Bigs earn break, Juniors continue roll

MUNICIPAL BASEBALL FIELD, Tinian—The CNMI Big Leaguers are one win away from making reservations in Easley, South Carolina as a result of their 12-2 win over the Philippines on Sunday, while the Junior Leaguers continued their push for Taylor, Michigan with a one-sided 15-0 blowout over Hong Kong yesterday morning.

Despite the success of Commonwealth’s oldest and youngest players in the 2005 Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament, the hometown fans have room for worry as the Senior Leaguers dropped their second game yesterday to the Philippines, 3-0.

Jess Wabol and his band of Big Leaguers left little doubt that they were hungry for redemption as they won their second game of the tournament in convincing fashion to earn a slot in Thursday’s championship game at 3pm.

Third baseman John Peter Sablan continued his tear on Tinian by extending his perfect streak at the plate to seven with a flawless 3-for-3 performance that included three singles and an RBI, while first baseman Juan Domingo Dikito hit a two-run single in the first and drove in another pair off of triple in the second to finish the day 2-for-3.

After opening the game with a six-run, seven-hit first, the CNMI added three in the top of the second to take a commanding 9-2 lead over the Philippines. By the time the dust settled the CNMI amassed 12 runs off of 15 hits before the umpires invoked the 10-run mercy rule after the sixth inning.

Franco Flores started the game for the CNMI, but lasted a little more than two innings as the All-Star struggled to find his control with two runs allowed off of five hits and an uncharacteristic four walks. Leeroy Dela Cruz took over in the third to silence the RP bats to two hits through three innings before Sablan came over from third to close the game unscathed in the sixth.

Despite dropping their opening game of the tournament, the Philippines received some encouragement from shortstop Justin Zialcita who generated most of their offense with a solid 2-for-3 outing that included a pair of singles, a stolen base, and a run scored.

If Wabol and company continue on their present course they will have to pack their bags for the mainland when they return across the channel to Saipan. In their first two games, Wabol’s squad has outscored its opponents by a combined 28-8 in back-to-back, mercy-rule shortened contests, and while his team celebrated following their wins, the steely eyed baseball veteran stressed that the most important game lies ahead.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
GUAM 35, HONG KONG 1

The largest island in the Marianas created the largest run total of the tournament on Sunday as the Guamanian Juniors resembled a squadron from Anderson Air Base as they dropped 35 bombs against Hong Kong before the umpires called the game after the top of the fifth.

By the time Chun Chio’s RBI double scored Kuh Hin Yeung in the top of the fourth, Hong Kong trailed 29-1, but the powerhouse pounded out six more in the bottom of the inning and finished the game with 26 hits. The Guamanians took advantage of 10 bases on balls hand delivered by the Hong Kong pitching staff and made the most of their opportunities at the plate as Reyn Johnson, Chris Carbullido, and Zachary Damian scored three inside the park homeruns.

Damian finished the game 4-for-4 adding a double and two triples to his base rounder for a total of six runs batted in, while Johnson hit for the cycle—the bulk of which came in the second inning in which he smacked a single, triple, and his homer. The speedy second baseman racked up three ribbies along the way, while shortstop Vincent Manttanona went 3-for-3 with a pair of singles, a double, and an RBI.

CNMI 15, HONG KONG 0

The CNMI Juniors secured their second win of the tournament yesterday by handing the rookie delegation from Hong Kong its third loss in a game that featured big performances from some of Saipan’s big players.

Team captain Ryan Ada went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles that drove in three runs for the CNMI, while Ofero Taitano continued his assault on opposing pitchers by going 2-for-2 with a single and two stolen bases. The Department of Public Safety put out an APB on Taitano for stealing a total of four bases, and the shortstop’s two-game tally has him hitting 5-for-7 with a slew of singles.

Centerfielder Juan Tenorio Jr. maintained his prowess at the plate by notching a single and a triple to finish the game 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases and a run batted in, but the CNMI got plenty of help from their pitchers as well.

Starter Anthony Dela Cruz went 1-for-1 with a single and a stolen base, while reliever Juan Iguel went 1-for-1 with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to center that also scored a run.

When the duo wasn’t busy belting balls, they were firing them across the plate. Dela Cruz went two innings for the Commonwealth without allowing a run or a hit, while Iguel gave up a hit and fanned three in three.

The CNMI (2-0) still has a pair of games remaining beginning with today’s match-up with the Philippines at 6pm wrapping up with Indonesia tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.

SENIOR LEAGUE
PHILIPPINES 3, CNMI 0

The CNMI’s Senior Leaguers suffered their second defeat of the tournament yesterday when they were surprised by the Philippines in which the local ballers out-hit their opponents 8-5 and stranded 10 base runners.

Despite a stellar showing by centerfielder Jesus Iguel, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles and a stolen bag, the CNMI was unable to generate much of anything else. When they were able to put runners on, they were unable to convert due to a standout performance by Filipino pitcher Paolo Mallari. The pride of the Philippines went the entire seven innings for the Pinoy boys, spreading out eight hits throughout the contest and fanning seven.

The hurler received support when he needed it as shortstop Christian Macapinlac’s single in the top of the third sent right fielder Sebastian Uichico streaking across home for the eventual game winning score.

Macapinlac later crossed the plate himself in the top of the fifth inning on an error for his team’s final score of the game, and Uichico finished the day 2-for-2 with a single and a double.

Manager Luis Carlos R. Laurel was happy with the win, stating that this was the first time that his squad has defeated the CNMI in five attempts dating back to the Major Division.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
GUAM 22, PHILIPPINES 1

The Philippines set the tone early in yesterday’s match with the Guam Junior team by walking the first six batters en route to walking 19 to gift wrap a 22-1 win for the red, white, and blue for their second win of the tournament.

Fourteen of the free-riders eventually scored as Guam batters only needed to generate nine hits to improve to second place in the standings at 2-1, but centerfielder Zachary Damian powered through the doldrums with a pair of singles and a triple that drove in four runs. Damian stole a pair of bases and contributed to the demise of the five Filipino pitchers that manned the hill, but the “Zach Attack” wasn’t the only weapon in Guam’s holster, as second baseman Brandon Rosario smacked a three-run triple and walked three times, and Chris Carbullido went 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI and a stolen base.

If the Guamanians win this morning’s contest with Indonesia they will all but assure themselves of a championship slot.