Hustlers hammer Bombers, 21-2

The UMDA Hustlers continued on their path from worst to first on Saturday, as they shot down the Church’s Chicken Bombers on the strength of 20 unanswered runs to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule in continuation of the Saipan Little League Baseball Association at the Oleai Sports Complex.

The Hustlers have made a 180-degree turnaround from last season when they finished in last place as they improved their record to a perfect 3-0, and with two games in hand on the first place Dan Dan Blue Jays (5-0).

Shortstop Nokkie Lizama led by example for the Hustler nine, as he went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a homerun, and an inside the parker homerun for six runs batted in and three runs scored. Lizama shared the spotlight with teammate Clyde Sablan, as the little centerfielder smacked a bases loaded inside the park grand slam amidst a nine-run second inning that decided the game. Sablan added a pair of singles and three runs scored to his tally for the day, while winning pitcher Jonathan Tydingco fanned five in a two-run two-hit four inning outing on the hill.

Kagman 1-2-3 13, Pacifica Pirates 6

The homesteaders dealt the defending champs their third loss of the season with big time performances from a pair of pitcher that wielded fastballs and fast bats, as starter Ignalio Benavente and reliever Jonathan Celis combined their efforts to produce Kagman 1-2-3’s third win.

Benavente pitched three and two-thirds innings allowing five runs off of five hits and fanning three, while Celis allowed a run off of two hits in the final two and one-third to scuttle any hopes of a Pirate comeback.

On the other side of the plate, Benavente went 3-for-4 with a pair of singles, a triple, a run scored, and a run batted in, while Celis went 2-for-4 with a pair of triples, three ribbies, and three runs scored.

Third baseman James Lizama led all hitters for Kagman with four base knocks, two runs batted in, and two plate crossings in a stellar 4-for-5 outing.

Tanapag Braves 12, As Matuis Twins 2
Pitcher Josh Jones did it all for the Tanapag Braves, as the hurler struck out nine would-be hitters and allowed just two runs through four complete innings on the hill, while slugging a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a trio of singles, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. The only hit that Jones surrendered was an inside the park homerun by all-star to be Eric Tenorio.

Chris Meyers made the switch from first base to second for the Braves midway through the contest, but the position change didn’t faze the youngster, as he went 2-for-2 with a homerun, a double, two stolen bases, five runs batted in, and a pair of runs scored.

The win improved the Braves’ record to 5-1, and moved the Tanapag squad to within a half game of the Blue Jays.

Dan Dan Blue Jays 10, Ol’Aces 8

Mr. Infield Tony Salas went 2-for-2 for the Dan Dan Blue Jays to lift the boys from the hill over the Ol’ Aces in a two-run game that went down to the wire. The Blue Jays took a 6-5 lead into the final inning before piling on four runs to double-up on the Ol’Aces, 10-5, but they had to hold on for dear life as the Aces rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth before being snuffed out.

Salas hit a pair of singles with two runs scored, while teammate Edibei Arurang went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, and two runs scored to keep the Jays atop the league standings.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Jets 7, Pirates 6

After letting the Pirates erode their 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, the Jets scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good to climb a win above the .500 mark. The Jets scored a couple more in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 7-4, and withstood a two-run Pirates’ rally in the top of the seventh to win for the second time this season.

Starting pitcher Jonathan Salas went five innings allowing four runs on two hits and fanning four, while Ken Villagomez punched in to allow two runs off of one hit in the final two innings of work.

Third baseman Mario Salas was flawless for the Jets, hitting 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a run scored, and a run batted in, while first baseman Nathan Kintol went a solid 2-for-4 with two base knocks and two runs batted in.

Falcons 9, Fielders 4

Marlet Techur dominated the Fielders from the hill with 12 strikeouts through seven innings of work at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field to keep the Falcons in first place of the Junior League. Techur allowed four runs off of four hits and plunked a pair of batters en route to picking up a complete game win.

The big pitcher went 1-for-3 at the plate with a single, a run scored, and a walk, but first baseman Jerome Mira provided run support with a perfect 2-for-2 outing that yielded two singles, tow runs scored, and a pair of walks.

Right fielder Charles Kladikim chipped in a single and two runs scored for the Falcons to keep pace with the Ol’ Aces.

Ol’Aces 11, Hustlers 4

The Ol’Aces scored a pair in the first, a trio in the third, a quad in the fifth, and a pair in the sixth to overwhelm the Hustlers and keep a share of first place. Starting pitcher Ryan Ada pitched four scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and fanned two before Tony Rogolifoi, Jr. and Isaiah Wabol finished the job.

Rogolifoi and Wabol also had the best at bats for the Ol’ Aces, as Rogolifoi went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and two runs scored, while Wabol scored three times and singled.