Braves, Red Sox clash for Majors crown

The Natibu Sports Association Braves and the Bank of Guam Red Sox turned back separate opponents to arrange a finals showdown in the Saipan Little League’s majors division.

The Taalabwogh Little Falcons’ Kyle Kapileo, left, runs along with Marty Taisacan of the Red Sox as the latter attempts to reach third base in their playoff game in the Saipan Little League last Sunday at the Miguel Basa Pangelinan ball field. (Jon Perez)

The Braves used an 11-run sixth inning to dispatch the Docomo Ol’Aces, 18-4, while the Red Sox banked on their pitching and defense to thwart the Taalabwogh Little Falcons’ three-peat title bid, 9-4, in a pair of playoffs matches last Sunday at the Miguel Basa Pangelinan ball field.

The Braves-Red Sox title match is set at 11am on Saturday at the “Tan Ge” field after the 9am consolation game between the Ol’Aces and the Falcons.

The Red Sox, which finished tied for second with the Falcons with 10-2 records in the regular season, are aiming for payback after one of their losses came against the Braves. They also lost to the Comets while the Braves bagged the pennant with an 11-1 card.

Braves 18, Ol’Aces 4
Vicente Camacho II belted an inside-the-park homerun and pitched five innings in start to help the Braves secure the first finals berth.

Camacho went 4-for-5 blasting a two-run shot, which was part of the Braves’ 11 runs in the top of the sixth, with two outs. He was a triple shy of hitting the cycle with two doubles, scored four runs, and drove in five more.

The 12-year-old then worked for five innings on the mound surrendering three earned runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking three.

Josenio Alvarez scored twice and had a pair of two-RBI doubles in a 3-for-4 batting, while Anthony Dison had two runs, two doubles, and two RBIs after going 3-for-5 at the plate. Anthony Norita, 2-for-4, had an RBI double and had two runs.

Dison pitched in relief giving up a lead off double to Lufo Babauta in the bottom of the sixth but the latter was tagged out while attempting to reach third base.

He then surrendered a single to Nathan Aizon but the Ol’Aces third baseman was left stranded after Dison retired Latrel Deleon Guerrero and Tristan Rogolifoi, respectively, to end the game.

Red Sox 9, Falcons 4
Devon Pangelinan threw a two-hitter in 4.1 innings in start where he was tagged with one earned run while fanning two, and walking one in the Red Sox’s victory.

Zachary Camacho closed out for the Red Sox surrendering one earned run on no hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Camacho, who struck out Falcons lead off batter Chris Gonzales in the bottom of the sixth, walked Sandy Tiani with the Taalabwogh catcher moving to third on a wild pitch.

Kani, after Michael Tookane struck out swinging, scored on a throwing error by Red Sox catcher Shane Mallens to keep the Falcons’ comeback hopes alive.

Kyle Kapileo reached first base safely on another Mallens error and scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-4. James Salalila walked but Camacho ended the game when he forced Isaiah Teigita to ground out to third.

Oren Cruz, who struck out in his first at bat, went 2-for-3 with an RBI-triple in the Red Sox’s five-run sixth inning. He had a double in the fourth and scored one run.

Mallens had one run in a 2-for-3 batting performance, while Alexiana Tyquengco had an RBI single in the sixth and scored on a wild pitch.

The Falcons were aiming for a third straight title after beating the Braves in last year’s finals, 9-2. They won their first crown in 2013 against Team McDonald’s.