Patriots take top spot in playoffs

The Patriots virtually took the No. 1 spot for the playoff round with ease last Sunday by beating defending champion Kagman Lion Heart, 7-4, in the Junior Division of the 2009 Saipan Little League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

With only a game left for the three-time Major Division titlists, the Patriots are riding high with a 13-1 record as they further buried the Lion Heart in the team standings with a 4-8 win-loss card, good only for fifth place.

Brian Camacho went 1-for-3 with two runs, Jeremy Rabauliman also had a 2-for-3 performance along with a run, while Henry Rabauliman (1-for-3, two runs, an RBI) and Alan Aguon (1-for-3, one run, one RBI) also contributed in the win.

The Patriots will close out their regular season schedule this Saturday, May 2, when they face Ol’Aces, who they already beat twice this season with scores of 18-5 in the first round last Feb. 21 and 11-7 in the second round last March 29.
[B] Ol’Aces 5, D-9ers 1[/B]

Ol’Aces strengthened its hold of second place with a spirited win over the D-9ers last Saturday.

Ol’Aces are now 9-3 and they also virtually earned the No. 2 spot in the playoffs even if they lose their two remaining games of the regular season.
[B] Fielders 5, Lion Heart 3[/B]

Also last Saturday, the Fielders dealt the Lion Heart their first defeat of the weekend with a 5-3 decision.

Winning pitcher Patrick Tenorio was steady on the mound in seven complete innings with four strikeouts. He gave up only seven hits, three stolen bases, and three runs while issuing two walks.

On offense, Tenorio singled thrice in four times at bat and reached home plate twice, while Poland Masaharu went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI single in the third as the Fielders erected a 3-0 lead.

However, the win was only the fourth in 16 outings for the Fielders and the Lion Heart suffered their ninth loss in 13 games.

Three Lion Heart pitchers, R.S. Roppul, Vicente Camacho, and Ricardo Dela Cruz, combined for 10 strikeouts. They allowed eight hits, four walks, six stolen bases, and five runs.

The D-9ers, the only team to score a win so far against the Patriots this year, bounced back with a 9-3 victory over the Red Sox last Sunday.

Peter Lieto walked to first base four times and contributed two runs. L.J. Norita went 3-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Zack Aldan had a 2-for-4 stint at the plate with two runs and a triple.