Rain cuts weekend games short for Juniors

The Junior League Fielders pulled off an upset to notch their third win of the season against the Falcons on a Saturday morning at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field that was plagued by rain, clouds, and more rain in continuation of the Saipan Little League Baseball Association weekend action in Oleai.

Right from the start of the contest the Fielders were unaffected by the threatening precipitation as they rebounded from a 2-0 deficit in the top of the first by rallying for three in the bottom of the inning.

After halting the Falcons in the top of the second, the Fielders took command of the game by scoring five runs in their next at bat to take an 8-2 that would last until the end of the seventh.

The Fielders scored all of their runs early and hurler Anthony Tenorio kept the Falcons grounded the rest of the way allowing five runs off of seven hits through a seven-inning complete game. Tenorio fanned five batters, and went 1-for 2 with a single, a pair of plate crossings, and a stolen base, while infielder extraordinaire Lawrence Sablan went 1-for-1 with a single, a run batted in, a stolen base, and pair of walks.

Shortstop Tom Agulto chipped in with a single to finish 1-for-3 on a day when hits were held at a premium.

While the Fielders earned their win on Saturday, they scored eight runs off of only five hits, and the Falcons served up nine walks in the first two innings alone. The loss dropped the Falcons to 6-5, while the Fielders climbed to 3-6. While the Falcons would have rather came off the field with a win, they at least were able to finish their game before the rain played havoc with the schedule and field conditions.

Hustlers 2, Ol’ Aces 0 (Postponed due to rain)

The last place Hustlers started out on the right foot by holding the league leading Ol’Aces without a run in the top of the first before taking 2-0 in the bottom of the inning, but the baseball gods were in disagreement and forced the umpires to send everyone home in dripping duds.

The clouds opened up and showered the field two batters into the top of the second inning, and while league officials agreed that the game was unplayable, they never gave up on the day and huddled inside the press box until the skies cleared for a third attempt.

Marlins 9, Pirates 2

Like soldiers under siege refusing to surrender, the organizers of the SLLBA waited out the weather an took advantage of a break in the weather to allow the Marlins to get their fifth win of the season over the second place Pirates in the final game of an otherwise sloppy Saturday.

Ryan Lisua drove in four runs off of a pair of singles and a double to power the big fish over one of the league’s top teams. The Marlins’ first baseman stole a base and crossed home plate, and teammate Zachary Flores was a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, two stolen bases, and three scores.

The Marlins also got help from their pitcher Jero Jones who went 1-for-4, but most of his production came from the mound. Jones went the distance for the Marlins and allowed two runs off of seven hits through five innings. Jones fanned a batter, and the Marlins came within a game of the Falcons in fourth place.

Were it not for the rash of foul weather, the Pirates would have had another shot at the Marlins in the bottom of the sixth, but the day belonged to the underdogs.