American Samoa Under 19 Baseball team set to compete in Utah and Canada
The American Samoa Baseball Association (ASBA) has selected 19 boys to represent the Under 19 (U19) Boys Baseball Team, set to compete in the United States and Canada from June 25-July 17. The U19 team also received a donation of uniforms recently from the Solaita family on behalf of the late Ben Solaita, for this historic trip.
Samoa News spoke with the president of the ASBA and Head Coach of the U19 team Victor Langkilde about the competition in the United States and Canada.
“We are prepared to send our Under 19 National Baseball Team to Utah and Canada, with the team departing American Samoa on June 24,” said Langkilde, noting the team comprises “high school student athletes from the different high schools in the territory, public and private.”
He said the student-athletes participating are from the high schools of Samoana, Tafuna, Leone, Nu’uuli Voc-Tech and Fa’asao Marist, as well as one elementary school student from Samoa Baptist Academy.
The coaches leading the contingent will be Victor Langkilde, Samoa Samoa and Peter Misilagi. They will be joined by staff after arriving in Utah who will be assisting the team, and that will include an assistant coach from Dixie State College, Brent Haring and a coach from Utah, Jed Chrishman.
“We are looking at taking a contingent of close to 30 that will consist of players, coaches and parents. We will be in Utah from June 25-July 7. From July 7 to July 15 we will be in Canada. We are anticipating to play 20 plus games in Utah and Canada. This will be a good experience for our Under 19 National Team,”Langkilde said.
“We would like to thank Laufasa Solaita and the children, Pati, Sale, Soia and Louis for the donation of game uniforms and practice uniforms. They also provided the uniforms for the New Caledonia 2011 Pacific Games. Ben Solaita was well known for his support of baseball, softball and the fautasi races for 20 plus years. We are thankful, and we appreciate Laufasa and the children for their support, as we continue to push our students to excel not only in the sport of baseball, but also in their academics for a better future in becoming good citizens of society,” he said.
Langkilde believes this next stage of competition in Utah and Canada will continue to develop the skills and talent of our young baseball players in American Samoa, and with the opportunity to travel abroad and being able to participate in this competition, it will also provide potential college opportunities for these young players.
The American Samoa Under 19 National Team:
Player School
1 Carl Samoa Fa’asao Marist
2 Darien Tauiliili Tafuna
3 Darius Tupuola Samoana
4 Derek Tupuola Samoana
5 Emmanuel Sword Tafuna
6 Freddie Libra Fa’asao Marist
7 Fritz Helg Samoana
8 Ieti Savelio Tafuna
9 Ikaika MahukA Fa’asao Marist
10 Isaia Falefa Mid-Pac/Hawaii
11 Isaia Helg Samoana
12 Jason Laolagi Samoana
13 JV Langkilde Fa’asao Marist
14 Kimo Solaita Samoana
15 Kyle Tauiliili Tafuna
16 Leuma Fualefau Fa’asao Marist
17 Mason Samoa Fa’asao Marist
18 Peter Misilagi Jr. Voch-Tech
19 Prince Fuimaono Leone
20 Raimana Hunkin Fa’asao Marist
21 Taylor Tauiliili Tafuna
22 Tolia Solaita Tafuna
23 Tua Ward Utah
Coaches: J. Victor Langkilde, Peter Misilagi, Samoa Samoa, Edmund Helg, Brent Haring and Jed Chrishman.