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SML baseball returns with a marathon
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Posted on Oct 03 2004
With a sea of freshly grass and neatly manicured infield, Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field was ready for the opening day festivities of the fall edition of the Saipan Major League, but nobody expected the 15-inning marathon between the Pirates and the Hustlers in the season opener.
As old timers discussed their feelings of nostalgia brought about by the games being played during the day, the Pirates were able to outlast the Hustlers, scoring three runs in the top of the 15th inning, and blanking the red and black in the bottom half to earn their first victory of the season.
Jonathan Jones picked up the win after coming in for J.P. Flores to get the final out in the fifth inning. Flores struck out three batters, walked three, and surrendered a hit before being relieved. Jones finished the job by striking out 12, and giving up six hits in 10 1/3 innings.
The winning runs came in off of the stick of Brandon Concepcion when he doubled in Daryl Ada and John Tudela in the top of the 15th. Concepcion would later score the third run when Dan Quitano doubled him in.
The Hustlers were unable to answer the score, and despite going the distance, their pitcher Roy Celis took the loss. Celis allowed just three runs off of 12 hits, and struck out eight in 15 innings of work beneath the midday Saipan sun.
Prior to the start of the game, Gov. Juan M. Babauta and Mayor Juan B. Tudela were on hand for a presentation of baseball equipment that was donated to the SML by Major League Baseball.
League organizers distributed the bats, balls, gloves, and other protective equipment to representatives from the Little League organizations in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Babauta took the opening pitch and smacked the ball down the third baseline with one of the new wooden bats.
In the second game, Kautz Glass scored three runs in the first inning to take the lead over the North Stars through the end of the eighth, before the game was suspended at 6:05pm due to the lack of daylight.
Kautz Glass got the only run that they would need when Tyrone Omar crossed the plate early in the first and never looked back.
For further information about SML baseball, contact League Coordinator Tony Rogolifoi by calling 664-2508.
