Titanium splits games in SML youth

 Titanium avoided being swept by Fielders teams in the Saipan Major League’s Summer/Fall Youth Baseball League last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Titanium bowed to the Fielders 2, 2-5, in the opening match and went on to recover in the second game against Fielders 1, 7-3. The Ol’Aces routed the Kagman Lions, 7-1, in the final pairing.

The Fielders 2 broke the ice in the top of the first inning when Poland Masaharu reached off an error and scored later off a passed ball.

Titanium tied it up in the bottom of the second inning off an RBI single by Joseph Atalig. Atalig drove in Manny Flores, who stole second base after being hit by a pitch.

Fielders 2 answered in the top of the third and shot ahead, 5-1. The storm brewed as Fielders 2’s four batters reached base. Fourth batter Ian Rogolifoi belted in Kai Wanket home with a base rip and Khobby Kaipat scored Masaharu with a fielder’s choice.

Then Jerry Kintol kept it rolling with an RBI single that brought in Rogolifoi and Kaipat scored off a wild pitch.

After the damage, Joseph Palacios came to the mound for Tony Guerrero to close the frame. Palacios went on keep a lid on the Fielders in four innings of work, however his teammates could not muster hardly any offense to get back in the game.

Winning pitcher Rogolifoi gave up just one hit in three innings with three strikeouts. Masaharu batted 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base.

Titanium 7, Fielders1 3

The Fielders 1 took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Carl Camacho cranked a two-RBI single that scored Kevin Villagomez and Pat Tenorio.

Titanium answered in the next inning and took a 3-2 lead off just one hit and some errors.

Fielders 1 briefly tied the game at 3-all in the bottom frame. Jared Lizama reached on a single, was moved to second off a sacrifice bunt, stole third base, and came home off an error.

Titanium’s leadoff man Tony Guerrero answered in the bottom frame, reaching first off a base rip, moving to second off a balk, taking third off a wild pitch, and scoring off a passed ball to give the lead back to Titanium, 4-3.

The Fielders offense dwindled out in the remainder of the contest, while Titanium went on to add two more runs of as many hits in the fourth and another run for good measure in the seventh inning when Brian Camacho hit a one out single, stole second, and made it home off a passed ball.

Wining pitcher Joseph Atalig came to the mound in the fourth inning and shut down the Fielders, giving up just one hit in four innings with three strikeouts.

Titanium’s Guerrero and Camacho both batted 2-for-4 for two runs apiece.

Ol’Aces 7, Lions 1

The Ol’Aces drew first blood with two runs in the top of the first inning. Diego Camacho led off with a base hit and scored off a passed ball, while Frankie Camacho followed with a single and came home off an error. The Lions stranded a man at third base in the bottom frame.

The Ol’Aces then added a run in the second when Lancaster Secharmedal drove in Jacob Flores. The Lions left a man at second base in the bottom frame.

The Ol’Aces pulled ahead, 5-0, in the third off three hits.

Frankie Camacho led off with a base knock and was brought in off a double by AJ Lizama. Two batters later, Rocco Reyes scored Lizama with an RBI single.

The Lions opted for a pitching change at the start of the fourth inning, but the Ol’Aces went on to add two more runs off two hits and errors. Lions’ Keene Guerrero stepped to the rubber for Jonah Flores; The Lions engine stalled again in the bottom frame.

Lion’s Guerrero settled down after a shaky start and kept a lid on the Ol’Aces for the remainder of the game, as his team narrowly escaped a shutout in their final stand.

Harry Nakamura pitched three flawless innings with four strikeouts for the Ol’Aces. He also closed the sixth inning of the match in just seven pitches. Frankie Camacho swang 3- for-4 with an RBI, two runs, and a stolen base, while Diego Camacho batted 2-for-3 with two runs and a base on balls.

The season continues on Saturday with Titanium taking on the Lions at 9am and the Ol’Aces battling the Fielders 1 at 11:30am. Then the Lions retake the field to challenge Fielders 2 at 1pm.