Saipan completes district tourney domination

Saipan Little League Senior and Big League All-Stars completed the hosts’ expected domination of the 2012 CNMI Little League Baseball District Tournament last Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Saipan Seniors All-Stars blasted Rota, 12-7, while the Big Leaguers defeated Rota, 15-5, later that night.

Both teams will be traveling to Guam where they will represent the CNMI in their respective Asia-Pacific Regional tournaments, which take place from July 4 to July 11 in Hagatna’s Paseo Stadium.

The newly minted CNMI Senior All-Stars include Cedric and Davin Ada, Steven Cabrera, Francisco Camacho, Khobby Kaipat, Keoni Lizama, Francisco Lieto, A.J. and Jeffrey Lizama, Davie Matagolai, Austin Petig, Henry Rabauliman, Taylor Sablan, Ray Saralu, Lancaster Secharmidal, and Jonathan Villagomez.

Manager Darron Flores, head coach Isidoru Camacho, and assistant coach Walter Macaranas lead the team.

The Saipan Big League All-Stars are made up of Brian and Carl Camacho, Ricardo and Richard Dela Cruz, MacGarette Duenas, Jacob and Manny Flores, Nathan Guerrero, Lamarc Iguel, Jeremy and Keoni Lizama, Harry Nakamura, Joseph Palacios, Leroy Regis, Rocco Reyes, Patrick Tenorio, and Kevin Villagomez.

Manager Joseph Flores, head coach Juan Maratita, and assistant coach Audie Maratita front the team.
[B] SENIORS[/B]

In the finals against Tinian, the Saipan Senior All-Stars added to its 3-2 lead from the first inning with seven runs in the second off some early walks and extra throws. Frankie Camacho lifted a sacrifice fly, Jeffrey Lizama dinged an RBI, single, and two other runs came off wild pitches.

Rota’s defense stopped the bleeding after the hiccup, but was stuffed at the plate for the next three frames.

They managed to make it home once in the fourth inning off an error, but Saipan responded with two runs in the top of the fifth and almost put the run-rule into effect, 12-3, but Rota escaped with the bases loaded and ignited a late four-run in the bottom frame as Saipan threw its game into neutral during the last two innings.

Rota’s runs came off an error and a two-RBI base rope by Felix Ogo who found his own way home later in the frame, but in the end Saipan got it done.

Coming into the finals, Saipan defeated Tinian, 13-3, and then overcame Rota, 11-1, to advance to the championship game. Rota triumphed against Tinian, 10-7, Wednesday afternoon to punch its ticket into the finals.

The Saipan Big League All-Stars postured a 4-0 lead in the second inning of their championship game against Rota.

The early runs came off four hits, highlighted by a Patrick Tenorio two-RBI triple.

Saipan then gashed Rota for eight runs in the third off just four hits. Keoni Lizama bagged an RBI single, three runs scored off wild pitches, and Manny Flores busted a two-RBI base hit.

Rota finally hit the board in the bottom frame for three runs off a back-to-back doubles by Aldine Mendiola and Ferminton Maratita, but Saipan rolled on to a 15-3 gap in the top of the fourth off three hits. Lamarc Iguel notched an RBI single.

Rota stuffed Saipan at the plate in the next inning and managed two runs in the bottom frame off newly installed closer Brian Camacho, but the Saipan standout pulled it together in the end and kept the run-rule into effect.

Saipan’s Manny Flores swung 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.

Saipan and Rota played twice before Wednesday’s championship stake and Saipan won both games, 22-1 and 9-3.