Patriots pass with flying colors

The Patriots are like butter because they are on an unprecedented 12-win roll so far this season, and the only undefeated team in the Saipan Little League Baseball Association return is looking to make it a baker’s dozen when they take Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Field this weekend at the Oleai Sports Complex.

The list of league leaders easily explains their success as the Patriots have four of the top hitters in the game as well as a pair of the best pitchers. Only one player in the league has a better average that Anthony Salas’ .703, and teammates Jeremy Rabauliman (.600), Brian Camacho (.581), and Jonakin Deleon Guerrero (.515) aren’t doing too shabby either.

Salas increased his league lead to 24 runs scored, and pitcher Joseph Palacios continues to lead the league in preventing plate crossings with just three through 19 2/3 for an earned run average of 0.92. Palacios is sure to see action again soon, but Camacho has been just as good smoking batters as he is at smoking pitchers.

The league’s fifth-leading hitter is also its second best pitcher, as Camacho trimmed his earned run average to a slim 1.13 ERA through 32 innings in a seven-game span and 53 punch-outs.

The kids from Kagman 1-2-3 won’t let the Pats win out easily, and the surging team that basically plays all away games has the potential to catch the Pats off-guard during their monster match next weekend. At 10-2, the homesteaders are just a couple of games back in second place, and with big hitting from diamond in the rough Marsnjo Wabol (.600), Leroy Regis (.538), and Richard Dela Cruz (.500), they have a chance to bring them down.

Dela Cruz also fronts Kagman’s pair of hurlers with all the right moves, and is joined by teammate Ignacio Benavente. Dela Cruz is in third place with 61 strikeouts and has a 3.29 ERA, while Benavente is just a hair behind at 3.52. The duo is one of the toughest one-two combos in the game, but Kagman doesn’t have a monopoly on powerful pairs.

The third place Hustlers have a game in-hand at 9-2 and have a couple of weapons on both sides of the plate as slugger Anthony Manalo and multi-talented Daylinne Joseph continue to shine.

Manalo leads the league with an unrivaled.710 batting average after hitting 22-for-31, while Joseph is teaching the boys the power of a woman with a 1.64 earned run average and a perfect 3-0 record.

McGarette Dueñas has also been a champ from the rubber, and his 2.22 ERA through six games is good enough for the league’s fourth best.

A strong showing last weekend vaulted the The Tanapag Braves (8-6) into fourth place thanks to the efforts of dual threat Charito Kladikm and a bullpen full of pitchers. The Braves have a solid shot when the post-season arrives, but they are too far gone for a pennant run.

With a .528 batting average at the plate, a 4.09 earned run average, and 43 strikeouts atop the mound, Kladikm is a coach’s dream. When he’s not on the mound they also have big arms ready for action as Jotham Camacho (3.61) and Lamarc Iguel (3.82) are pitching solid ball.

The McDonald’s squad took a big step toward regaining their swagger over the weekend as they clawed back to a .500 record, but their slump took them out of the pennant race.

After cruising through the competition early on, the little nuggets have traveled on a rocky road that led to fifth place in the standings at 6-6. Only Nathan Guerrero has been able to maintain a level of consistency at the plate with a .520 batting average, but their overworked ace is still among the league’s best.

Brothers Patrick and Peter Tenorio have been playing strong all season, but Peter has been a step above young Patrick with a 2.63 ERA and a league leading 80 strikeouts.

After exhibiting flashes of brilliance, the As Matuis Twins (5-7) slipped back into their inconsistent world over the weekend.

The Twins don’t have the luxury of power packed pitching on the hill, but Vince Castro has continued to rip opposing slingers with a .517. Both Zachary Aldan and Diego Camacho are also solid, but their batting averages dropped off the radar.

The best of the losing teams continues to be the Toyota Matrix, carried by Harry Nakamura and Rocco Reyes.

At .526, Reyes is always a threat at the plate and is in the running for all of the hitting categories. Nakamura is no strangers to plate work, but he has done most of his damage sending rockets between the batter’s boxes.

His 5.72 earned run average is up a bit from last week, but so is his strikeout total (78).With 4-8 record, the Matrix can play the role of spoiler down the wire unless they can catch the sixth place Twins.

The Red Sox (3-11), Pirates (2-9), and Ol’ Aces (2-10) have been way below average for a while, but at least the Ol’ Aces thrilled their fans last week when they finally got their second win of the season.