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Braves reap individual honors
The Natibu Sports Association Braves got some sort of consolation after their players dominated the individual awards after losing their winner-take-all finals in the Big League division of the Saipan Little League against the IT&E Fielders last Tuesday night.
The Natibu Sports Association Braves pitcher Darion Jones was the Big League’s strikeout king retiring 28 batters the whole season. (Jon Perez)
The Fielders, managed by veteran manager Tony Rogolifoi with the help of coaches John Manibusan and Pat Tenorio, escaped with a 6-5 win over the Braves in the finals.
The Braves, aside from finishing as runners up to the Fielders, clinched the pennant while the Padres were given the sportsmanship award.
A.J. Evangelista led the Braves’ list of awardees when he bagged the most runs trophy with 13 and then joined teammate Frankie Lieto and the Padres’ Bradley Lieto with the most triples with two apiece.
Evangelista was one of the most consistent hitters the whole season and was among the top 10 batters that earned for him the season most valuable player honors.
Verlance Secharmidal, of Big League titlists Fielders, earned the batting crown going 18-for-41 or a league best .439 average, while the Padres’ Jerald Cabrera had the most doubles with four.
Braves catcher Frankie Lieto belted the lone home run the whole season and drove in a total off 11 RBIs.
The Braves pitching duo of J.J. Lifoifoi and Darion Jones copped the ERA and strikeouts trophies.
Lifoifoi did not surrender an earned run in the 14 innings he pitched the entire season while Jones fanned 28 in his time on the mound for the Braves.
The Fielders’ Keola Camacho was named the finals MVP after his sterling performance against the Braves in the title game.
Camacho tossed 6 1/3 innings in relief where he gave up two runs, both unearned, on four hits while striking out six and walking none. He even pitched four shutout innings to help the Fielders preserve their one-run win.
In other news, the Saipan Little League board will start their All-Star team selection on Monday at 5:30pm at Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.
