Patriots cement Major League legacy

There’s now no denying that SaipanCell Patriots are now part of Little League lore after capturing a third straight Major League title last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Field in Oleai.

Manager Thelma Mizer and her 12-man dynamite crew capped a one-loss season with a 15-0 demolition of the Dragons last weekend.

So overpowering were the SaipanCell Communications-backed squad that it was all over but the shouting in the fourth inning, after the championship massacre was forgivingly called off in the Patriots’ favor via the 10-run mercy rule.

Patriots pelted the visibly overmatched Dragons defense right from the get-go, scoring four runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer by starting pitcher Jeremy Rabauliman.

After the Dragons momentarily silenced them with a quick second inning, the Patriots’ bats came alive big time in the third, breaking the championship game wide open with an 11-run inning that, for all intents and purposes, snuffed the life out of the Dragons and added the 2008 Major League title to the championships Mizer already won in 2006 and 2007.

Rabauliman went on to register 10 strikeouts in a pitching performance for the ages, while every Patriots batter had more than two hits and scored at least a run in the one-sided finals.

The Saipan Tribune contacted Mizer and asker her about the Patriots’ dominance in the division and the secret of her program’s continued success.

“The secret to our team’s success over the years has been a lot of hard work and discipline. I am very proud of our team and the dedication that they have shown to the sport of baseball and the love of the game. The boys worked very hard to get to where they are at and they deserve recognition for their efforts. My message to the members of my team, past and present, would be to ‘Shoot high and stand tall.’ You have proven that you are the best of the best by winning the Saipan Little League Majors championship for three straight seasons in a row and I am so proud of all of you!”

She said the Patriots’ three-peat wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of several people, including Joe Guerrero and the staff of SaipanCell Communications, their fans, and most especially the families of Patriots players.

“Our hats off to all of you,” said Mizer.

Aside from Rabauliman, the 2008 Major League champions also include Christian Mizer, Jun Rabauliman, Jared Sablan, Alan Aguon, Raymond Tenorio, Jonathan Cabrera, Joe Lizama, Brett Halstead, Brandon Phillip, Jaime Manglona, and Richard Borja.

“It has been a great three years for us and I am so proud of all that you accomplished,” added Mizer.

Last year, the Patriots repeated as champions after a 20-1 drubbing of the Hustlers in the finals. The win capped an 18-0 season, including 15-0 in the regular season.

The year before, the Patriots won the Major League title following an 11-7 win over the Tanapag Braves. The team went 21-0 in 2006, including 18-0 in the regular season.