Senior Falcons, Big Lions collect pair of wins

Saipan Little League’s Senior Division Natibu Sports Association-Talaabwogh Falcons and the Big Division’s Sen. Ralph DLG Torres-Rep. Ramon S. Basa-Eliceo P. DL Guerrero-Kagman Lions both tacked up a couple of important victories this past week as the 2012 regular season continued at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Falcons overwhelmed the IT&E D-9ers (1-11), 11-1, in a drawn out six innings Tuesday night and put down the DPS-Dare Program-Leep-Enforcers (3-8), 10-6, back on Saturday, while the Big League’s Lions enjoyed the winning end of a pair of close battles and toppled the St. Michael’s Medical Response-Hunters (3-8), 5-4, on Sunday after flabbergasting the second place Paradise Island Animal Hospital Hustlers (7-4), 2-1, last Thursday

The Senior Falcons improved its record to 8-3 in a three-way tie for second place in the overall standings, which really helps solidify them, Juan Santiago’s Jets II, and the IT&E Fielders in the playoff picture behind the undefeated Docomo Pacific Ol’Aces (10-0).

In other results, the Senior League’s Marianas Cable Vision-Rep. Ramon S. Basa-Frederick P. DL Guerrero-Kagman Lions (4-8) pounced on the D-9ers, 19-6, on Sunday.

The Rep. Antonio Sablan-Eliceo D. Cabrera-Hunters (6-5) make up the rest of the Senior field.

The Lions improved to a 4-7 slate and now sits a game ahead of the St. Michael’s Medical Response Hunters (3-8) for the last playoff spot.

Top-ranked and 2011 champion Docomo Pacific Ol’Aces (8-4) and third place IT&E Fielders (5-6) represent the rest of the Big Division.
[B] SENIOR DIVISION
Falcons 11, D-9ers 1[/B]

The Falcons built an early 4-1 lead in the first three innings. Jose Lizama Jr. drove in Ray Saralu in the second frame, while some hot throws allowed three runs to the plate in the third.
Jason Camacho provided the D-9ers’ only run in the fifth inning with a base hit that scored K.C. Jones, but the Falcons soared ahead, 10-1, in the bottom frame off four hits. The top of the lineup loaded the bases for a three-RBI double by Saralu who later stole home. Lizama Jr. ripped an RBI double and Ricky Renguul made it around after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Falcons’ Frankie Lieto was tapped to close the sixth frame for Renguul and the birds worked a leadoff walk and a couple of base pokes to get the run needed for the early decision; notably Lieto notched four strikeouts in his one inning.

Renguul gave up zero earned runs of three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts through five frames.

Saralu batted 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base.

The Lions stretched out to a 7-4 lead in the top of the second inning off an early error, three hits, and sacrifice fly by Brel Yobech. Bret Halstead bashed a double, while Dave Matagolai and Paul Celis bagged RBI singles.

The D-9ers came out swinging in the opening round, but faded out when Lions’ Halstead came to the hump to stop the bleeding in the first inning.

The three runs he received in support may have been enough, but his teammates leaped ahead, 15-4, in the top of the third off six hits. Matagolai, Halstead, Celis, Josh Santos, and Justin Reyes all bagged RBIs.

The D-9ers managed to sprinkle a run in the third and fourth innings to prolong their demise, but the pride never had a doubt.

Winning pitcher Halstead gave up one earned run off three hits, three walks, and a hit batsman with four strikeouts through five innings.

Falcons’ Reyes swung 3-for-3 with an RBI, three runs, and a base on ball. D-9ers Nick Jones batted 2-for-2—both doubles—for an RBI and a run with a base on ball.

The Falcons lifted off to a 5-0 lead in the third inning off a two-RBI single by Ray Saralu, a two-RBI double by Brandon Lieto, and an RBI triple by Jose Lizama Jr.

They mustered two more runs to start the fourth before the Enforcers managed three runs on the bottom end off three hits. Enforcers’ Sid Nepaial bagged an RBI single and E.J. Itibus an RBI double.

The count shifted to 5-7 in the sixth inning as the Enforcers tried to mount a late comeback, but the Falcons slapped them back with five hits for three runs in the top of the seventh and held strong for the win. Their bottom three—Adolfo Ropul, Roy Tudela, and Lucio Kalen—sealed the deal with consecutive RBI base rips.

Kalen finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run, and a stolen base.

Lions 5, Hunters 4 [/B]

The Hunters broke away from a 1-1 tie after the first inning with three runs in top of the third off two hits and a wild pitch. Clayton Aguon bashed a double and stole home and Lincoln Ingram bagged an RBI single.

Lions’ Richard Dela Cruz drove home Leroy Regis to get a run back in the bottom frame and the pride jumped in front with three runs in the fifth inning thanks to a two-RBI double by Regis., who soon scored off an error.

Regis played a pivotal role in the game and denied the Hunters passage to third base after their uprising in the third inning.

He started slow, but figured it out in the end. Regis went the distance and gave up three earned runs off four hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen with eight strikeouts. He also batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.

Hunters’ Ingram swung 2-for-3.

The Lions were actually held in check for most of the game by Hustlers’ Kevin Villagomez who pitched a great game, giving up just two hits through 5 2/3 innings before the wheels came off defensively in the clutch.

Lions starting pitcher Leroy Regis dealt 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits and a walk on his shift.

Relief man Greg Iskawa picked up where he left off and kept a lid on the Hustlers through the late innings.

The Lions defense also stepped up a great deal to help close out the chess match.

The Hustlers managed to crank out eight hits in the game, but were contained to just one run, which was chalked up in the top of the sixth inning off a sacrifice fly by McJarrel Scaliem that brought MacGarette Duenas to the dish.

Early errors by the Hustlers infield, however allowed Lions’ Tim Deleon Guerrero to tie up the match in the bottom frame.

The ruckus ultimately led to Villagomez handing the ball off to Brian Camacho with two runners on the path and one out.

Camacho sat down his first man, but another error up the middle ended up giving it away; Ricardo Dela Cruz scored the go-ahead run.

Iskawa went on to stand up the Hustlers 1-2-3 in the final stand.

He gave up one earned run off five hits and two walks with a strikeout through 3 2/3 innings.

Hustlers’ Brian Camacho batted 3-for-3.