NMI boosts World Series bid

The CNMI Senior League Team will most likely advance to the World Series as an approaching tropical storm threatens to cut short the 2015 Asia Pacific Middle East Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Baseball Tournament.

Hong Kong pitcher Alex Chan checks CNMI runner Joaquin Chong, left, while second baseman Max Fu looks on during their game in the Senior League division of the 2015 Asia Pacific Middle East Regional Baseball Tournament yesterday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.
(Jon Perez)

The reigning ASPAC champions romped to their fifth straight win and stay on top of the division after posting a 7-2 decision against Hong Kong yesterday at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Trailing at 0-2 after 2 1/2 innings, runs by Anthony Agulto and J.J. Chong, who both walked, tied the match in the bottom half of the third on consecutive passed ball by Hong Kong starter Alex Chan.

The host team then scored five more in the bottom of the fourth then held on to complete the win behind the excellent pitching of Richard Atalig and Craig Aguon.

Atalig and Virgil Secharmidal had back-to-back singles and scored on a Nathan Camacho two-RBI triple. Agulto grounded out on a 6-3 play, while Chong followed with his own single to put another runner on base. Chong later stole second and scored on a Brandon Pua fielder’s choice. Franklin Lizama had an infield single with Pua scoring on a Roke Tenorio single. Franko Nakamura struck out while Atalig, batting for the second time in the fourth, grounded out on an inning-ending 6-3 play.

Atalig tossed three shutout and hitless innings as he forced the Hong Kong batters to fly balls and grounders that were fielded cleanly by the defense. He also struck out two and walked one.

Aguon closed out in the top of the seventh where Major Lee and Max Fu grounded out and retired Wilson Yiu to end the game.

Guam 7, Philippines 0
Guam bounced back from a shutout loss to the host team as the former handed the Philippines its third loss in five games.

Jared Flores pitched a complete game, holding the Philippines to four hits with three strikeouts and no walk. He also got out of a bases-loaded jam, with one out after Ethan Christopher Mora flied out to center fielder Jarred Sarrosa, picking off Daniel Geoffrey Magsadia then forcing catcher Ivan Hernadez to ground out on an inning-ending 5-3 play.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
CNMI 11, Philippines 10
Team CNMI bounced back from a humiliating loss to the Junior League World Series champion Chinese-Taipei by scoring another walk-off win this time against the Philippines

Trailing at 8-9 in the bottom of the seventh, Tyrese Camacho had a leadoff single and moved to second after Philippines pitcher Marthy Ranada walked Arby Yaguel. Camacho tied the game when he reached home on a throwing error by Philippines catcher Oliver Cruz. Yaguel stole second and scored the winning run on a Neldreyton Skerei RBI single.

Australia 7, Hong Kong 1
Australia closed out its campaign and clinched its third straight win at the expense of Hong Kong.

The Aussies, after being mauled by Chinese-Taipei last Monday, ended the round-robin play with a 4-1 record. Chinese-Taipei is undefeated after four games and will face Guam for its final match.

Australia’s bullpen—composed of Brock Molloy, Maverick Hamilton, Zachary Holland, and Cayden Hancock—held Hong Kong to four hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

Hamilton gave up Hong Kong’s lone run when Yoki Tomiyama, who singled and stole second base, scored on a wild pitch.

Chan-Hom may spoil tournament
The regional tournament might be cut short as Tropical Storm Chan-Hom is expected to enter the Marianas this Saturday. Chan-hom is currently 495 miles east-southeast of Saipan.

Tournament director James Ada said that as of now games will be played according to schedule with Hong Kong and the Philippines squaring off at 9am in the Juniors division, to be followed by the Senior League match between Guam and Hong Kong.

“As of now the schedule remains the same. But we already informed the Little League headquarters in South Williamsport and updated them of the situation and the current weather,” said Ada.

“We’re still hoping that the typhoon changes direction. But if it stays on course, then we’re left with no choice but to let the Little League headquarters decide on the fate of the tournament.”

Ada added that most likely the teams in the three divisions with the best record (at the time the tournament is cut short due to the typhoon) will be declared the Asia Pacific representatives to their respective World Series—Taylor, Michigan (Junior); Bangor, Maine (Senior); and Easley, South Carolina (Big).