Falcons nip Red Sox in Junior League

A Falcons runner looks at the umpire after sliding back to first base during the bottom of the fifth inning of their game against the Red Sox in the Junior League division of the Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco ‘Tan Ko’ Palacios Ballfield. ( ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

The Falcons nosed out the Red Sox, 11-10, in the first game in the Junior League division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Kody Omengkar scored the winning run for the Falcons at the bottom of the seventh and last inning, as he hit a triple and made it home off a Red Sox wild pitch. The Falcons also registered the equalizer off a wild pitch from Red Sox closer Delin Reusora, while the first run in the last inning came off another miscue from the defending champions.

With the win, the Falcons improved to a 4-4 record for third place in the team standings behind the Enforcers (7-0) and Comets (4-3), pending results of the two other games last Saturday. The Red Sox absorbed their sixth loss and have only one win so far this season.

The victory was also the Falcons’ second in as many outings against the Red Sox, as the former coasted to a 10-2 triumph in the first round on Jan. 20.

In their second meeting, the Falcons and the Red Sox engaged in a seesaw battle, but the former had the last say after capitalizing on the latter’s defensive errors. Before Omengkar recorded the winning run, the Red Sox were just one out away from sending the game in extra inning.

BIG LEAGUE
Fielders 19, Lions 8
In last Thursday’s Big League match, the Fielders (2-3) dominated the winless Lions (0-5).
The Fielders stepped up in the last three innings to deny the Lions entry to the win column.
Ahead by only two, 6-4, after four complete innings, the Fielders scored 13 runs in the last three innings against the Lions’ four. The Lions scored all four runs in the fourth inning.

Joe Kileleman had a two-run single in the fifth inning and added another RBI single and one run in the sixth a to help the Fielders gain more cushion. The Fielders got three runs each in the fifth and seventh inning and seven in the sixth. Three runs in the sixth were made off passed balls, two came from RBI walks, and one from a wild pitch.

Padres 8, Lions 7
In the other Big League game last week, the Padres survived a challenge from the Lions.
Relief pitcher A.J. Lizama and first baseman Ty Deleon Guerrero teamed up in a big defensive stop for the Padres, as the former picked up a short shot from Keene Deleon Guerrero and threw to first base for the third out.

The Lions threatened the favored Padres at the bottom of the seventh inning after scoring two runs off passed balls and Paul Celis connecting on an RBI single with two outs. Bret Halstead scored the second run off Lizama’s passed ball, while Jared Ayuyus was next at bat and walked.

Keene Deleon Guerrero then took his chance at the plate and hit his target, but Lizama was quick to get the ball and threw to Ty Deleon Guerrero to foil the Lions’ upset bid.

With the win, the Padres forced a tie for the lead with the Braves (4-1).