SAIPAN Baseball League’s president Rose Igitol and director Tony Rogolifoi on Saturday announced that they have stepped down from their positions.
Igitol started serving on the board of the Saipan Baseball League in 1989 as secretary/treasurer, and then served as its president for the past 20 years.
Rogolifoi, for his part, has played the sport since 1984 and is long-time coach, administrator and SBL director.
Igitol and Rogolifoi managed to run the show smoothly until Oct. 2018 when Super Typhoon Yutu devastated Saipan and Tinian.
Since then, there has been no baseball action on the island’s badly damaged Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
During the league meeting at Ada gym on Saturday, Igitol said she and Rogolifoi are stepping down because “we would like to give other people the opportunity to run the league, but we will still be around to advise when needed.”
She added, “Our children want us to be with them in the states and we have to consider their request.”
Rogolifoi said it has been “very hard [to run the league] with little help, but for the love of the sport we’ve stayed on. Every year we have people coming in supposedly to take over, but no one wants to because they are already dependent on us.”
Jay Santos, for his part, told Igitol and Rogolifoi, “You guys have been a part of this organization for a long time and have been the foundation and I hope that you guys would consider staying on board. What we have been lacking is support and maybe you could lean on myself and others. We need a team to support the board. You guys have been a part of this for so long.”
Mark Toves said: “When I heard you guys were stepping down I came here. I played with you, for you, and against you, so I know you’re experienced. Many years you have been with baseball and it’s very hard to see you go. Your experience is very hard to replace.”
During the meeting on Saturday, a board election was held, and the results will be announced soon.
Saipan Baseball League president Rose Igitol, right, speaks while SBL director Tony Rogolifoi listen during a general membership meeting Saturday in the Ada gym conference room.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
