Big second inning lifts Falcons over Red Sox

A Falcons pitcher eyes his target during their Senior League game against the Red Sox in the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Falcons scored nine runs in the second inning en route to a 12-8 victory against the Red Sox in the Senior League game in the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Falcons got the nine runs at the top of the second after a 1-2-3 inning in the first. The Red Sox also failed to score in first inning as Falcons starting pitcher Richard Atalig got back-to-back strikeouts and the former were called for the third out off a 6-3 putout play, leaving third batter Chabo Leon Guerrero stranded at second.

The Red Sox then committed one error after another at the top of the second, allowing the Falcons to claim five runs, while the latter’s four remaining runs were earned ones. Atalig had a two-RBI triple, while Kimo Angailen and Kekuni Kaainoa hit RBI singles for the promising 9-0 advantage.

The Falcons’ lead ballooned to as high as 10, 12-2, as they still outgunned the Red Sox in the next three and a half innings. Neldreyton Skerei and Angailen made RBI singles in the fifth and sixth inning, while the Falcons’ other run in the sixth was recorded off another Red Sox’s defensive lapse. The Red Sox’s two runs, on the other hand, were posted at the bottom of the third off Delin Reusora’s RBI triple and the Falcons’ error at shortstop.

Down by double digits, the Falcons tried to recover at the bottom of the sixth after collecting six runs. Reusora blasted another RBI triple to spark the rally, while Alvin Pua, Tindin Leon Guerrero, Christian Lizama, Carter Borja, and Andres Camacho each posted an RBI single to threaten the Falcons.

However, the Falcons won’t be denied of the win, as they played tough defense in the last inning to foil the Red Sox’s comeback bid. The Red Sox were done quickly at the bottom of the seventh and last inning as Lizama—the leadoff batter—went down on a 6-3 putout play and the next two—Camacho and L.J Fleming were booted out on a double play.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Enforcers 5, Braves 3
The Kagman Enforcers prevailed in a low-scoring game against the Braves.

The Enforcers shut down the Braves in the first six innings and then withstood their foes’ rally in the last to escape with the close win.

J.P. Celis pitched a complete game, allowing no hits in the first six innings and walking just two and striking out four before giving up two singles in the seventh inning. Celis’ teammates helped him silence the Braves in the majority of the match after scrambling for fly balls.

While the Braves were cold in the first six innings, the Enforcers managed to get an RBI single from Pedro Maratita in the third inning, a two-RBI double from Prestley Augustino and one run from Dennis Cabrera from a wild pitch in the fifth, and another run from Chris Achas off a passed ball to take a 5-0 advantage, going into the last inning.

In the final inning, the Braves mounted a comeback as Joe Tudela reached off the Enforcers’ error at third base, Lavec Iguel hit an RBI single, and Chris Alepuyo made it home off a wild pitch. The Braves scored the three runs with two outs and Iguel at third base, however he was left stranded and the Enforcers saved the lead and the win after Josenio Alvarez flied out at centerfield.