Jets and Yankees take consolation closeouts

The Jets broke open a 3-3 tie by scoring eight runs off of six hits in the top of the seventh inning to secure third place in the Saipan Little League Baseball Association’s Junior League consolation game on Thursday at Francisco M. Palacios field in Oleai.

Despite being knocked out of the final round of play, the Jets kept their competitive fires stoked, and they got a load of help from a number of big hitters to end their season on a positive note.

Shortstop Jonathan Salas went 2-for-3 with a single and a double—including an RBI singles in the top of the seventh inning rally. Salas also stole a base and scored twice for the Jets, while teammate Nathan Kintol equaled his mark of 2_for-3 with a single, a double, a run batted in, and a pair of scores.

Left fielder Ben Guerrero checked in with a solid 2-for-4 performance at the plat that yielded a single and a double with a stolen base, while the speedy Ken Villagomez smacked a two-run three bagger to finish 2-for-4 with three ribbies.

While the bats were blazing, the Jets were riding the wings of pitcher Derick Nedlic, who went the distance allowing just three runs off of five hits through seven innings of work. Nedlic fanned four along the way and got credit for an RBI on the other side of the plate in the seventh.

Big League
Yankees 10, Braves 7

Jeff Saures’ two-run single in the top of the fifth proved to be the difference in the Big League consolation game, as the Northern Yankees finished their 2005 campaign in third place by edging out the Tanapag Braves, 10-7.

Saures finished the day 1-for-3 and later scored, but his timely hit was indicative of his clutch hitting all season. Centerfielder Roger Salem led the Yankees at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 outing that included a pair of singles and a triple with two plate crossings. While the Yankees battled in their final game, they received a little help from the Braves, as the third place finishers scored four of their runs off of the five walks they received.

Shortstop Jesse Agulto went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in the third inning, and teammate John Benavente smacked an RBI triple during a four-run three-hit stanza that gave the Yankees 4-2 lead.

After trailing 2-0 through two innings, the Yankees took the lead and twice opened up some space between them and the Braves, but the Tanapag nine refused to go away by pulling to within one run.