CNMI juniors rebound, seniors suffer loss

After taking one on the chin in their first contest, the CNMI Junior League All-Stars bounced back with an 8-2 win against the SHAPE/Waterloo Little League All-Stars in their second game of the tournament.

The boys of the CNMI were too much for the European team as they evened their record to 1-1. This was Belgium’s second straight loss of the tournament, with their previous loss coming to Mexico, 13-0.

The Junior League All-Stars of the CNMI earlier fell to the representatives of the Paraguana Little League 1-0 in their first action of the Junior League World Series in heartbreaking fashion.

The boys will be back in action when they face the All-Stars of the Moose Jaw Little League of Saskatchewan, Canada on Wednesday at 5pm (EST).

Mexico is currently tied for the lead in the International Pool at with Venezuela at 1-0, followed by the CNMI (1-1), and Belgium (0-2). Canada has yet to play a game but should have finished their match up with Canada around 6:30am today Saipan local time.

Now that they have got their first win under their belt, Jesse Borja, Shane Yamada, Jesus Iguel, Vince Sablan, Martin Pangelinan, Josh Arriola, Joe Salas, Thorn Sablan, Ryan Ada, Jonathan Salas, Kevin Babauta, Nicolas San Nicolas, Nunu Kapileo, Juan Tenorio, manager Sonny Flores, coaches Jester Garcia and Ray Sablan should look to capitalize on the momentum that they’ve gained by taking it to the Canadians.

On Thursday, August 19, they play against the Guayamas Little League team from Sonora, Mexico. The International Finals will be Friday, August 20 at 5pm, and the championship game between the USA and International finalists will be on Saturday, August 21 at 5pm.

Much like their younger brothers in the Junior League, the CNMI Senior League All-Stars opened their first game of the Senior League World Series in Bangor, ME with a 7-3 loss to the El Rio Little League All-Stars (1-1) of Oxnard, CA in front of a crowd of 200 spectators.

After jumping out to a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first, the boys of the Pacific carried a 3-1 lead into the third inning before succumbing to a four run rally by the highly talented team representing the US West region. El Rio added two more insurance runs in the fourth to seal the deal, as the CNMI was unable to produce any further offense.

The Northern Marianas hard-ballers weren’t without some bright spots in their game, but they weren’t able to hold off the charging Californians. The CNMI started out on the right foot in the top of the first inning, as pitcher Antoine Allen allowed one hit and sent three of the Cali boys back to their dugout via strikeout.

The offense got going when Tony Palacios reached on a fielding error, and Oliver Secharmidal walked. The duo later advanced to second and third on a wild pitch before Allen singled to center to score Palacios. With runners on the corners, Franco Flores singled to center, bringing Secharmidal across home plate.

Perhaps as a sign of things to come, El Rio got on the board with a run in the top of the second after a pair of wild pitches put a runner in scoring position and a grounder to third brought him home.

In the bottom of the second, Zach Concepcion trotted to first base after he was hit by pitch to lead off for the CNMI. Concepcion later advanced to second when Tyrone Omar was walked. Concepcion scored when Secharmidal singled him home, but that was as many runs as the CNMI would tally.

The wheels fell off of the Commonwealth Express in the third when El Rio scored four runs off of three hits to secure the lead for the rest of the game.

Allen walked three, struck out four, and was credited with seven runs (six earned) off of six hits in his three innings pitched. He moved to shortstop in favor of Secharmidal on the mound in the top of the fourth. Secharmidal gave up four hits and walked just one in the remaining four innings.

At the plate, Allen went 1-for-4 with a RBI, but it was Omar who led the way for the CNMI going 2-for-3 with a walk. Secharmidal was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of walks and Flores went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Secharmidal, Allen, Palacios, Flores, Ben Tasikan, Tyrone Omar, Dan Concepcion, Jeff Saures, Zachary Concepcion, Derrick Babauta, Jesse Garcia, Thomas Guerrero, Many Ada, and Peter Tenorio will be out to even up their record when they meet the Canadian All-Stars (1-1) of the Whalley Little League from Surrey, BC. Their game was scheduled to take place this morning at 3am Saipan local time.