CNMI Little Leaguers drop first game to Saudi Arabia

It took until the top of the seventh inning for the game to be decided, but the CNMI Little League All-Stars were on the losing end of their opening game of the 2004 Little League World Series against Saudi Arabia by a 4-1 score.

The boys from the Northern Marianas got off on the right foot, taking an early 1-0 lead when the Saudi fielders failed to handle a Donovan George hit, allowing Philip Manalo to scream across home plate in the bottom of the first inning.

The Trans-Atlantic representatives were able to answer back in the top of the second to tie the game at a run apiece, and that’s how it stayed until the top of the seventh inning. The CNMI guys failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity in the bottom of the sixth with the bases chucked and one out. Unfortunately, slugger Dave Camacho struck out and Manalo ended the inning when he grounded to the second baseman.

George pitched five solid innings, striking out three, yielding a run off of four hits, and walking four. Tony Rogolifoi Jr. came in to relieve the starter, but failed in his save attempt. Rogolifoi allowed three runs off of four hits, and struck out a pair of Saudi batters.

The boys did remarkably well if you consider that the team from Saudi Arabia has made the trip to Williamsport 10 out of the last 11 years. The Sultans of Southwest Asia have been a dominating force in the series as well, blowing out the opposition by a total of 113-4 in the span of eight games.

Ofero Taitano led the way offensively for the CNMI going 2-for-4 at the plate, while teammate Ike Aldan went 1-for-2 with a double. Anthony Tenorio and Alex Benevente got the remaining hits for the Pacific region representatives, but the squad of sluggers needs to get the bats in gear for their second game.

One thing in which the team can take comfort is that they lost their opening game of the Asia/Pacific Regional Championships to Guam 2-0 and were able to comeback to win the tournament.

The local hard-ballers will have a day off before they face the Mexican All-Stars of the Guadalupe Linda Vista Little League on Tuesday at 3am Saipan Local time. The Mexicans will be just as hungry for a win in their second game after losing to the Netherlands Antilles, 3-2.

In other games Saturday, South Caroline Little League from Preston, Md., beat Owensboro (Ky.) Southern 7-2; Willemstad, Curacao, Dhahran, Shou-Tien, Taiwan routed Kutno, Poland 18-0 in 4 innings; and Lincoln, R.I., held on for a 3-2 victory over Davenport, Iowa.

Philip Manalo, Alex Benevente, Keith Kintol, Eli Augenbaugh, Ofero Taitano, Cameron Ser Nicolas, Eric Tenorio, David Camacho, Donovan George, Justin Alexander, Anthony Rogolifoi, Ike Aldan, R-Jay Joe, and Anthony Tenorio will become the newest celebrities in the CNMI when they face the Mexicans, as the game will be televised on ESPN 2 (channel 40 on KMCV).

The CNMI will be return to the small screen when they revisit Lamade Stadium on Tuesday, August 24 to take on Williamstad, Curacao of the Pabao Little League at 1am Saipan local time.

The semi-finals for the International Pool take place on Wednesday at 4pm and at the same time on Thursday.

The finals of the International Pool will to be played on Saturday, August 28 at 3pm, with the winner advancing to the World Series Championship Game on Sunday, August 29 at 6:30pm EST.

The Championship Game will be televised on ABC while the International Semi-finals and finals will be broadcast on ESPN.