Cliffhangers mark Little League Sunday

  Four out of five Saipan Little League matches held at the Oleai Sports Complex last Sunday were decided by just one run, while another resulted in a 4-1 score for the Big League St. Michael’s Medical Response Hunters over the Kagman Lions (0-2).

In the Major Division pairings held at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfied, the San Vicente A’s snuck past the Natibu Tanapag Braves, 6-5; the JPO-DPS Dare Program Enforcers edged out IT&E, 4-3; and the As Matuis Twins held off the Natuibu Tanapag Falcons, 6-6.

In the Senior League , Marianas CableVision Kagman Lions bested Saipan Shipping Company Jets, 6-5, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

MAJOR LEAGUE

A’s 6, Braves 5

It was tied at 3-apiece after four frames and both teams added a run in the last inning of regulation, after which the A’s held the Braves to one run in the top of the bonus frame and got the two runs needed for the decision in the bottom frame from a clutch RBI double by Christian Lizama. He was brought to the plate off a fielder’s choice by Myles Santos.

Enforcers 4, IT&E 3

Both teams managed three runs in the third inning and neither blinked through the last three innings of regulation.

Then the Enforcers’ Kier Agda came to the mound for Joaquin Saralu after a leadoff single started the bottom half of the sixth inning and shut down IT&E.

His team rewarded both efforts by manufacturing the winning run in the extra frame with assistance by an untimely error that allowed Enforcers’ Dennis Cabrera to score from second base.

Winning pitcher Saralu allowed two earned runs off three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. However it turned out to be quite a pitching duel as IT&E starter Matt Kapileo gave up a pair of earned runs off just two hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in five innings.

Twins 6, Falcons 5

The Twins did all of their damage in the bottom of the second inning off two hits, two walks, a fielder’s choice, and some sketchy throws to seize control, 6-1, after two.

Blade Igitol nabbed an RBI fielder’s choice and Oscar Lizama belted an RBI single in the uprising. The Twins went on to keep the Falcons at bay in the final stand.

Winning pitcher John Atalig gave up one earned run off two hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. He got a little wild at the start of the fourth, and allowed a leadoff walk to the plate off some pitches in the dirt, but buckled down and sat down the next three men he faced.

Lizama stepped to the rubber to close up shop and got the save despite some defensive setbacks in the final frame. Lizama also batted 2-for-2 with an RBI, a run, and a base on balls.

BIG LEAGUE

Hunters 4, Lions 1

The Hunters took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning from an error and an RBI base rip by Anthony Guerrero.

The Hunters later added two more in the bottom of the fifth off an error and an RBI single by Joseph Atalig before closing the last three outs.

The Lions lone run came in the top of the sixth off a double by Richard Dela Cruz, but the team was pretty well tamed by the Hunters throughout the match.

Hunters relief pitcher Joseph Palacios was issued the win and gave up one run off three hits in four innings.

SENIOR DIVISION

Lions 6, Jets 5

It was tied at 4-4 after four innings and both teams tacked on a run in the late innings to push it into extra innings.

The Lions managed an early 2-1 edge in the opening frame off a couple of leadoff walks, a sacrifice fly by Dave Matagolai, and a base smash by Bret Halstead.

Lions’ Paul Celis stole home in the bottom of the second inning, but the Jets fired back with three runs in the top of the third to turn the tables, 4-3, off a wild pitch and an RBI single by Matthew Maeda. Maeda also would later steal the dish, but the Lions swiped back and tied it at 4-all off an RBI walk in the bottom half.

The Jets managed a run in the top of the fifth, but the Lions matched it in the bottom of the sixth inning, shifting the count to 5-all.

Lions’ Justin Reyes came to the mound in relief for Cedric Ada to start the seventh inning and did a solid job.

At that point in the match, the Lions were working Jets reliever Allan Cabrera for over four innings and finally found their timing in the bonus frame to take the win. Notably, the result came off a tough-break leadoff error, which helped set up the walk-off base knock by Brel Yobech in the eighth inning.

Winning pitcher Ada allowed zero earned runs and gave up six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings.