Camacho solidifies All-Star inclusion

Vicente A. Camacho II collected a number of individual awards to strengthen his case to be included in the Majors division Saipan All-Star team that will be competing against Rota in the CNMI district tournament to be hosted by the island down south from June 18 to 20.

Vicente Camacho II of the Natibu Sports Association Braves won the batting and pitching crowns after the regular season in the Majors division of the Saipan Little League. (Jon Perez)

The Saipan Little League board along with managers and coaches of the 12 participating teams were still meeting at press time at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room for the selection of the Saipan All-Star team.

Camacho, of pennant champs Natibu Sports Association Braves, clinched the batting crown after a league-best .756 average and had the most number of RBIs with 29.

He then added the pitching titles, ERA (0.24) and strikeouts (47), to earn the regular season most valuable player honors.

Josenio Alvarez, Joell Q. Borja, Andre B. Camacho, Heath Quinten Q. Camacho, Anthony Edward J. Dison, Victor Joel S. Igitol. Aiyon Jovone P. Johnson, Steven C. Kileleman, Ignacio K. Santos, George N. Camacho, Musky Bosel, Isaac Aguon, Vicente A. Camacho I, and Jose P. Taitano were the other Braves players.

Zachary Camacho was named the finals MVP after a solid pitching job in the Bank of Saipan Red Sox’s 10-4 win over the Braves in the championship match. He tossed two innings in relief where he limited the Braves to one hit on two unearned runs with five strikeouts and two walks.

Anton Aguon, Winfield Ada, Kiana Alda, Devon Pangelinan, Joven Reyes, Shane Mallens, Orren Cruz, Kody Foreman, David Quitugua, Rita Agulto, Alexiana Tyquengco, Jesus Sablan, and Marty Taisacan were the other Red Sox players.

The Taalabwogh Little Falcons’ Aven Manny L. Evangelista scored the most runs this season with 33, while Pangelinan of champions Bank of Saipan Red Sox tallied the most doubles with nine and the Kagboys’ Justin Peter C. Celis recorded the same number in the triples category.

Tarrence Christian Babauta of the Little Padres blasted the most number of home runs the entire regular season with eight. He belted the season’s first homer in the Padres’ 13-3 rout of the Jets last Feb. 16.

He then had a three-game streak of hitting a four-bagger in the Padres’ next three games highlighted by three round-trippers in a 26-5 crushing of the As Matuis Twins on March 3.

The Braves bagged the pennant after finishing the regular season with an 11-1 won-loss record and easily breezed through the playoffs to earn a finals berth. Their title bid, however, ended with that setback to the Red Sox last week.

The Little Falcons, who ended up tied with the Red Sox with similar 10-2 slates, earned the pennant runner-up trophy after the tiebreak. They also copped the third place trophy after beating the Ol’Aces in their consolation match last Saturday.

The Red Sox finished third after the regular season while the Comets ended up fourth.