Comets crowned Majors champions

The Rep. Joseph P. Guerrero Dandan Comets were crowned Saipan Little League’s 2012 Major Division champions after defeating the Natibu Sports Association Talaabwogh Falcons, 3-1, yesterday afternoon at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The Comets capped off their championship campaign after steamrolling through the regular season undefeated.

The team is made up of Christopher Achas, Ethan Babauta, Edmund Cruz, Erik Cruz, Austin Hocog, Austin Indalecio, Rejay Iskawa, Aurel Mendiola, Kody Rabauliman, Lorenzo Sebaklim, Tryique Wally, Vincent Taman, and Norman Villagomez with manager Greg Camacho and coaches Patrick Mendiola, Antonio Camacho, and McGregory Camacho.

In Sunday’s finals, Comets pitcher Erik Cruz came out on the topside of a pitching duel against Falcons’ Kekuni Kaainoa.

Cruz’s teammate Ethan Babauta then held it together to close out the last inning. The Falcons remained in the fight the whole way, but were stood up with the bases loaded in their final stand.

In addition, the Pacific Amusement Rays defeated the JPO-DPS Dare Program-Enforcers, 10-7, in the consolation battle for third place. The Rays moved around six runs in the top of the sixth inning to go ahead, 10-6, and held strong for the win.

The Comets advanced over the Rays, 4-3, in Saturday’s semifinals, while the Falcons overcame the Enforcers, 6-5, with a clutch four-run rally in the last inning of their semis match.
[B] Comets 3, Falcons 1[/B]

The Falcons’ very first batter, Nick Pangelinan, made it on and touched all four in the first inning, but that was the only offense Comets pitcher Erik Cruz would allow to the plate for the rest of his watch.

Meanwhile, Falcons hurler Kekuni Kaainoa also delivered a strong showing and stranded three Comets runners in the first two innings to help preserve the early lead.

After walking three batters in the opening frame, Comets’ Cruz settled down on the mound and tallied his sixth strikeout to close the bottom part of the second inning.

The Comets then started the third frame at the top of its order and its leadoff man, league batting champ Aurel Mendiola, started things off with a triple and scampered home during the play off an error to knot it at 1 apiece.

Later in the inning, Ethan Babauta cracked a base hit and was moved over to third base off a double by Erik Cruz. Babuata went on to score the go-ahead run off an ensuing error in right field.

The Falcons were not able to reach second base in either of the next two innings, but Kaainoa kept them in range from the hump through the fourth by leaving their opponents with a runner at third base.

The Comets were rejuvenated after all-star pitcher Cruz notched his 13th strikeout to close the fifth inning and mustered an insurance run for the cause in the bottom portion.

Vincent Taman singled and was moved to third base off a double by Babauta before being driven to the plate by Cruz, of all people.

Cruz exceeded his pitch limit coming into the sixth inning and Babauta was tapped to close the last three outs. It was a tough assignment for the big lefty who quickly found himself staring at the bases loaded with only one out.

Babauta took a minute to find the strike zone, but he gathered himself under pressure and went on to bag two big strikeouts for the win.

Winning pitcher Cruz gave up one unearned run off one hit and six walks with 13 strikeouts through five innings.

He batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Mendiola and Babauta also both swung 2-for-3 with a run apiece.
[B] Rays 10, Enforcers 7[/B]

The Rays’ top of the order pulled in front, 4-2, in the fifth inning off four hits after both teams managed two runs earlier in the third inning.

Ramnes Karben led off with a single and was brought home by Manuel Celis and Jay Kalen scored off an error after reaching with a double.

The Enforcers answered, however, with four runs off a couple of hits and help from some errors to assume control, 6-4, in the bottom frame.

Joaquin Saralu belted a triple and scored off a wild pitch, and Kier Agda drew a walk and was singled in by Shakobe Rangamar; Korey Leon also scored off an error.

Rays countered once again in the top of the sixth inning and gashed the Enforcers with six runs off six hits.

Manny Esefon and Joeny Villagomez reached on a bean ball and a base hit, which set up a two-RBI triple for Karben.

Karben was then doubled home by Celis, and Kalen kept it going with an RBI single.

Nathaniel Torres stepped in next and brought Kalen to the dish with a triple and Nnes Siech drove him home with a base rip before the Enforcers could escape the inning.

Rays’ Tony Deleon Guerrero came to the mound in relief for Jester Kintaro with one out in the fifth inning and he contained the Enforcers to just one run in the final stand. Rays led it, 4-3, at the time.

Winning pitcher Kintaro gave up one earned run off three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts through 4 1/3 innings.

Kalen batted 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs. Celis swung 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Torres went 3-for-3 with an RBI, a run, and a base on ball.