team,” he said.
Nevertheless, Flores encourages interested baseball players to come out and join the tryouts. A player must be 17 years old and above.
As for those already attending the tryouts, they should continue working hard as they are evaluated every day, Flores said.
“It means a lot to us, the coaches, to carry our CNMI flag. So we are doing the selection fairly and we are doing it the right way so we can select the top 20 men who will represent us on our own turf,” Flores added.
AJ Lizama, left, Nokki Saralu second left, and Jesus Iguel, right, are among the Saipan baseball players who participated in the tryouts on Monday for the CNMI men’s baseball team that will represent the Commonwealth in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.
