Taco pitches 15 strikeouts in Falcons’ win

Tanapag Falcons retired their ace pitcher just when the going got tough but adjusted to a tense situation and won against the San Roque D9ers, 4-1, on Thursday night in the Big League Division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Baseball Association at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Vicente “Taco” Camacho played solidly on the mound and issued 15 strikeouts but he was relieved in the bottom of the seventh and final inning with two outs and the bases loaded after he already threw the maximum limit.

Falcons shortstop Jorro Jones was summoned to the mound and he finished the game with a strikeout on D9ers’ last batter.

“I know it was over for him (Taco). It was a tense situation and we have to make the right adjustment,” said team manager Doru Camacho, who finally booked his first win in the league after the Falcons dropped their first assignment to defending champion Hustlers last Feb. 17.

Catcher Ignacio “Ike” Aldan Jr. went 4-for-4 for the Falcons, including a double, a triple, and three runs in the third, fifth, and seventh.

The Falcons’ other run came from Taco himself who was drove in by Camacho in the fifth.

D9ers pitcher David Camacho scored his team’s lone run after he doubled then advanced to third on a passed ball and reached home plate on another passed ball.

David was relieved by Jared Camacho in the fifth.

The Falcons, sponsored by Sablan Topline Cleaning Agency, won the pennant last year but the Hustlers beat them in the finals.

“I’m confident with my players. We have good defense and our pitchers are good,” said the rookie team manager.

He said that the Falcons need to improve their offense to stay in strong contention this year.

“It’s not to underestimate the other teams but once we improve our hitting, I think we have a big chance for the title,” he said.

Two of the Falcons’ key players last year have graduated from the Little League but they have two new recruits from the Senior Division.

The team is composed of Drew Magofna, Ignacio Aldan Jr., Ryan Mizutani, Nevan Falig, Charles Kadlikm Jr., Vicente Camacho, Keoni Pua, Vicente Cabrera, Jorro Jones, Marley Techur, ryan Ada, Juan Tenorio Jr., Berwyn Phillip, Romeo Herman Jr., Jesus Taitano (head coach), and Ray Bosli (assistant coach).