Saipan Major All-Stars going to HK

Saipan’s best 9-12-year-old ballplayers will represent the CNMI in the 2008 Asia-Pacific Major League Tournament in Hong Kong after beating Rota, 11-1, yesterday at the Joaquin Ogo Sr. Baseball Field in Sinapalo.

The island’s flame-throwing pitcher Chris Mizer shut down the host’s batters in three innings of work, recording seven strikeouts and no hits while giving up one error and a run in yet another mercy rule-shortened victory for the Saipan Little Leaguers.

Saipan’s hitters were also equally adept in scoring runs for the powerhouse team, as they tortured Rota’s pitchers with five runs in the first inning, two in the third, and four more in the fourth for good measure.

Jared Sablan started things off for Saipan by singling off Rota’s starting pitcher and then scored off a pass ball.

Ricky Joe Riungel and Jeremy Rabauliman then crossed home plate following an RBI single by Mizer to give Saipan a 3-0 lead.

Mizer himself was brought home by A.J. Lizama who also scored when Rota catcher Daniel Taitano failed to make a play on the ball.

Down 0-5, Rota had no chance against Mizer as the Patriots ace in the Saipan Major Little League shut them down in consecutive order in the bottom of the first.

After Saipan’s bats fell silent in the second, Mizer made sure Tinian’s would also, as he retired Ian Jacob, Henry Manglona, and Joe Taitano—all on strikeouts—to keep the shutout going.

Jeremy Lizama and Frankie Camacho gave Saipan two more runs in the third to make it 7-0, but Rota got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Henry Atalig raced home to make it 7-1.

Saipan retaliated in the top of the third, as A.J. Lizama brought home Mizer and Jeremy Rabauliman on a single. That, along with runs by Jun Rabauliman and A.J. Lizama himself, shoved Saipan to an 11-1 lead.

Mizer’s replacement, Jeremy Rabauliman, then made sure the finals would end via mercy run rule when he struck out Manglona, Taitano, and Atalig in consecutive order.

Jeremy Rabauliman and A.J. Lizama led Saipan’s hit parade as both went 2-for-2 with two hits and an RBI each.

The rest of the Saipan Major All-Stars is made up of Jonah Flores, Jerome Reyes, Keene Deleon Guerrero, R.J. Knecht, Raymond Saralu, and Poland Masaharu. The team is managed by Randall Aguon with Elmer Sablan and Manny Sablan serving as coaches.

In the Senior League played at the old ballpark in Songsong Village, Rota advanced to the championship against Saipan after winning its uncompleted game against Tinian, 14-9, yesterday. The championship of the 2008 CNMI Senior District Tournament is set at 10am today.