Close wins for Hustlers, Red Sox

  The Big League’s Paradise Island Animal Hospital Hustlers and Junior League’s Bank of Saipan Red Sox came out on top of close matches in the 2012 Saipan Little League Baseball.

The Hustlers were relieved to stretch their streak to three with an 8-7 win over the hungry Kagman Lions (0-3) last Thursday, while the Red Sox (1-1) survived the IT&E Fielders (0-2), 4-2, last Saturday morning at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

In other results, Senior League’s IT&E Fielders (2-0) buried the D-9ers (0-1), 11-2, while in the Majors games played at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield, the Dandan Comets (3-0) blazed past the IT&E Ol’Aces (1-2), 18-1, and IT&E (2-0) bested the Natibu Tanapag Braves (0-2), 9-4.

MAJORS

IT&E 9, Braves 4

It was tied at 2-all after two innings and remained even until visiting IT&E spurted ahead, 6-2, in the top of the fifth frame off three hits and a couple wild pitches. Alan Hinson cranked an RBI single.

The Braves could only muster a run in the final two innings.

Braves’ starter Brandon Pua did a good job holding IT&E in his four and a third innings at the rubber, but IT&E mixed it up with three different pitchers who all turned in a solid showing. Pua gave up just two hits and two walks and struck out 11.

IT&E’s Hinson batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

Comets 18, Ol’Aces 1

Eight different Comets made it on and around in the very first inning for a promising 9-0 lead.

Leadoff man Aurel Mendiola smashed two triples and scored twice, Vincent Cruz hit an RBI double, and Lorenzo Sebaklim cleared the bases with a three-RBI single. Austin Hocog later bagged an RBI base knock.

It was all Comets in the match as they sprinkled three runs on top of the second and then six more in the third before ending the contest in the fourth.

Winning pitcher Ethan Babauta dealt three flawless innings with five strikeouts. He also batted 2-for-2 with an RBI, three runs, and a base on balls.

Sebaklim swung 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs. Mendiola batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs.

JUNIORS

Red Sox 4, Fielders 2

The Red Sox held a 2-1 edge after the opening frame and pushed ahead, 4-1, in the third inning off two hits and some untimely infield errors.

Notably, Red Sox’s Jerald Cabrera poked an RBI single and Roke Tenorio followed with an RBI triple earlier in the first inning.

After the third frame it was kept at a standstill for the remainder of the contest.

The Fielders managed a run in the top of the fourth inning, but lost two base runners in the next frame. The Fielders then came up dry in the sixth and left runners at third and second in their final stand. Tough break for the visitors who made a nice defensive stand that left them with a chance in the late innings.

Cabrera pitched a two-hitter on the mound and gave up two earned runs and five walks with five strikeouts. Jhace Palacios batted 2-for-2 with two runs, a stolen base, and two bases on balls, while Tenorio swung 2-for-3 with an RBI.

SENIORS

Fielders 11, D-9ers 2

The Fielders enjoyed a solid 5-1 advantage off five hits after four innings before tacking on three more runs in the sixth off three hits, a bean ball, and an error at second base.

The Fielders then added a run in the sixth from a pick attempt in the dirt and trotted ahead with a home run by Zachary Sasamoto and a triple by Jaime Aldan, who was then driven home by Keene Deleon Guerrero in the seventh inning.

Gayvan Uchau batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs for the Fielders, while DL Guerrero swung 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, and a base on balls.

The Lions were held to just four hits.

BIG LEAGUE

Hustlers 8, Lions 7

The Hustlers led, 4-2, after three innings and stretched the margin, 6-3, in the bottom of the fourth. McJarrel Espina reached on a dropped third strike with one out and later scored off a fielder’s choice that left everybody safe. The stumbles helped set up an RBI single by Manny Flores.

The Lions swiped back to briefly tie the match in the fifth, 6-6, but the Hustlers paced on, 8-6, in the bottom frame off a sacrifice fly by MacGarette Duenas and another error.

The Hustlers defense held strong in the clutch and limited the Lions to just one run in the sixth inning.

Winning pitcher Kevin Villagomez allowed four earned runs off three hits and four walks with six strikeouts.