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Saipan opens regionals with a bang
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Posted on Jul 09 2005
MUNICIPAL FIELD, Tinian—Juan Tenorio Jr.’s two-run triple broke open a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning and sent the CNMI Junior League All-Stars to a win over Guam in the opening game of the 2005 Asia-Pacific Tournament yesterday afternoon.
The CNMI scored seven runs off of seven hits in a game that was marked by big play in the big stage. Hundreds of people packed the stands and lined the fences as the rival island teams challenged each other, but it was the home team that got its tournament started in the right direction.
Tenorio’s clutch hitting proved to be the difference in the game, as the centerfielder went 2-for-3 on the day adding a double and three runs batted. Tenorio would later score when third baseman Zachary Flores returned a grounder to the pitcher to give his squad a 6-3 lead.
The CNMI added a little insurance when Jonathan Salas singled in Isaih Wabol in the bottom of the sixth, and it came in handy in the top of the seventh when Guam threatened with the bases loaded and no outs on the scoreboard.
After taking over for lefty Marley Techur in the top of the fifth inning, reliever Jonathan Salas began to tire in the top of the seventh and watched the bases fill up on an error, a bean ball, and a single. Realizing that his pitcher had had enough, manager Juan Tenorio brought Ryan Ada over from first base to get his teammate out of a bind.
Ada fanned the first batter, and gave up a run on a fielder’s choice before the final batter grounded to third for the final out of the game.
Before taking a seat, Techur allowed three runs off of two hits, walked three and plunked one through four innings, but the regular season’s strikeout king stayed true to form by fanning eight. Salas took the hill in the top of the fifth and finished two plus innings with a run off of two hits and a pair of strikeouts before Ada closed the contest.
Infielder Ofero Taitano went 2-for-3 for the CNMI with a pair of singles and two stolen bases, while Salas smacked a single, a double, drove in a run, and scored twice.
