Lamarc leads NMI win against Guam

Lamarc Iguel nearly pitched a complete game and sparked the CNMI Junior All-Stars to an 8-3 victory over Guam in the continuation of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Regional Little League Tournament at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

It was the host team’s second win in as many games following Sunday’s 9-6 escape against Indonesia.

Iguel only recorded three strikeouts but that was only half the story as the host’s right-hander controlled both sides of the plate in dealing the U.S. territory its second loss in as many games in the Junior League. Guam lost to the Philippines, 6-7, Sunday.

The game started out as a pitching duel between Iguel and Guam ace Florencio Binuya as neither teams’ runners reached home plate in the first two innings.

That changed big time though in the third as all CNMI batters—with the exception of Henry Nakamura—scored off Binuya and his replacement Jermaine Tenorio.

McGarett Duenas started things off for Team CNMI singling off Binuya to give the hosts a lead-off runner. Iguel would advance to first and Duenas to second when Binuya was called for a balk and both runners scored on an Anthony Salas triple to make it 2-0.

Peter Tenorio would bring in Salas after Nakamura was called out and Leroy Regis, Rocco Reyes, and Diego Camacho hit consecutive singles with the latter picking up two RBIs to make it 6-0.

Shortly thereafter Camacho and Joe Palacios also crossed home plate before the bleeding finally stopped when Tenorio forced Salas to fly out to centerfield.

Down 8-0, Guam managed to squeeze out two runs against Iguel in the fourth when Jonoven Dela Cruz scored on an error and Carl Quintanilla reached home on a sacrifice fly by Nathan Cruz.

That was it for Guam though, as Iguel locked in the rest of the way—ceding a inconsequential run to Binuya in the top of the seventh—before the pitch count did what Guam batters failed to do.

The game ended on a bizarre play when Frank Troy was called out after leaving third base too early following a second out fly ball by Zacharias Bukikosa.

Earlier, Hong Kong won its debut in Junior League play after thumping Indonesia, 13-3.

The former Crown Colony was at its deadliest in the second when its hitters pelted Indonesia’s pitcher Rawafi Rozali for seven runs after scoring two in the first. Hong Kong added four more insurance runs in the fourth to complete the carnage.

In yesterday’s third game, the Philippines gave the hosts an 11-7 drubbing in the Senior League. Details of the game, however, were still not available as of press time.

On Sunday’s fourth game, the Philippines leaned on a sacrifice fly by Gian Almendras that scored Angelo Esguerra to nip Guam, 8-7, in the Big League.

The International Little League Association of Manila actually enjoyed a 7-0 lead in the first four innings of the contest, but Guam came back with seven runs in the final three to nearly force extra innings.

The tournament resumes at 9am today with Indonesia still looking for its first win in the Juniors against a formidable Philippine team. The 11am contest would then pit Hong Kong vs. the CNMI, also in the Junior League.

Action continues in the afternoon with Philippines taking on CNMI in the Big League beginning at 1pm, while Indonesia and Guam will square off in the 3pm game in the Junior division.