Enforcers stun Hustlers for second win

An Enforcers pitcher catches a throw from home plate during an earlier game in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball last month at the Miguel ?Tan Ge? Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. The Enforcers defeated the Hustlers last Sunday, 15-3. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The JPO Enforcers caught a big fish in previously unbeaten Hustlers, cruising to a 15-3 victory in the curtain-raiser in the Major division game in the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball League last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The Enforcers pummeled the Hustlers right at the get-go to get the victory after only three and a half innings and hand the latter their first loss in four matches. The Enforcers scored 12 runs at the bottom of the first inning with four of their batters going at bat twice and nailing two runs apiece. Dennis Cabrera was one of the four batters to make two runs, as he went 2-for-2 at bat and had two RBIs. The Enforcers got two more earned runs in the first inning, stole home twice, and bagged two off wild pitches, while the other runs were courtesy off the Hustlers’ blunders.

The Hustlers, which had already used three pitchers in trying to stop the Enforcers’ juggernaut in the first inning, recorded only two runs at the top of the first. The Hustlers reached home off the Enforcers’ errors and failed to mount a comeback in the ensuing plays after going run-less in the next two innings and tallying only one run in the fourth. They made only two hits and three walks against Enforcers pitchers Ignacio Mendiola and Cabrera.

Mendiola started out for the Enforcers, but was recalled to the bench quickly after giving up two runs, walking three, and striking one. Cabrera came in at the latter part of the first inning and earned two early strikeouts. The relief pitcher added two more strikeouts in the second inning, as the Hustlers were done after only three batters with the leadoff one flying out at third.

Cabrera kept the pitching chores in the third and gave up the first hit, a single made by Hustlers leadoff batter Leon Camacho, who was later caught stealing second. The next two batters also returned to the dugout off a fly out and 6-2 putout play, while Cabrera, who gaved up a run off a passed ball in the fourth, stranded two runners and ended the Hustlers’ hopes after getting his sixth strikeout in the game.

Comets I 13, Little Legals 3

An Enforcers pitcher catches a throw from home plate during an earlier game in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball last month at the Miguel ?Tan Ge? Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. The Enforcers defeated the Hustlers last Sunday, 15-3. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

In the second game, the Comets I remained undefeated in five games after downing the Little Legals.

Catcher Clarence Cabrera and shortsstop and relief pitcher Vincent Nakamura had three RBIs each in the Comets I’s victory with the latter going 3-for-4 at bat and the former hitting 2-for-4.

Cabrera and Nakamura each blasted a two-run double at the top of the second inning to put the Comets I on top, 6-2, after trailing early in the game. The Comets I’s two other runs in that frame came off Jesse Taitano’s RBI single and Nakamura’s run off a Little Legals error at first base.

The Comets I slowed down a bit in the next three innings, making only three runs, but it kept control of the match, as the Little Legals failed to score in the next four innings after drawing first blood. The Little Legals were quiet from the second to fifth inning, as Comets I starting pitcher Francisco Frederick held his own at the mound and the rest of his teammates stayed strong on defense. Though he gave up six hits and one earned run in 4.2 innings pitch, Frederick stranded six runners and struck out seven batters.