Senior Jets II notches pair of wins

 The second-ranked Juan Santiago Jets II bagged a pair of wins in last week’s Saipan Little League Senior Division pairings held at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Balfield.

Jets II outlasted the IT&E Fielders, 11-9, last Tuesday after run-ruling the Natibu Sports Association Tanapag Falcons, 14-4, on April 1.

The Rep. Antonio Sablan-Eliceo D. Cabrera Hunters, meanwhile, were no joke and rampaged the DPS Dare Program Enforcers, 24-3, on April Fool’s as well.

In Major Division action held at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield, the Natibu Tanapag Braves snuck past McDonald’s, 8-7, last Tuesday. Attorney Robert T. Torres Law Offices’ Kagman Little Legals, for their part, downed the San Vicente A’s, 11-2, on April 1.

SENIOR DIVISION

Jets II 11, Fielders 9

Jets II managed a 5-3 lead after two frames with four runs in the top of the second off four walks, an error, and a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Lizama.

Jets II’s Kyle Hocog doubled his way on in the third and was driven home by Francisco Palacios to start the third, but the Fielders roared back to within a run in the bottom frame with an RBI poke by Jonathan Rangamar and an RBI double by Khobby Kaipat.

The count shifted to 8-5 after four innings as Jets II’s Lizama stole home.

Jets II then jumped ahead, 10-5, in the top of the fifth off wild pitches, but the Fielders’ Poland Masaharu obliged with a three-RBI inside-the-park home run in the bottom frame.

Jets II’s Esiah Cruz belted an RBI triple in the top of the sixth and the Jets II defense held its rivals to just one run in the final stand.

Jets II 14, Falcons 4

Jets II established a 4-0 lead in the first inning off a pair of two RBI singles by Shane Deleon Guerrero and Luwan Reyes.

Jets II added three more runs in the second inning as Cruz belted two-RBI doubles and scored off an error.

They then put up two more in the fourth before the Falcons finally hit the board with four runs in the top of the fifth off a balk, two hits, and some errors. Frankie Lieto bagged an RBI single.

Jets II got two runs back in the bottom frame and kept the Falcons perched in the top half of the sixth before working around the two runs needed for the early decision. Hocog bashed an RBI single and won the game off a wild pitch.

Hunters 24, Enforcers 3

Hunters increased a modest 3-1 edge from the opening frame into an 11-2 margin after three innings with three runs in the second off four hits and another five runs in the third from a pair of RBI doubles by Jonah Reyes and Steven Cabrera mixed in with some sketchy pitching.

The Enforcers could only come up with a run in the first and second innings, while the Hunters leaped even further ahead, 19-3, come the fourth frame.

Still the Hunters were not done and threw five more runs on top in the fifth inning before clocking out early. Steven Cabrera capped off fine day at the plate with a two-RBI triple.

MAJOR DIVISION

Braves 8, McDonald’s 7

McDonald’s held an early 4-3 edge after the opening frame off two hits and some wild pitching. Spence Dickenson busted a two-RBI single.

The Braves tied it at 4-all in the second inning and grinded out a 6-5 lead heading into the fifth where they added two more runs off some more wild throws for an 8-6 edge with three outs to go.

McDonald’s quickly pulled within a run off a fielder’s choice by Luis Cepeda. However, the match abruptly ended as the tying run, Cepeda, made a break for home and was ruled out for failing to touch the plate

Little Legals 11, A’s 2

Little Legals took the lead, 4-0, in the top of the first inning off five hits. Magdalena Maratita cleared the bases with a two-RBI double and was driven home by Quinton Deleon Guerrero. Sidiro Tebuteb then finished the frame with an RBI double.

The A’s answered with a run off a passed ball in the bottom frame, but left the bases loaded and remained held in check for the next three innings.

The Legals added two runs in the fourth off errors and a RBI walk, while the A’s brought around its last run late in the fifth frame.

They slammed the door in the top of the sixth with five runs off four hits. Dwayne Reyes stole home, Jeffrey Castro came in off a fielder’s choice, and Deleon Guerrero bashed a two-RBI base hit before being waved in by Tebuteb.

Winning pitcher Vincent Ogo stepped to the rubber at the start of the second inning and gave up one run off three hits and three walks with six strikeouts through five innings.