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BANGOR – Activity is under way around the globe in anticipation of the 2007 Senior League World Series, scheduled for Aug. 12-18 at Mansfield Stadium.
The first spot in the 10-team field was filled Thursday when the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands won the Asia-Pacific championship.
CNMI, an island chain in the North Pacific, swept two games in its regional, defeating the Philippines and Guam by identical 11-0 scores to earn its first trip to the SLWS since 2004.
One other regional started Friday, the Latin America qualifier at St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. That champion will be crowned July 8.
And in the host city, tournament organizers announced additional sponsors as the SLWS comes to Bangor for the sixth consecutive year.
TD Banknorth and the Maine Department of Tourism have signed on as new “grand slam” sponsors making a minimum commitment of $5,000, according to SLWS tournament director Mike Brooker.
In addition, R.H. Foster Energy will promote the SLWS on its oil trucks and at its nine On the Run convenience stores in Greater Bangor. Beginning Sunday, those stores will serve as official SLWS ticket outlets, where interested persons may purchase tournament passes in advance.
The company also will conduct a fundraising campaign in which On the Run patrons may purchase an SLWS sign for $1. The signs will be put up in the stores and proceeds will benefit the series and host Maine District 3 Little League.
“We really look at this as a great opportunity to show community support,” said Roy Boothby, R.H. Foster convenience retail marketing manager.
Brooker sees the partnership with R.H. Foster as a way to spread word about the SLWS beyond the sports community.
“It just puts the tournament out there in the public eye even more,” he said. “This relationship is going to put it out there for a month and a half before the tournament and hopefully pique people’s interest in buying tickets to come see what it’s all about.
“It’s a great opportunity, not only because of the great baseball being played but just to see the interrelationships among the kids from all over the world.”
Opening-day ceremonies for the SLWS are set for Aug. 11 with a free program of events at the stadium. They begin at 4 p.m. with a skills competition for Maine District 3 baseball and softball players, followed by a vintage baseball game at 5:30 p.m. with teams from Maine and Massachusetts replicating the sport as it was played in the 1800s.
The 10 teams will be featured in a parade of champions at 7:30 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 8 and fireworks at 8:30.
Five days of round-robin play begin at noon, Aug. 12, when the Maine District 3 winner squares off against the Canadian champion.
Round-robin play continues through Aug. 16, with four games daily. The Maine District 3 champ will play at 5 p.m. Aug. 13, Aug. 15, and Aug. 16.
The top two teams in Pool A and Pool B will advance to the semifinals on Aug. 17, with the championship game to be played Aug. 18 and televised live on one of the ESPN network channels.
“We think that last year with the things we did we increased attendance by about 15 percent,” Brooker said. “We’re hopeful that this year we can at least match that and even get a greater audience.”
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