Falcons, Braves prevail in Senior League

A Falcons pitcher prepares to throw from the mound during an earlier game against the Comets in the Junior League division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

Defending champions Falcons and the Braves won in the Senior League division games in the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball last Sunday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

In the first match, the Braves downed the Fielders, 9-6, while in the second tiff, the Falcons eased past the Comets, 17-1.

The Falcons allowed the Comets to reach home only in the first inning off a passed ball, as starting pitcher Pedro Maratita did a good job on the mound. He threw a three-hitter in 2.1 inning pitched and had six strikeouts before being relieved by Aven Evangelista. Evangelista went on to shut down the Comets in the remaining part of the shortened game, giving up only two hits and fanning out four. The Falcons got the win after only five innings.

Besides his steady performance on the mound, Evangelista was also impressive at bat as he hit 3-for-4 and scored three RBIs and two runs. His two-run triple was the highlight in the Falcons’ seven-run surge at the top of the second inning.

Before pulling away in the second inning, the Falcons were ahead by only three after one complete inning, 4-1. The Comets got their lone run in the match from Kiana Aldan, who was driven home by Clarence Cabrera’s single.

In the other Senior League game, the Braves finished strong, scoring eight runs in the last two innings.

The Braves were behind after five complete inning, 1-4, as they made it to the board only at top of the fourth, while the Fielders had two runs apiece in the first and the fourth.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Vic Camacho and one from Josenio Alvarez at the top of the sixth moved the Braves within one, but the Fielders scored on a fielder’s choice at the bottom for more breathing room, 5-3. However, the Fielders eventually lost the driver’s seat in the seventh inning, as the Braves managed to make six runs. J.J. Celis batted twice and had RBI singles on both occasion; Camacho also hit an RBI single; Alvarez belted an RBI triple; and the rest of the Braves’ runs were recorded off the Fielders’ errors.

The Fielders could not regain the upper hand at the bottom of the seventh as they were held to one run and finished the match when they were forced to a double play.

Meanwhile, the Braves also triumphed in the Junior League game last Saturday after outclassing the Falcons, 6-2.

The Falcons scored their two runs in the first inning and none of their runners moved past second base for a shutout in the remaining six innings. The Braves also failed to reach home in the first, but played better in the second and third, recording four and two runs to gain enough cushion.

In the other Junior League game, the Comets topped the Chiefs, 11-3.

Bing Nakamura led the Comets with his four RBIs on a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. He also scored two runs. Justin Agulto hit 3-for-4,too, and contributed three runs, while Jay Lifoifoi, Red Teregeyo, and Nate Aizon had two runs each.