Patriots top Junior League

The Patriots completed their domination of the Junior League division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Division after an 8-4 win over Ol’Aces in the championship last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Patriots, who ruled the Major League for three straight years, joined the Junior League only this season and now have pennant and championship trophies added to their already bulging collection.

The Thelma Mizer-managed team finished the regular season with a 12-2 record, absorbing those two losses at the hands of Ol’Aces.

In the finals, the Manny Sablan-coached Patriots made sure there will be no third time.

A five-run bottom of the second gave the Patriots the needed cushion to take control of the game.

Second baseman Jared Sablan had a two-run triple in the fifth inning and catcher Henry Rabauliman, shorstop Jeremy Rabauliman, and first baseman Christian Mizer nailed a one-run single apiece to give the Pats a 5-0 lead.

The pennant champions never looked back from thereon, adding three earned runs in the fourth and sixth inning. Mizer blasted a two-run single in the fourth and Carlos Rabauliman had a one-run single in the sixth.

Ol’Aces shortstop LaMarc Iguel, who incidentally played for the Patriots in the Majors, put his new team in the scoreboard, reaching home plate on a Caleb Arriola single in the third. Jake Santos gave Ol’Aces their second run, making it home on Frankie Camacho’s single in the fourth inning before the Patriots’ defense shut them out in the fifth and six inning.

At the top of the last inning, the Pats were ahead 8-2 and the Ol’Aces must score at least six runs to extend the game, but the latter fell four runs short.

Sablan, who relieved Brian Camacho on the mound in the fifth inning, struck out Ol’Aces leadoff batter Frankie Camacho. Shane Deleon Guerrero advanced on a Pats error, while Iguel nailed a double, bringing the latter to third base. Arriola then had a sacrifice fly, letting Iguel and Deleon Guerrero reach home plate.

With two outs and the Pats still ahead by four, 4-8, catcher Jacob Flores kept the Ol’Aces’ hopes alive with his single. The Patriots finally ended Ol’Aces’ bid for an upset with Sablan picking up a grounder from Carl Camacho and throwing to first base for the third out.

In the battle for third place, Kagman Lion Heart edged the Red Sox in extra inning, 5-4.

Rightfielder Davie Matagolai made the game-winning hit at the bottom of the eighth inning, connecting on a single and driving second baseman Roman Camacho home.