Ol’Aces teams advance to Big, Senior finals

Docomo Pacific-Ol’Aces teams in the Senior and Big leagues advanced to the championships of their respective divisions last weekend before rain suspended most of the Saipan Little League matchups at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Big League Ol’Aces overcame the Paradise Island Animal Hospital-Hustlers, 16-11, on Saturday.

However, the latter rebounded against the IT&E Fielders on Sunday, 11-3, to get another crack at its rival in the team’s second consecutive finals appearance.

Meanwhile, the Senior Ol’Aces downed the Natibu Sports Association-Talaabwogh Falcons, 11-5, also on Sunday, but is still awaiting to see who they will face in the finals.

The 2011 champion Docomo Pacific teams finished first place during the regular season this year just like their Junior Division counterparts who are sponsored by Haiwaya Technologies, Inc.

The Hustlers have came out on the short end against the Ol’Aces three out of the last four times they clashed going back to last year’s championship match, which resulted in a 4-3 decision, although the Hustlers are hardly a group to undermine.

Both squads are equipped with a lot of depth up and down their lineups and both know how to swing a bat and run bases.

The Ol’Aces are the proven and more experienced of the two teams. However, the Hustlers have been coming along in recent years and believe strongly that they are over due to hoist the Big League trophy.

Needless to say it should be another exciting display of two powerhouse squads battling it out for all the marbles.

The Ol’Aces are led by league batting champ and workhorse pitcher Harry Nakamura, while the Hustlers rookie standout Brian Camacho is also topping the charts, especially from the mound.

The Senior Ol’Aces finished the year undefeated at 12-0 and are the favorites to win the title, but they must not take the Falcons, Juan Santiago Jets II, or the IT&E Fielders lightly.

Jets II is in line to challenge the Fielders either tomorrow or this weekend to clinch a semifinals berth against the hungry Falcons, weather permitting.

League officials are trying to coordinate scheduling adjustments, including the Junior Division playoffs, but heavy rain has prevented any progress.

Little League postseason action is scheduled to continue today at 4pm if the field is playable.

BIG DIVISION
Ol’Aces 16, Hustlers 11

Ol’Aces broke an early 2-2 tie from the first two innings with three runs in the top of the third off a two-RBI double by Jake Santos that scored Keoni Lizama and Harry Nakamura. Santos found his own way to the plate.

The Hustlers then made it, 3-5, in the bottom frame thanks to a wild pitch. Pitcher Brian Camacho then made a big stand in the top of the fourth inning, which enabled his teammates to seize control, 6-5, in the bottom portion off three hits.

MacJarrel Espina led off with a double and was driven to the plate by Manny Flores just after Kevin Villagomez scored off a wild pitch. MacGarrette Duenas later brought in Flores.

Ol’Aces countered with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to push in front, 7-6, off an error and a wild pitch.

But the Hustlers showed them up with four runs in the bottom frame off six hits. Espina singled in Jonakin Deleon Guerrero and was brought home by Villagomez, after which Flores cleaned up with a double and worked his own way around the diamond.

Ol’Aces’ reliever Nakamura found his zone after a pair of shaky innings and held the Hustlers to just one run in the last three frames of the match.

Ol’Aces pulled within a run in the sixth off an RBI base rip by Lizama and a sacrifice fly by Rocco Reyes and took the lead, 11-10, in the top of the last inning of regulation with an RBI single by Lamarc Iguel and a costly RBI walk with the bases loaded.

The Hustlers still would not die, however, and worked around the run needed to force extra innings from Villagomez who hustled out an infield error and stole the dish in the clutch, but the Ol’Aces cranked out five big runs in the top of the bonus frame to seal the deal.

They bashed five hits including a triple by Santos, an RBI base hit by Carlos Rabauliman, and a two-RBI single by Lizama. Diego Camacho busted a double before coming home and Iguel was credited with an RBI in the mix.

Ol’Aces’ Santos batted 4-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs, and a base on balls. Hustlers’ ninth batter Espina swung 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

Hustlers 11, Fielders 3

The Hustlers quickly stamped three runs in the first inning off an RBI single by Brian Camacho and a two-RBI double by Dave Demapan. The Fielders got one back though in the bottom frame off an error.

Both teams cooled off for a couple of innings until the Hustlers pushed ahead, 7-1, in the top of the fourth off four hits. Kevin Villagomez drove in Tim Rabago, MacJarrel Espina scored off an error, while Camacho bagged another RBI single before scoring off a wild throw in the infield.

The Fielders only responded with one run in the bottom side from a base rip by Vince Castro and the count shifted to 8-3 after the fifth inning as both teams brought a run to the dish.

Smelling blood, the Hustlers threw on three more in the next two innings mainly off errors and aggressive base running.

Winning pitcher Jeremy Lizama gave up two earned runs off five hits and two walks with two strikeouts through five innings.

Hustlers’ Villagomez batted 3-for-4 with three runs and a base on balls.

SENIOR DIVISION

Ol’Aces 11, Falcons 5

The Ol’Aces established an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off a triple by A.J. Lizama that scored Lancaster Secharmidal and an RBI single by Jun Rabauliman that brought in Lizama.

The Ol’Aces’ defense pulled out a double play to end the top side of the second, but left two runners at the doorstep in the bottom frame.

The Falcons hit the board with a run in the third inning off an error, but the Ol’Aces obliged with two more runs in the bottom frame off four hits.

A.J. Lizama led off with a single and was singled in by T.J. Sablan who was eventually escorted to the plate by Zackary Yamagishi.

The Ol’Aces then rounded up the Falcons in another double play to close the fourth inning and exploded with four runs in the bottom frame off three hits and a pair of fielder’s choices, shooting ahead, 8-1.

The Falcons managed to bring in one run in the top of the fifth off an error, but the Ol’Aces trotted away, 11-2, in the bottom frame off a string of three hits that loaded the bases for a bases-clearing triple by Lizama.

The Falcons managed three runs off the Ol’Aces reliever Lizama in the last two innings, but never posed as a serious threat.

Backed by a stout defense, Ol’Aces winning pitcher Camacho gave up zero earned runs off five hits and two walks with two strikeouts through five innings.

His teammate Lizama also had a great game and swung 3-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs, and a stolen base.