Patriots secure pennant

The Patriots answered their toughest challenge to date on Monday morning when the undefeated squad dispatched second place Kagman 1-2-3, 8-5, to extent their streak to 15 games during the Saipan Little League Baseball Association’s bonus Memorial Day action at Miguel “Tan Ge” Field.

Brian Camacho was a pitching machine for the Patriots as he held the Kagman nine to five runs off of six hits through six innings while fanning a dozen, and he got plenty of help from his teammates at the plate.

Catcher Tony Salas was just as good on Monday as he was last weekend by smacking a pair of doubles and driving in a run for the Pats. Salas showed of his speed with a stolen base and made the sign of the cross when he crossed home plate to score.

Justin Kintol was strong as well with a pair of singles and a stolen bag to finish 2-for-4, while centerfielder Jonakin Deleon Guerrero went 1-for-3 with an RBI single.

After taking a 3-1 lead in the first, the Pats traded runs with the homesteaders until they added three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-2 lead, and added an insurance run in the sixth to go ahead 8-2. Kagman rallied in the final stanza but fell three runs shy of a six-run comeback to fall for only the third time this year.

McDonald’s 12, Pirates 6

Ray Tenorio pitched a complete-game for the mighty McDonald’s squad and super-sized small fry Peter Tenorio was perfect at the plate as the red and yellow fellows doubled up on the Pirates, 12-6.

Ray-Ray surrendered 10 hits and fanned four atop the mound while Peter smacked a single, a double, and a two-run inside the park homerun to lead his team with four runs batted in.

McDonald’s racked up 13 hits on the day and second baseman Nathan Guerrero had three of them in three at bats en route to driving in four runs off of a pair of singles and a double.

First baseman Ian Rogolifoi raised some eyebrows as the rookie big man went 3-for-4 with three base hits and an RBI for his McTeam.

Red Sox 8, Twins 5

After a scoreless three-inning opening to the game, the rookie laden Red Sox notched their fifth win of the season on Monday by chopping the As Matuis Twin down to size at the Oleai Sports Complex with an 8-5 victory.

Clayton Aguon was the man on the mound and the power at the plate as he pitched six out of seven innings and crushed in the batter’s box. Aguon allowed nine hits and fanned five through six innings on the hill and went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in with the swat stick to lead the Sox.

Second baseman Nicholas Villagomez went 2-for-3 with a pair of base knocks and teammate Joseph Atalig scored the eventual game-wining run off of a throwing error amidst a four-run frenzy in the sixth.

SENIOR LEAGUE

Aztecs 7, Falcons 5
Nicolas San Nicolas and Marley Techur battled until the end, but the Aztecs eventually gained a slight advantage to edge the Falcons, 7-5, in Senior League action at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

After giving up five runs off of four hits in a difficult second inning, San Nicolas recovered to allow a total of three more hits the rest of the game and fanned 11 for the ‘Tecs while Techur surrendered five hits through seven innings with 14 strikeouts in picking up the loss.

Infielder Patrick Togawa came up with his only hit in four attempts in the fourth inning, but it was a big one as he tripled in Lawrence Dikito for the eventual game-winner.

Ol’Aces 6, Hustlers 4

The Ol’Aces finally caught the Hustlers to gain a piece of first place by dealing them a 6-4 loss at Tan Ko on Monday, and they did so with solid pitching and timely hitting from familiar names.

Isaiah Wabol was strong through the first five innings on the rubber giving up four runs off of six hits before handing the ball to Jesus Iguel in the sixth, who sealed the deal with two innings of shutout baseball.

Wabol also went 1-for-2 at the plate with a sacrifice fly and a two-run inside the park homerun for three runs batted in on the day, but first baseman Nunu Kapileo was flawless in three attempts with a trio of singles and a run batted in.

BIG LEAGUE

Pirates 15, Fielders 4
Antoine Allen and the Pirates flattened the Fielders with a three-inning flurry that saw the second place squad score a baker’s dozen to open the Big League contest with a bang at Tan Ko on Memorial Day.

Allen allowed four runs off of eight hits and fanned six through six before umpires invoked the 10-run mercy rule because his teammates hit pitcher Joshua Dela Cruz around the park until he got the hook four batters into the third. Brandon Santos was sent to face the firing squad, but the reliever didn’t do any better for the Fielders. The dismal duo contributed to its own demise bay walking a half-dozen batters—five of whom eventually crossed home plate.

The Pirates were led by free swinging Tom Dela Cruz at the plate, who went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in for the Pirates while Pat Alepuyo went 2-for-4 with a pair of ribbies.