SLLBA playoff schedule sorted out

After several weeks of weekend under the sun in Oleai, the playoff schedule for the youngest players in the Saipan Little League Baseball Association is settled after four final games broke ties in the standings.

The UMDA Hustlers and the Tanapag Braves were all knotted with records of 9-1, but a three-run homerun by Nokkie Lizama in the final inning gave the Hustlers a three-run lead, and the eventual win to earn the pennant.

Lizama finished the day 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base to go along with his late-game heroics, while teammate Clyde Sablan went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, a run batted in, and a run scored. Relief pitcher Jonathan Tydingco landed only one hit, but it was a two-run double in the top of the sixth that helped tie the game.

The Braves took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and scored a couple more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead before the Braves sent the game into extra innings with a three-run sixth.

As a result of the win, the Hustlers gain the top seed of the playoffs and are scheduled to face the eighth seeded Ol’ Aces next Saturday, May 21, at 9am, while the Braves take the settle for the runners-up and play the seventh seeded Team McDonald’s at 3pm.

Kagman 1-2-3 6, Blue Jays 3

The battle for third place was decided when Kagman 1-2-3 blew past the Dan Dan Blue jays with a three-run rally of their own on the top of the sixth inning to bag the third seed in the playoffs with their 6-3 win.

Leeroy Regis with a pair of singles, a run batted in, and a plate crossing for Kagman, while left fielder Alan Sablan was a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of base knocks, a run batted in, a run scored, and a stolen base.

Kagman got the offense when it counted, but pitcher James Lizama took care of the defense with a complete game from the hill in which he allowed three runs off of eight hits through six innings. Lizama fanned a pair of would be hitters and slammed the door on the Jays’ comeback hopes.

Kagman 1-2-3 is now slated to face off against the Pirates on “Playoff Saturday” at 11am, while the Blue Jays meet with the dangerous As Matuis Twins at 1pm.

Ol’ Aces 18, Little Legals 6

The Ol’ Aces earned a spot into the post season via landslide over the Little Legals yesterday, but never would have had the opportunity for the tie breaker had they not downed the VFW Patriots on Saturday, 7-4.

As a result, the Ol’ Aces returned to Tan Ge field to litigate 18 runs from the Legals in an abbreviated five-inning contest that was cut short when umpires invoked the 10-run mercy rule.

The Legals took a 3-0 in the first inning, but the Ol’ Aces scored seven runs in the top of the second and added three more in the third to take a commanding 10-3 lead after three. Each team scored a run in the fourth, but the Aces racked up another seven runs in the fifth to put the game permanently out of reach.

First baseman Rocco Reyes had the big stick for the Ol’ Aces, batting 3-for-5 with three doubles, four ribbies, and a pair of runs scored, while teammate Joel Kaipat went 2-for-4 with a single and a double, and drove in a pair of runs. The third baseman also scored twice to give the Ol’Aces their playoff berth. All they have to do now is prepare for the pennant champs next week, but according to the Legals, it’s better than preparing for next season.

Junior League
Jets 7, Hustlers 0

The Jets had already taxied onto the runway and were ready for take-off on Saturday morning at Francisco M. Palacios field, but they never got the okay from the tower as the Hustlers failed to field a team of nine players.

As a result, Jonathan Salas, Mario Salas, Nathan Kintol, Marvin Rabauliman, Luis Arriola, Joab Camacho, Ken Villagomez, Ben Guerrero, and Derrick Nedlick of the Jets starting nine earned a win for their squad for showing up.

Ol’Aces 12, Fielders 11

Tony Rogolifoi sprinted down the third base line and across home plate in the bottom of the seventh and final inning for the game winning score as the Ol’ Aces edged the Fielders 12-11.

Despite holding an 11-5 lead heading into the fifth inning, the Ol’ Aces barely escaped with a win on Saturday as the Fielders chipped away with a run in the fifth, three in the sixth, and a pair in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 11 apiece.
Were it not for an errand pitch and Rogolifoi’s speed, the game may have gone into extra innings. Rogolifoi finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, an RBI and the game winning score, while catcher Ben Taisacan went 2-for-3 with a single, a homerun, two ribbies, and three plate crossings.

Marlins 12, Falcons 4

The Marlins scored early and often to down the Falcons on Saturday with production from a number of hitters on their talent laden squad. The fish took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, added three more in the third, one in the fourth, four runs in the fifth, and chipped in a pair in the seventh to overwhelm the Falcons 12-4 in front of a host of family, friend, and ball fans at Tan Ko field.

Vicente Cabrera led the charge for the Marlins with a 3-for-5 performance that net the youngster a single and two RBI doubles. Cabrera scored three times for the big fish, and could have done more damage were he not beaned twice.