CNMI downs Netherlands, 6-3
The CNMI saved its best for last as the Junior League All-Stars from Saipan doubled-up on the Netherlands at Heritage Park to earn their first win of the tournament in their final game of pool play.
After suffering three losses to international competitors, the Asia-Pacific regional champs finally pulled off a victory over a team who traveled about half as far they did to get to Taylor, Michigan.
The Saipan sluggers got a lift from Ofero Taitano in his first trip to the Juniors series, as the perennial standout went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Vicente Cabrera was also flawless with a solid 2-for-2 outing.
The CNMI wrapped up their round at 1-3, but will have a consolation game today, while the Rotterdam team slipped to 0-3 with the loss, and have only their contest with Panama (2-1) remaining.
Panama got a big-time performance from pitcher Jhony Rodriguez who fanned eight en route to hurling a three-hitter in a 4-0 win over the previously unbeaten Canadians. Now the race for second place is dead even as Panama and Canada are all square at 2-1, and Puerto Rico is still atop the standings at 3-0.
The odds makers favor Panama’s chances over the Netherlands that would give them a 3-1 record, but the Canadians will have a tall order in knocking off the Arroyo squad to force a three-way tie.
The winless ways of the Europeans comes as somewhat of a surprise to a team that went 6-0 to win the Dutch National Championship in dominating fashion—outscoring its opponents 76-5. They followed that up by taking the 11-team Europe/Middle East/Africa Regional last month in Kutno, Poland, where they swept the top teams from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Poland and Lithuania by a combined score of 46-5 before unseating defending the champs from Belgium, 7-0, in the championship.
