Braves, Red Sox bag second victory

The Braves and Red Sox beat separate foes to notch their second win in three games in the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball League over the weekend at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The Red Sox outclassed Laolao Bay (1-2), 7-2, while the Braves eased past the Jets (0-3), 19-6, to share the second spot behind division co-leaders IT&E, Hustlers, Falcons, and Comets, which have similar 3-0 records. Both the Braves and Red Sox finished off their opponents early with the former taking only four innings to down the Jets and the Red Sox bagging the victory after five and a half innings.

A nine-inning top of the second allowed the Braves to set up the early decision last Sunday, turning a deadlock, to an 11-5 advantage after two complete innings. Robin Sablan led the Braves in the pivotal second inning, as he hit a three-run triple and also scored off a passed ball. The five others runs came off Isaiah Teigita and Anthony Dison’s RBI singles, two more passed balls, and a stolen base. Three of the Braves’ batters at the top of the order trooped to the plate twice with two team of also scoring in that crucial inning.

The Jets answered with only three runs at the bottom second and never made headway, as they added only one run in the last three innings, while the Braves tucked in seven more with majority of them coming off passed balls. Sablan and Joe Tudela both went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Braves with the latter adding one RBI and scoring three runs and the former contributing four.

In last Saturday’s game, the Red Sox allowed Laolao to two hits and one earned run to take the victory.

Kavika F. recorded Laolao’s first hit at the top of the fifth, as he singled and eventually reached home off J.P. Celis’ base hit. Laolao earlier got one run in the fourth inning off a Red Sox error at centerfield, but still trailed, as the latter countered with three runs at the bottom of the fifth. Marty Tagacan blasted a two-run single in the fifth, while Kiana Aldan scored off a passed ball.

Derrick Resaura, the Red Sox’s third batter in the game, preserved their advantage and secured the win at the top of the sixth, as he struck out two Laolao batters. The Red Sox got the third out when leadoff batter Josh Skilang was caught stealing home.