Vince Cepeda

Vicente Pastorites Cepeda Jr.

• High School Saipan South High School

• Born November 9, 1991

Biographical Information

Vince Cepeda has played for the Northern Mariana Islands national team.

In the 2011 Pacific Games, the teenager started against the American Samoa national team. He began the game by striking out Louis Solaita and Leuma Fualefau. Pemerika Mahuka singled but was caught stealing. The next two innings were nearly as sharp; he allowed no hits, walked a pair and fanned four more before Thomas Joab Jr. relieved. While he left with a 7-0 lead, it was Joab who got the win as Cepeda only had worked three innings. He later played a little in right field, going 1 for 5 with a hit off Palau's L'Amour Arurang. He then got the nod in the Gold Medal Game, starting against another Cepeda Jr., Freddy Cepeda Jr. of Guam. He began by plunking B.J. Balajadia, who stole two bases and scored on a Roke Alcantara Jr. hit. He walked Rico Castro before getting his first out, Jim Reyes. Joseph Tuquero singled to make it 2-0 but Cepeda retired Dominic Cruz and Jathan Barnes to escape further harm. He went 1-2-3 in the 2nd against John Salas, Dale Alvarez (K) and Balajadia. After his team put four runs on the board in the top of the third, he had trouble in the bottom of the third. Alcantara walked, advanced on a pick-off error, took third on a Castro grounder and scored on a wild pitch. After Cepeda walked Reyes, he was relieved by team ace Josh Jones, who closed out the game and got the win. He led the 2015 Saipan Major League with a 1.05 ERA and 56 K.