Saipan Major All-Stars dominate Tinian

The Saipan Major All-Stars proved to be too much against their counterparts from Tinian, as shown in the host team’s demolition of the visitors in the 2014 CNMI District Tournament.

The Saipan bets pummeled Tinian in the first two games of the series, 21-1 and 10-0, last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield and capped their perfect run in the short tournament with a 16-1 victory in Game 3 last Monday. With the win, the Saipan Major All-Stars will advance and represent the CNMI to the 2014 Asia Pacific Baseball Tournament that will be held in the Philippines next month.

The elite squad is composed of Christopher Chas, Vicente Camacho II, Tyrese Camacho, Justin Cangco, Spencer Dickinson, Aven Evangelista, Angel Iguel, Philip Kapileo, Pedro Mararita, Gloyd Martin, Max Pangelinan, Dai Podziewski, Joe Tudela, and Arby Yaguel. Manny Evangelista is the manager, while Patrick Mendiola and Michael Cruz are the coaches.

The Saipan Major All-Stars completed the sweep quickly as they finished off Tinian in Game 3 after only three and a half innings. The first two games in the series were also won via 10-run mercy rule with the first match ending after only three innings and the second in five frames.

The host walked away with their third straight easy win despite failing to score in the first inning. The Saipan Major All-Stars’ first three batters at the top of the first were booted out, but they came out smoking hot in the second inning, scoring one run after another to set up the blowout.

Eight batters from the Saipan Major All-Stars’ top of the order reached home and two even scored twice, including shortstop Spencer Dickinson, who blasted a two-run homer in his second at bat. He earlier hit a single in his first time at bat and was driven home by Tyrese Camacho. The other runs came from Tinian’s defensive miscues and the host went on to build a 10-0 run after two complete innings.

Tinian had no chance of breaking into the board in the first two innings, absorbing a 1-2-3 play on both occasions. Saipan starting pitcher Pangelinan struck out Tinian’s leadoff batter at the top of the first inning, while the visitor’s next two batters were booted out on a 4-3 play. Pangelinan got another strikeout in the second inning, while the two other outs were off a fly ball and 2-3 put-out play.

After two fruitless attempts, Tinian finally scored its first run in Game 3 and only second in the tournament, thanks to Juan Kiyoshi, who reached off a fielder’s choice at the top of the third inning. Tinian managed to load the bases in the third and had a chance to score more runs, but Pangelinan got the last out off a strikeout to leave the three runners stranded. Earlier after Kiyoshi scored, Pangelinan struck out the next two Tinian batters.

After pulling off the big defensive stops at the top of the third, the Saipan Major All-Stars countered with six runs at the bottom. Podziewski registered the second homerun in the game and brought home one teammate with him, while Evangelista connected on an RBI triple. The three other runs were scored off Tinian’s errors.

Dai Podziewski, seen here batting for the Rockies, played for the CNMI Major All-Stars who swept Tinian in the 2014 CNMI District Tournament last Monday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.
(ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Now ahead by 15, 16-1, Saipan put on the pressure on Tinian, which must score at least six runs to extend the game. The visitors got none, as Saipan beat two runners at second and third and Evangelista, who relieved Pangelinan, struck out the last batter for the third out and stranded two Tinian runners.