Comets, McDonald’s rout foes

Two Comets players get ready to catch a fly during a warm-up drill before their Majors division game against the NSA Braves in the 2019 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Capital Hill Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

McDonald’s and the Comets won their season debuts in convincing fashions after pounding their respective opponents in the Majors division of the 2019 Saipan Little League Baseball over the weekend at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

The Comets opened their campaign in the six-team field with a 13-0 victory over the NSA Braves last Saturday.

The Comets needed only three and a half innings to wrap up the one-sided match, as pitchers Pat Mendiola, Greg Tebit, and Isidro Lizama combined for a no-hitter. Mendiola started for the Comets and struck out all the five batters he faced in 1.2 innings he worked the mound. Lizama came in to relieve Mendiola and was also unhittable, as the former fanned four batters—one at the top of the second and the first three in the third. Then in the fourth inning, Tebit took over the mound for the Comets and after walking leadoff batter Stanley Iakopo, the closer struck out the next three to end the game.

Besides their impressive pitching, the Comets also capitalized on the Braves’ defensive meltdowns, as the winning team scored five of their eight runs at the bottom of the first inning off their opponents’ errors. The Comets’ five other runs were off two fielder’s choice, an RBI from Jay Lizama, and stolen based from Mendiola.

Jesus Tyquengco, Isidro Lizama, and Mendiola made two runs apiece for the Comets.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s romped past the Twins, 25-2, in last Sunday’s Majors division match.

McDonald’s closed out strong, scoring eight runs apiece in the third and fourth inning to finish off the Twins early via the 10-run mercy rule.

Starting pitcher Dillon Santos went 5-for-5 at bat and recorded four runs, two doubles, one single, and three RBIs.

Kazu Dela Cruz relieved Santos late at the bottom of the first inning and started his duty with three straight strikeouts. Dela Cruz went on to fan five more batters, including the first three at the bottom of the fourth and last inning. He gave up only one hit (triple from David Yumul), had one hit by pitch, and contributed four runs.

Casey Chambers, Lance Acosta, and Isaiah Mesa chipped in three runs apiece to complete McDonald’s demolition of the Twins.

The Twins got their two runs at the bottom of the third inning with Yumul’s triple driving in Brandon Tesiro and the former also reaching home off a wild pitch from Dela Cruz.

The NSA Braves’ Stanley Iakopo throws to their coach, as they warmup for their match versus the Comets in the 2019 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Capital Hill Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)