Jets survive Red Sox in Juniors

 The Saipan Shipping Company Jets almost let the Bank of Saipan-Red Sox off the hook, but hung on for a 9-8 win in Thursday’s Saipan Little League Baseball Junior Division matchup at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The win evened the Jets’ win-loss card to 4-4, while the Red Sox fell to 4-3.

In other Junior League results, the Natibu Sports Association-Tanapag Falcons (4-3) and the Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. Ol’Aces both notched wins over the DYS-Rep. Ramon S. Basa-Rep. Frederick P. DL Guerrero-Kagman Lions. The former downed the pride, 13-1, on Tuesday, while the latter pounced on them, 20-2, in five innings last Sunday.

In addition, IT&E Fielders (6-4) were batting with two runners on and zero outs in the third inning of Thursday’s Big Division night match against the Docomo Pacific Ol’Aces (7-2), trailing, 1-2, when heavy rainfall spoiled the evening. The game will be continued at a later date.

And finally, fueled with a little revenge, the Senior Division San Roque D-9ers (1-9) broke into the win column after overcoming the DPS-Dare Program-Enforcers (2-6), 11-5, last Saturday after just being hemmed up by the Enforcers, 6-3, back on Thursday, April 12.

JUNIOR DIVISION

Jets 9, Red Sox 8

Jets pitcher Franco Nakamura held the Red Sox to a 9-2 margin before exceeding his pitch limit with two outs in the sixth inning.

The Jets built its lead from an RBI single by Jason Villagomez in the first inning, a pair of RBI doubles by Nakamura and Ben Maratita in the third inning, while a late breakdown on the mound by its opponents allowed four runs to the plate in the fifth. The Jets added two more runs in the sixth inning off an error and an RBI base rip by K.J. Deleon Guerrero.

With the Jets ace off the mound, the Red Sox mustered a last-ditch rally and pulled within a run off three hits mixed with patience at the plate and some infield blunders with runners on the path.

Then a questionable suicide steal was called by the Red Sox staff, which resulted in its leadoff man, Jhace Palacios, getting nailed out at the plate in a dramatic heartbreaking loss for the Red Sox. The team decided to take the bat out of Nathan Camacho’s hands, despite the fact that eight of their 11 previous batters found a way on base against the Jets’ struggling reliever Villagomez.

Red Sox’s Roke Tenorio batted 3-for-3 with a run and a base on ball. Jets’ Deleon Guerrero went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, a base on ball, and a stolen base. The Red Sox out-hit the Jets, 13-7.

Nakamura kept the win and gave up one earned run off 10 hits and a walk with four strikeouts through six and two-thirds innings.

Falcons 13, Lions 1

The Falcons knocked on the Lions’ den door three times with runs in the first, second, and third innings before kicking it down with six runs in the fourth frame with five hits and some wild pitches. Raymond Saralu bagged an RBI single.

The Lions’ lone run came in the bottom of the third from an RBI poke by Bret Halstead that brought in Justin Reyes, but it was all Falcons on Tuesday.

The Falcons were stood up in the fifth, but tacked up four runs in the sixth inning off four hits, including a pair of triples by Brandon Lieto and Adolfo Roppul.

Winning pitcher Roppul finished strong and secured the early decision.

Notably, Roppul dissected the Lions from the hump and allowed one earned run off three hits, two walks, and a hit batsmen with one strikeout through six innings. He bagged 10 ground outs and five put outs.

Ol’Aces 20, Lions 2

Ol’Aces brought their bats and teed off on three different pitchers as they rotated through their lineup four and a half times in four innings.

Lions’ Perry Celis led off with a triple and was driven in by Kobe Tomokane, but the Lions offense disappeared for the next four innings.

Ol’Aces immediately pulled ahead, 3-1, in the first inning off an RBI single by Mike Muna and a wild pitch. Muna also scored off an error.

Ol’Aces then posted up four more runs in the bottom frame off a pair of RBI singles by Verlance Secharmidal and Kenji Yamagata. Secharmidal stole home and Yamagata scored off an error.

The wheels came off at that point for the Lions as Ol’Aces hammered 12 of their 18 hits in the third and fourth innings. Secharmidal cranked a couple of two-run inside-the-park home runs, Giovanni Taitingfong busted an RBI double, Terson Eina jacked an RBI triple, and J.P. Taitano bashed a two-run inside-the-parker.

Ol’Aces’ Top 3 of Jessie Brel, Secharmidal, and Muna put a hand in on 12 of the runs. Brel swung 4-for-4 with an RBI, four runs, and two stolen bases. Secharmidal went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and another run and a stolen base. Muna batted 3-for-4 with an RBI, four runs, and a stolen base.

SENIOR DIVISION

D-9ers 11, Enforcers 5 

Enforcers’ Austin Petig drew a pass and stole the plate and teammate Vince Cabrera bashed an RBI triple and also stole home in the first inning.

However, the D-9ers responded with two runs in the bottom frame from some sketchy pitching that enabled a two-RBI base knock by Jeremy Atalig in the bottom frame.

D-9ers pitcher Brandon Dela Cruz settled down and held the Enforcers’ in check for the next three innings, while his teammates built him a 5-3 lead in the third inning off four hits. Robert Tudela, Luis Duenas, and Gino Dela Cruz all bagged RBIs singles.

Enforcers’ top of the lineup countered with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the D-9ers handed the ball over to Atalig after the damage, who delivered the close.

The D-9ers went on to add five more runs in the last two innings just to make sure.

D-9ers’ Robert Tudela swung 3-for-3 with two doubles for three RBIs, three runs, a base on ball, and two stolen bases. Atalig batted 3-for-4 with thee RBIs, a run, and two base on balls. Enforcers’ Cabrera went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run, and a stolen base.

Enforcers 6, D-9ers 3 

An early error and an RBI base rip by Enforcers’ V.J. Terry wiped away a stolen dish by D-9ers’ Ian Lizama in the first inning.

Enforcers then went ahead, 5-1, in the second frame from an RBI single by Mathew Lisua that brought in Austin Petig, an error, and an RBI double by Vince Cabrera.

The D-9ers struck back with two runs to start the third when Lizama belted home Brandon Dela Cruz and stole the plate a second time, but the Enforcers got one back in the bottom half when a pair of leadoff walks set up an RBI base smash for E.J. Itibus.

After the big hit, Itibus stepped to the mound in relief for starter Lofton Edward to start the fourth and did a good job closing the last four innings.

Notably, D-9ers’ Nick Jones also stepped to the rubber from the fourth inning and turned in a strong performance of his own, if not for a pair of costly walks from the get-go.

Itibus nabbed the win and gave up just two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Teammate Mathew Sablan batted 3-for-3 with two runs.