Saipan Tribune

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

Fielders, Lions muster victories

IT&E's Junior and Big League Fielders and Kagman's Junior and Senior Lions all prevailed in Saipan Little League's recent upper division matchups at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

IT&E's Big League Fielders overcame the Natibu Sports Association Braves, 6-1, on Thursday and its Senior League counterparts triumphed over the DARE Program Enforcers, 10-3, on Saturday.

Last Saturday also saw Rep. Antonio Agulto's Junior Lions outlasting the Talaabwogh Stars Association's Falcons, 12-11, and Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero's Senior pride survive the Hunters, 5-4.

In addition, Docomo Pacific's Big League Ol'Aces pummeled Rachel Q. Reyes' Rays, 16-2, in six innings last Thursday.

The 2013 season continues at the Tan Ko field tomorrow with Big League action starting at 5pm with Paradise Island Animal Hospital Padres squaring off against the NSA Braves followed at 6:30pm by IT&E versus the LEEP Program Enforcers.

SATURDAY

JUNIOR DIVISION

Lions 12, Falcons 11

Both teams moved around two runs out of the gate and it remained a 6-all deadlock after the second inning.

Logan Martin led the Falcons from the plate early on with a pair of runs batted in, while Jesse Kalen and Ben Maratita carried the torch for the Lions with a pair of RBIs apiece.

Then after a quiet third frame, Kagman nosed out an 8-7 favor thanks to some costly errors out on the field by Talaabwogh. The Falcons also scored its run off an error in the top side of the fourth inning.

Both teams came up empty in the fifth exchange and the Lions' top of the order whipped up four clutch runs in the top of the sixth off four hits, which included a two-RBI base rip by Maratita.

The Falcons responded with one run in the bottom frame, and threatened with a three-run rally in the final stand, but the Lions held strong on the field to secure the win.

Lions' Perry Celis batted 4-for-4 for four runs, three stolen bases, and a hit-by-pitch. Ton Ilo batted 2-for-3 for an RBI, four runs, a base on balls, a hit by pitch, and a stolen base, while Maratita salvaged four RBIs off just two hits.

SENIOR DIVISION

Lions 5, Hunters 4

The Hunters clung to a 2-1 lead after the second inning, scoring off an early error and an RBI single by Jonathan Cabrera.

They added a run later in the fourth inning after a one out walk, a base hit, and a wild pitch scored Jequeen Greenman and then led it, 4-0, after five frames after a pair of base pokes by Larry Sebaklim and Jerald Cabrera.

The Lions finally awoke, however, in the last two exchanges and managed to pull out an impressive comeback.

Paul Celis doubled home Justin Santos, who led off the sixth inning with a walk, and scored soon after off a wild pitch and a pair of lead of walks to start the final inning of regulation came back to haunt the Hunters.

Lions' J.P. Taitano drew the first pass and scored off a wild pitch and teammate Catalina Cruz worked out a walk and later scored what was the winning run off a huge RBI single by Santos.

Lions pitcher Cedric Ada returned to the mound at the start of the fifth inning after dealing the first two frames of the match and kept the win intact by holding the Hunters at first and second base in the final stand to secure the save.

Lions' Jerald Cabrera batted 3-for-4 for an RBI and a run. Jonathan Cabrera went 2-for-3 for an RBI.

Fielders 10, Enforcers 3

After both teams grinded out a run in the opening frame the Fielders trotted ahead, 5-1, off four hits in the second inning, which included an RBI single for Jerry Kintol and an RBI triple for Kainoa Wanket.

IT&E then added three more runs in the third inning off a lead off hit, a couple of walks, and a sacrifice ground ball to the right side by Wanket. Gayvan Uchau and Cody Kaipat both scored off wild pitches in the mix.

The Enforcers managed to cross the plate one time in the bottom portion off a fielder's choice by Darion Jones and converted its final score in the bottom of the fifth inning off an RBI single by nine other than Jones again, but the Fielders got both runs back in the last two frames.

The first came in the sixth inning from Wanket, who bashed a leadoff double and scored off an error, while the other run occurred off a sacrifice fly by Mike Gabionza that plated Joe Guerrero.

Winning pitcher Cody Kaipat went all seven innings and gave up two earned runs off four hits, five walks, and a trio of hit batsmen with four strikeouts.

Wanket batted 4-for-5 for two RBIs and three runs.

THURSDAY

BIG DIVISION

Fielders 6, Braves 1

The Braves scored its lone run in the very first inning from Peter Lieto who hustled out an error and was escorted home off a triple by Greg Iskawa.

The Fielders got the run back right away in the bottom portion, however, from Patrick Tenorio who cracked a leadoff single and scored off an error.

IT&E pitcher Joe Atalig settled down on the mound after the early hiccup and went on to blank the Braves for the next six frames.

In fact, Atalig went on to pitch what turned out to be a two-hit gem with zero walks and 11 strikeouts.

His teammates rewarded his effort by taking the lead in the second inning, 3-1, off a couple of early errors followed by an RBI single for Tenorio. Steven Aguon also bagged an RBI in the mix.

IT&E then added another run in the third inning off an RBI base knock by Davy Matagolai and moved around its last two runs in the fourth inning off two hits and a sacrifice fly by Leroy Regis. Quinson Blas singled on and stole home in the mix as well.

IT&E's Tenorio batted 3-for-4 for an RBI and two runs. Matagolai went 2-for-3 for an RBI and a run.

Ol'Aces 16, Rays 2

Ol'Aces barreled ahead, 5-0, right away off a couple hits, four walks, and an error in the first inning and then added another run off back-to-back singles by Jonah Flores and Jun Rabauliman in the second frame.

The Ol'Aces later added another couple runs in the fourth inning off a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Jake Flores and went ahead, 9-0, in the fifth inning when Dave Hosono singled on and stole the dish.

The Rays' lone two runs came in the top of the sixth inning, just before the Ol'Aces slammed the door with a final seven-run surge off five hits, which included RBI singles for T.J. Sablan and Hosono and a two-RBI base smash by Rabauliman. Two other runs came in off an error and a wild pitch.

Rabauliman batted 4-for-5 for a three RBIs and a run. Lancaster Secharmidal swung 2-for-3 for three runs and a base on ball. Jonah Flores went 3-for-5 for three runs and a stolen base.