Falcons soar past Braves

A Falcons batter reacts after striking out in their Majors division game against the NSA Braves in the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

Christopher Gonzales pitched a complete game and had a four-hitter to lift the Falcons to a 9-3 victory over the Braves in their Majors division match in the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Gonzales registered nine strikeouts and two walks against the Braves and also had an RBI single at the top of the first to put the Falcons on board. The Falcons then had three-run innings in the third and sixth with their impressive performance at the top of the sixth giving them the comfortable lead.

At the bottom of the sixth, the Faclons forced Angel Deleon Guerrero to ground out on a 4-3 play by second baseman Achilles Evangelista and Andre Jones at first. Gonzales then gave up a single to Fabio Norita before walking Wally Chong. Next up for the Braves was Raymond Deleon Guerrero, who got on base on an error by shortstop Noah Aguon to load up the bases.

However, no Braves runner reached home, as Gonzales picked off Raymond Deleon Guerrero and retired Ardenn Toves to end the game.

Little Legals 5, Pirates 2
Gregorio Pangelinan had a solo shot at the bottom of the fifth then struck out 14 to power the Little Legals past the Pirates.

He led off in the fifth and blasted a homer that made it 5-1 for the Little Legals. Pangelinan went on to pitch a complete game, limiting their opponents to two hits with Joshua Atalig and Elvin Saimon scoring the Pirates’ runs. He also walked three batters.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Chiefs 11, Braves 1
Delbert Sablan had an RBI triple at the top of the fourth and the Chiefs capitalized on the nine errors by the Braves for the lopsided win last Saturday.
Shane Mallens pitched four innings in a starting job and limited the Braves to one hit, while fanning five and walking one.

Sablan closed out the game and got the first out when he forced Nate Buelong on a 1-3 play, while Heath Camacho grounded out to first baseman Patrick Celis. Tristan Norita was safe on first on an error by left fielder Tristan Rogolofoi, but the game ended when Andre Macaranas flied out to Elray Castro at center field.

SENIOR LEAGUE
Falcons 5, Fielders 2
The infield’s defense worked double time at the top of the seventh, as the Falcons defeated the Fielders.

Trevor Lieto led off with a triple, but was on the losing end of a double play after Donovan Deleon Guerrero hit a line drive straight to the glove of Falcons shortstop Aven Evangelista.

Evangelista then threw to Ping Norita at third base, catching Lieto by surprise for the quick two outs.

Arby Yaguel ended the game when he forced Anthony Dizon to ground out to Norita for a 5-3 play with first baseman Mel Sablan.