McDonald’s wins in ‘McComeback’

After playing from behind in five out of six innings, the McDonald’s nine of the Saipan Little League Baseball Association rallied in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game against the Ol’Aces (0-2) at four apiece before scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning to get their second win of the season on Saturday morning in front of family, friends, and fans.

McDonald’s first baseman led the charge for the small fries at the Oleai Sports Complex with a flawless 3-for-3 performance at the plate that netted the youngster a pair of singles, a double, and two runs scored, while teammate JD Sablan went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and two runs scored. Sablan also proved to be an imposing figure atop the pitcher’s mound as well, opening the game by throwing heat past the Ol’Aces’ players before John Maratita came in relief with five strong innings of baseball.

Maratita allowed three runs off of eight hits while fanning six, walking three, and plunking one unlucky batter.

As Matuis Twins 16, Kagman 1-2-3 6
The boys from Kagman never knew what hit them on Saturday morning, as the As Matuis Twins scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 16-6 game that was halted by the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Twins notched four hits in the bottom of the first, but they received plenty of help from the 1-2-3 defense that allowed them three bases on balls and an additional base runner through a throwing error.

Catcher Ben Lizama had a solid outing for the Twins, hitting 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles, two walks, and three runs scored, while teammate Dave Jones went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two singles, two scores, and a run batted in.

Little Legals 13, Church’s Chicken Bombers 3

After trailing the Bombers 2-0 after two innings, the Legals scored two runs in the top of the third, two more in the fourth, and erupted for six in the top of the fifth to thwart their fast food foes 13-3.

Center fielder Eli Mewatr headlined a list of solid Legals hitter by finishing the day with a 2-for-4 performance with the bat that netted the slugger a pair of doubles and a run scored.

Mike Fitial chipped in with a 2-for-4 day in which he knocked a pair of singles and scored a run, while teammate Ryan Ichihara went 2-for-3 with two singles, two runs scored, and a run batted in for the Legals.

Tanapag Braves 13, Toyota Matrix 1

The Tanapag Braves prevented the Toyota Matrix from reaching base through contact, as the pitchers from the northern end of the island allowed their only run via base on balls.

Jonathan Camacho pitched two strong innings for the Braves in which he fanned four and walked four, while reliever Branson Kladikm struck out a trio and walked seven in the final two innings before the game ended after the top of the fourth inning.

The Braves’ offense made sure that the contest was called via the 10-run mercy rule, as second baseman Eli Pangelinan went 3-for-3 with a trio of singles, two scores, and a run batted in, while teammate Josh Jones went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Falcons 9, Jets 5

Jerome Muda went the distance for the Falcons on Saturday morning to lead his squad to their first victory of the 2005 season. Muda allowed five runs off of three hits, walked nine, and struck out 10 through seven innings to keep the Jets at bay.

First baseman Marley Techur gave the Falcons their talons by hitting 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, two doubles, three runs scored, and a pair of runs batted in, while right fielder Juan Tenorio, Jr. was a perfect 2-for-2 with a single and a fourth inning inside the park homerun that gave the Falcons the lead for good.

SENIOR LEAGUE
Aztecs 4, Fielders 3

The Aztecs rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the top of the fourth inning to take a one-run lead and held on for the remainder of the game to secure their first win of the year over the Fielders. Winning pitcher Nicolas San Nicolas went the distance for his team, allowing three runs off of seven hits, two walks, and a dominating 14 strikeouts.

“(Catcher) Smith (Regis) was calling the pitches. We mostly went right down the middle of the plate with fast balls,” said fourth-year pitcher San Nicolas.

Regis went 1-for-2 at the plate as well, with an RBI single and a walk, while teammates Joey Togawa, Manuel Matagolai, and Olkerile Techur crossed the plate without getting a hit.

BIG LEAGUE
Northern Yankees 3, Ol’ Aces 9

The Big League went primetime on Thursday night at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field in Oleai, and the Ol’ Aces went big time by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the only lead that they would need.

Second Baseman Franco Flores led the way with a sterling 3-for-3 performance at the plate in which he scored a pair of runs, drove in a pair of scores, and stole a pair of bases, while teammate Tony Palacios went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, and a run scored.

Starting pitcher Charles Mesik went three innings for the Ol’ Aces, allowing three runs off of four hits while fanning two. Reliever JD Dikito came into the game in the fourth inning and allowed three hits while striking out three the rest of the way.