Falcons, Little Legals on track to finals collision

Kagman Marlins pitcher Nick Sablan winds up a throw, while umpire Manny Tenorio looks on during the former’s game against the Chalan Kanoa Cubs last Sunday in the Minor division of 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

The Talaabwogh Falcons and the Kagman Little Legals are still on track for a finals faceoff in the Majors division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball after dispatching their respective opponents last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The Falcons remained undefeated after eight, games following a 12-0 triumph over McDonalds, while the Little Legals bounced from a 2-10 loss to the Tanapag-based squad with a 12-2 win over the Pirates to remain in second place with a 7-1 record.

Chris Gonzales and Noah Aguon alternated on the mound, while Joey Sharry had an inside-the-park homer in the Falcons’ shutout win.

Gonzales tossed three innings, giving up an infield hit to J.J. Reyes and a double to Joel Deleon Guerrero, while fanning five and walking none.

Aguon had a shaky start at the top of the fourth after Dillon Santos got on base on an error by first baseman Andre Iguel and then he allowed a single to Max Church. He struck out Casey Chambers, but hit Lance Acosta by pitch to load up the bases. Aguon, however, settled in after that and retired Reyes and Dane Hodges to begin the Falcons’ celebration.

Sharry belted his two-RBI homer against Santos at the bottom of the second with one out. He towed Deandre Sablan with him, after the latter had a two-RBI triple earlier to get on base. Michael Tomokane then had a bases-clearing three-RBI double at the bottom of the third before going out after he tried to stretch it to third.

Santos tossed 2.3 innings for McDonald’s, allowing eight walks, striking out three, and giving up five earned runs on four hits. Deleon Guerrero pitched the rest of the third inning, yielding a double to Tomokane with three earned runs, a strikeout, and two walks.

Meanwhile, G-Boy Pangelinan, who was second both in the batting and pitching leaders, tossed and hit his way against the Bridge Capital Pirates.

He went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and an RBI, while holding the Pirates to two hits—singles to Charley McDonald and Noah Iguel— with one earned run, seven strikeouts, and four walks.

Gunner Sablan had two RBI singles with one run on a 2-for-4 batting for the Little Legals.

MINOR LEAGUE
Marlins 4, Cubs 3
Nick Sablan won his pitching duel against Rosie Saralu in the Kagman Marlins’ close win over the Chalan Kanoa Cubs.

Sablan tossed four innings of one-hit game with the Cubs’ three runs all unearned. He also retired 10 and walked four batters.

Kevin Shardt and Paul Lizama scored on back-to-back errors by the Marlins in the first inning, while the former reached home plate for the second time on a passed ball.

Saralu also pitched a one-hitter with one earned run, seven strikeouts, and four walks.