Dickinson’s one-hitter lifts Falcons over Blue Jays

The Falcons’ Spencer Dickinson gets ready to pitch against the Blue Jays during their third round meeting in the Senior League division of the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Spencer Dickinson nearly had a no-no, throwing a one-hitter in the Falcons’ demolition of the Blue Jays, 13-0, in the Senior League division game in the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Dickinson, who pitched in no relief in the match that ended after only five innings, allowed a single to Dom Yumul at the bottom of the first inning while fanning out five batters. With him working the mound, the Falcons forced the Blue Jays to 1-2-3 innings in the first four and no runners from the latter moved past second base.

Jaydon Tenorio, who was hit by Dickinson’s pitch at the bottom of the fifth inning, made it to second off a wild pitch, but was left stranded as Justin Camacho went down on a 4-3 putout play for the last and final out in the match. The Blue Jays’ first two batters were booted out on 5-3 putout plays earlier.

While the Falcons’ strong defense neutralized the Blue Jays, the latter could not return the favor to the former, as the pennant champions scored in each of the first four innings.

Dickinson and Noel Cabrera gave the Falcons three runs each and they also both hit 3-for-3 at bat. Tindin Deleon Guerrero added two runs and two RBIs off his 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Neldreyton Skerei and Henry Aguon contributed two runs each.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Enforcers 10, Ol’Aces 6
The Enforcers held the Ol’Aces to one run in the last six innings to take the victory.

Before stepping up their defense, the Enforcers gave up five runs to the Ol’Aces at the bottom of the first inning to fall behind, 1-5. Kiana Aldan hit a two-run single for the Ol’Aces and also reached off a David Quitugua single, while Shane Mendiola and Henry Fleming made it home off RBI walks for the team’s five runs. Sean Rabauliman handed the Enforcers their lone run at the top of the first, as he reached off the Ol’Aces error at shortstop.

The Enforcers were then shut down in the second inning, but redeemed themselves in the next four, combining for nine runs, while yielding only one to the Ol’Aces to grab the lead and the win. The Enforcers posted four earned runs and five off the Ol’Aces miscues from the third to sixth inning, while Lizama’s RBI single in the fifth inning put the latter on the board for the last time.

Comets 8, Bank of Saipan 2
In the second game, the Comets were on target early on to beat Bank of Saipan.

The Comets registered seven of their eight runs in the first three innings. Bing Nakamura blasted a two-run single and A.J. Sanchez nailed an RBI single and reached off a sacrifice out for the Comets’ four runs at the top of the first. Nakamura added an RBI single, while Reid Teregeyo also scored off another sacrifice out in the second, and the Comets got one run off Bank of Saipan’s error in the third for a 7-0 lead.

After two scoreless innings, Bank of Saipan managed to make only one run off Justice Aldan’s run from the Comets error at the bottom of the third. Bank of Saipan continued to struggle as it was held to one run anew in the last four innings, while the Comets got the one run back off Sanchez’s RBI triple in the fifth.

Sanchez and Nakamura both hit 3-for-4 at bat and combined for three runs.