Enforcers take first finals berth

The JPO Enforcers secured the first finals seat in the Junior League division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball after nosing out the Falcons, 2-1, in a playoff game last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Center fielder Quinton Deleon Guerrero made the go-ahead hit at the bottom of the sixth, while first baseman Ton Muna and shortstop Virgil Secharmidal teamed up for a double play at the top of the seventh and last inning to move the Enforcers to the title match.

Deleon Guerrero was the Enforcers’ fifth batter in the sixth inning with two outs and Jordan Kosam and Myles Santos on second and third base, respectively. He blasted a single with the ball dropping in between the first and second base, a few feet away from the Falcons outfielders, giving Santos a chance to run from third to home for the go-ahead run. Deleon Guerrero and Kosam were later left stranded, as sixth batter Virgil Secharmidal was booted out on a 1-3 putout play to end the bottom of the sixth inning.

At the top of the seventh, the Falcons were called for a quick first out with Ace Evangelista flying out at centerfield before Jay Kalen kept the team’s hopes alive when he singled and advanced to third after third batter Kekuni Kainoa made it to first off an error from Nathan Nogis. Austin Deleon Guerrero was next at bat and hit his target, but the ball dropped straight into the hands of Muna, who then threw to second base with Secharmidal catching the pass and tagging out Kainoa for the double play and end of the match.

The Falcons, who will have to battle and win against the victory of the Comets-Fielders tiff for the last finals berth, absorbed the loss despite taking the lead in the first four innings, 1-0. Don Fejeran scored the first run in the playoff match, reaching home plate at the bottom of the first inning off a passed ball.

The Falcons kept the shaky lead until the bottom of the fourth inning with Kainoa allowing only one hit and walking three. The Falcons outfielders helped Kainoa shut down the Enforcers, as they caught eight fly balls.

Kainoa continued to pitch for the Falcons at the bottom of the fifth inning and was one out away from ending the period, but gave up a single to Kier Ada, who drove Secharmidal for the equalizer. Secharmidal also singled earlier and stole second and third. The match remained tied at the end of the fifth after the Enforcers were called for another fly out.

At the top of the sixth, the Enforcers had a 1-2-3 play. Agda, who relieved Secharmidal in the fourth, struck out leadoff batter Fejeran, while Secharmidal and Muna teamed in the two 6-3 putout plays. The Enforcers went on to break the tie at the bottom sixth and preserved the lead, as Muna and Secharmidal joined forces anew for the crucial defensive stops at the top of the last inning.