Comets dominate Little Legals in finale

The Comets’ Bing Nakamura delivers a pitch to the Little Legals’ Kaipo Dikito at the top of the sixth inning of their title game in the Majors division of the 2016 SSLB yesterday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Comets capped their perfect run in the Majors division of the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball with a 12-2 title win over the Kagman Little Legals yesterday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Pitcher Bing Nakamura led the championship victory, as he threw a two-hitter and struck out nine in a no relief job. He was also flawless at the plate, going 4-for-4 and scoring three RBIs, three singles, three runs, and a double.

Nakamura was eventually named Finals MVP after handing the Comets their 15th win in as many games in the 2016 season. The Comets swept the 12-game regular season and crushed McDonald’s, 13-3, and the Ol’Aces, 21-0, in the first two matches in the playoffs before meeting the Little Legals in the finals.

The Little Legals made it to the title match following an 11-1 triumph over the Falcons last Saturday, but failed to carry that momentum in yesterday’s finale after struggling at the plate against Nakamura and the Comets’ strong defense.

The Little Legals did not score a single run in the first five innings, while the Comets found their targets early, tallying six runs at the bottom of the first. Nakamura fired up the Comets’ offense with a two-run single, while Justin Magofna also singled and brought home two runners before reaching home plate, too off a stolen base. Ross Arriola also stole home for the Comets’ 6-0 advantage after one complete inning.

The Little Legals’ misfortunes continued as they were called for 1-2-3 inning in the second, third, and fifth and were done in the fourth after only four batters with no runner making it past first base.

The Comets, on the other hand, slowly built a double-digit lead after earning two runs each in the second and fourth and one apiece in the third and fifth. Five of the eventual champions’ last six runs were off the Little Legals’ errors, while the final was courtesy off Nakamura’s RBI single at the bottom of the fifth.

At the top of the sixth and last inning, Nakamura was still on the mound to finish things off for the Comets. He got the two quick outs after fanning out leadoff batter Derence Diaz and Kaipo Dikito. A single from Alvin Hocog foiled Nakamura’s bid for another 1-2-3 inning and the former finally put the Little Legals on the board when he reached home along with Lucio Aldan after a series of miscues from the Comets.

The defensive lapses happened with Nakamura just one strikeout away from wrapping up the match with Aldan at bat. Actually, Nakamura got the strikeout, but it was called as dropped third strike with catcher Teregeyo failing to tag out Aldan and instead had a wild throw at first base.

With the Comets struggling to pick up the ball, the elated Little Legals managed to score two runs to stay in the game. However, the Little Legals’ celebration was short-lived as the Comets ended the match in the ensuing play with leftfielder R.J. Muna catching a fly ball from June Sablan.