IT&E takes early lead in Major division

IT&E bagged its second straight win in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball after a 15-8 triumph against Laolao Bay last Monday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

With its 2-0 record, IT&E grabbed the early lead in the 15-team field, ahead of the Falcons, Braves, Hustlers, Red Sox, and Comets I, which have similar 1-0 slates. Completing the field are IP&E Rockies (1-1), Laolao Bay (1-1), McDonald’s (0-1), Little Legals (0-1), JPO Enforcers (0-1), Comets II (0-1), Jets (0-1), and the Ol’Aces (0-1).

Laolao fell to an even 1-1 card after choking at the bottom of the fifth inning, which started with IT&E ahead by only one, 8-7. IT&E managed to take a sizeable lead after five complete innings when it capitalized on Laolao’s pitching errors. It gained three runs on passed balls and four earned, including a two-run triple from catcher Spencer Dickinson.

Dickinson went on to have a perfect performance at the plate, going 4-for-4. He made the first homer of the season in the third inning, bringing home two runners with him. He also had a double and a single in the first and fourth inning, respectively.

Dickinson’s homer sparked an IT&E rally in the third inning, moving his squad within one after falling behind, 0-7, in the first two and a half innings. Two more runs off passed balls at the bottom of the fourth put IT&E on top, 8-7, and it completed the come-from-behind win with a seven-run rush in the fifth, while Laolao managed only one run in the last three innings to miss a 2-0 start.

IP&E Rockies 15, Twins 1
IP&E Rockies bounced back from its debut loss with a lopsided win over the GSM Twins in the second game.
Tyrese Camacho anchored the Rockies victory, as he threw a no-hitter in a no relief job. Camacho pitched in four innings and had 12 strikeouts, including three straight at the top of the fourth inning to end the game early.
The ace pitcher also went 3-for-3 at bat and scored three runs and two singles for IP&E Rockies, which blew the game wide open in the second inning after tallying eight runs. First baseman Dai Podziewski contributed in the breakaway with his two-run base hit, as IT&E opened a 11-0 advantage after two complete innings.

The Twins avoided a shutout when they lit up the scoreboard at the top of the third inning with Peter Guerrero reaching home off an error at third base.

Comets I 13, Ol’Aces 1
The first game last Monday also ended in a rout with Comets I trouncing the Ol’Aces.
Vincent Nakamura flirted with a no-hitter to power Comets I to an impressive debut. Nakamura pitched four innings and collected eight strikeouts, missing a no-hitter when he gave up a single to Kazuki Aguon at the bottom of the fourth. Aguon’s base hit also produced the Ol’Aces’ lone run in the game, as he brought leadoff batter Jordan Babauta home.

With Comets I and the Ol’Aces playing their first game of the season, both teams showed some rust in the first inning as they failed to score. Comets I centerfielder Francisco Frederick missed going at-bat in the opening inning, as his team was done after only four batters (he was eighth in the batting order), but made the most of his next three stints at the plate. He had an RBI single in the second, hit a two-run double in the third, and made it all the way to home in the fourth off a walk, wild throw, and passed balls.