CNMI sweeps double-header in ASPAC

The CNMI Big League All-Stars is the only unbeaten team in the Asia-Pacific Big League Regional Tournament; after bagging wins over Guam and the Philippines in yesterday’s doubleheader at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila, Philippines.

The team arrived in Manila on Saturday, June 25, and was given a practice and rest day on Sunday.

Only three teams are competing in this year’s Big League regionals. As a result, the tournament has been organized under a double-round robin format.

Therefore, if the CNMI finishes undefeated, it will be automatically crowned ASPAC champions. If not, then the top two teams will battle it out at 11am (1pm Saipan time) on Friday. Currently, the CNMI is positioned atop the standings.

Yesterday morning, CNMI won its 7am (9am Saipan time) opening match over Guam, 6-1, and kept it rolling with a 6-2 victory over the Philippines its second 1pm (3pm Saipan time) in appointment.

In the first game, visiting CNMI took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Guam locked it up at 1-all later in the fifth frame.

Then the CNMI answered with a four-run burst in the top of the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh inning to start its journey off with a bang.

In its second match, the CNMI fell behind, 0-1, in the first inning, but kept the Philippines at bay for the next three frames with flame-throwing pitcher Joshua Jones on the mund.

The CNMI then mustered up another late eruption in the fifth inning, this time for six runs.

The Philippines managed a run in the top of the sixth and held the CNMI scoreless in the bottom half, but came up empty in its final stand.

The CNMI gets another rest day today and will face the Philippines for the second time tomorrow at 11am (1pm Saipan time). Then on Thursday, CNMI plays Guam again at 11am as well.

The games are broadcast live over the Internet at www.littleleague.org.ph.

The CNMI Big League All-Stars are made up of Elijah Aughenbaugh, Richard Dela Cruz, MacGarette Duenas, Nathan Guerrero, Dave Jones, Joshua Jones, Jeremy Lizama, Keoni Lizama, Juan Maratita II, Joe Palacios, Rocco Reyes, Nokki Saralu, and Eric Tenorio. They are managed by Joe Flores with Jonathan Tenorio and Robert Magofna serving as head and assistant coaches, respectively.