Falcons rally to win Junior League title

The Falcons’ Tyrese Camacho, kneeling, hands over the glove to relief pitcher Spencer Dickinson during the top of the fourth inning of their title game against the Enforcers in the Junior League division of the SLLB last Sunday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Talaabwogh Falcons labored their way to the championship in the Junior League division of the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball, pulling off a come-from-behind 10-7 win against the Kagman Enforcers last Sunday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Falcons stared a 2-6 deficit after four complete innings of the winner-take-all finale, but managed to recover at the bottom of the fifth as they scored eight runs in the pivotal phase of the match. Seven players on the Falcons’ batting order reached home plate. Spencer Dickinson was one of them and he batted twice and made it home two times, too with the last one courtesy of Tyrese Camacho’s single. Angel Iguel, Aven Evangelista, Max Pangelinan, Mark Norita, Isaiah Teigita, and Camacho registered the six other runs for the Falcons off the Enforcers’ series of miscues.

With the Falcons’ juggernaut at the top of the fifth, they stole the upper hand, 10-6, and hung on tight with Dickinson finishing the job on the mound, allowing only four hits and no earned run. Dickinson came in for Camacho late in the fourth inning and after the Enforcers threatened to gain cushion, leading at 6-1.

The Enforcers tacked on five early runs at the top of the fourth with JP Celis hitting an RBI single, Donovan Guerrero having an RBI walk, Dennis Cabrera stealing home, and Gloyd Martin and Pedro Maratita reaching off a passed ball and wild pitch from Camacho. Camacho was eventually moved to centerfield in favor of Dickinson, who started his shift by giving up back-to-back walks before catching a line drive from Jared Taitingfong for the last out.

After the Enforcers’ strong showing at the top of the fourth, the Falcons only countered with one run at the bottom as Iguel’s single brought Zach Reyes home. However, the Falcons made up for their so-so performance in the first four innings by forcing the Enforcers to a 1-2-3 inning at the top of the fifth, while collecting eight runs at the bottom.

Now behind, the Enforcers got one run at the top of the sixth with Castro making it off the Falcons’ errors. The eventual runners-up had a chance to score more as they had runners on third and second with two outs, but Maratita flied out at centerfield, allowing the Falcons to keep the driver’ seat, 10-7. The Falcons registered the first two outs with Dickinson catching a fly from Cabrera and fanning out Ignacio Mendiola.

The Falcons went on to keep their lead and complete the come-from-behind finals win in style with a double play at the top of the seventh and last inning. Iguel caught a fly ball from Castro at leftfield and then threw the ball to Teigita, who tagged out Chris Achas. Dickinson earlier struck out Sean Rabauliman for the first out, while Maratita batted second for the Falcons and moved to first off the Falcons’ booboo, but was left stranded after the double play.