Hustlers handle Ol’ Aces in playoff opener, 8-4

The pennant-winning UMDA Hustlers got the 2005 playoffs of Saipan Little League Baseball Association underway on Saturday morning as they doubled-up on the Ol’ Aces at Tan Ge Field in Oleai to advance to the semi-finals for a chance to complete their successful season.

The Hustlers dominated the Ol’ Aces on both sides of the plate led by pitcher Jonathan Tydingco, who went the distance in the six inning contest allowing four runs off of seven hits. Tydingco fanned eight would-be hitters in the contest to keep the Aces’ bats at bay, and helped his cause by turning in a whack attack from the batter’s box.

Tydingco went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles and a solo homerun in his first at bat that gave the Hustlers the lead in the top of the second inning—one that wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Teammate Clyde Sablan hit a pair of singles during a solid 2-for-3 performance with the aluminum swat stick, stole a pair of bases, and scored three times while Peter Ngeskebei went 3-for-4 with two singles and an RBI double that came during a four-run third inning.

McDonald’s 10, Kagman 1-2-3 0

The kids from Kagman were never able to advance a runner beyond second base against Team McDonald’s as they exited the playoffs without a score thanks in large part to seven-run second inning and pitcher John Maratita.

The McDonald’s hurler surrendered just three hits and fanned nine of the 16 batters he faced in the four inning affair to pick up the win, and his teammates provided plenty of run support—including a three-run inside the park homerun by Joseph Basa.

The centerfielder racked up four RBI’s in the abbreviated contest and added a double to finish 2-for-3 before the umpires invoked the 10-run mercy rule.

Catcher JD Sablan continued his hitting spree with a perfect 2-for-2 outing in which he cranked an RBI single and RBI double, while teammate Patrick Tenorio went 2-for-3 with a single and double.

Twins 4, Blue Jays 1

Pitchers Ben Lizama and Vince Castro highlighted the tale of two Twins by combining to strikeout seven batters and hold the Blue Jays to one run off of nine hits to advance to the second round of the Little League playoffs.

Lizama also provided power at the plate by hitting three singles—including a two-run base knock in the sixth inning to help put the game away.

The most dangerous hitter in the league was held to only one hit in three attempts, but Eric Tenorio made it count with the game winning RBI double that scored first baseman Dave Jones.

Third baseman Diego Camacho was a flawless 2-for-2 from the batter’s box with a pair of singles and a runs scored.

Braves 14, Pirates 2

Last year’s champions were ousted from post-season play when the Tanapag Braves pounded the Pirates for 10 runs off of eight hits in the bottom of the fourth inning prompt the umpires to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.

Before it was over, the Braves tallied 14 runs off of 14 hits through four innings before Charito Kladikm hit a walk-off three-run homerun to put the icing on his team’s playoff cake.

Kladikm finished the day 2-for-4 with a single, a stolen base and a pair of scores while teammate Eli Pangelinan was a perfect 3-for-3 with three singles, three ribbies, and two scores—one of which occurred when he stole home in the bottom of the first inning.