Little Legals’ Maratita no-hits Hustlers

The Little Legals? Pedro Maratita, seen here batting in an earlier game in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball, threw a no-hitter in their 11-0 win over the Hustlers last Monday at the Miguel ?Tan Ge? Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Maratita pitched in five flawless innings and struck out 11 batters. He got two strikeouts apiece in the first four innings and capped his game-long brilliance with a 1-2-3 in the fifth and last inning. With Maratita not allowing even a walk, the Hustlers had only three players going at bat in each of the five innings.
Also standing out for the Little Legals was shortstop Reyson Lisua, who connected on a two-run inside-the-park homer at the top of the fourth and made an RBI single in the fifth. Lisua went 3-for-4 at bat and scored three runs.

The Little Legals secured the early win via 10-run mercy rule after firing four runs apiece in the last two innings. With the win, the Little Legals moved up from 10th sixth place with their 6-4 record. The Falcons (8-1) lead the team standings, followed by the Braves (7-1), IT&E (9-2), Comets I (7-2), McDonald’s (6-3), Little Legals (6-4), Hustlers (5-4), Laolao Bay (5-4), IP&E Rockies (4-5), JPO Enforcers (4-4), Red Sox (3-6), Comets II (2-7), Jets (1-7), Ol’Aces (1-8), and the Twins (0-8).

Squads at the bottom half of the teams standings must start getting wins as the Major division is past its halfway mark in the regular season and only the Top 8 teams will advance to the playoffs.

Falcons 12, Comets I 3
The Falcons regained the upper hand after dominating Comets I in the third game last Monday.
The defending champions racked up four runs apiece in the first three innings to finish off Comets I one inning early. Six of those runs were courtesy of first baseman Justin Cangco, who had two-run singles each in the first three innings. Angel Iguel also contributed to the Falcons’ cause with his RBI singles in the first and second and a sacrifice in the third. The Falcons’ three other runs were recorded off two errors from Comets I and Max Pangelinan’s RBI single in the second inning.

Pangelinan closed out for the Falcon and earned three quick strikeouts. Arby Yaguel was the Falcons’ starting pitcher and allowed only three hits and two earned runs.
Laolao Bay 13, Comets II 2
Laolao Bay was also active in offense in the first three innings for the early decision against Comets II.

Laolao Bay capitalized on the erratic defense of Comets II to bag four unearned runs in the first inning and four more in the third en route to its fifth win in nine games.

Together with Tommy Agulto’s RBI single, Laolao took a 5-1 lead after one complete inning. A sacrifice out from Kobe Deleon Guerrero at the bottom of the first put Comets II on the board. Both teams then had one run each in the second inning with J. P. Celis scoring for Laolao off a Comets II miscue at third base and the latter getting its second run off a wild pitch.

Ahead by only four, 6-2, Laolao Bay set up the easy win via 10-run mercy rule with a seven-run top of the fourth. At the bottom, Comets II must score at least two runs to extend the match, but got none, as its leadoff batter was beaten to first and the second was stranded after Celis got two straight strikeouts. Celis came in for Andres Kalen, who pitched three innings, who allowed no hits, walked five, and struck out three.