Falcons soar in Junior League

Noel Cabrera scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, while Jester Kintaro tossed 3 1/4 innings in relief, three in shutout fashion, to lift the Falcons to a tough 3-2 win over the IT&E Fielders in the Saipan Little League’s Junior division finals last Sunday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” M. Palacios Baseball Field.

Kintaro, who was narrowly saved after Fielders catcher Jose Camacho failed to catch his foul ball, led off in the extra inning and took Don Ada’s second pitch to deep left for a double. Joe Tudela came in to pinch run for Kintaro.

Falcons pitcher Jester Kintaro celebrates after getting the final out in their finals game against the IT&E Fielders in the Junior division of the Saipan Little League last Sunday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field. (Jon Perez)

Cabrera, with the scored tied at 2-2 and one out in the top of the eighth, had a bunt single to advance Tudela to third to put runners at the corner. The pinch runner, however, was tagged out on a rundown after Kobe Lifoifoi chose to bunt.

Ace Evangelista had an infield single to load up the bases. Henry Aguon struck out and Arby Yaguel had a dropped ball strike allowing Cabrera to steal home.

The Fielders howled in protest in the ensuing play saying that Yaguel should have been the third out that would disallow Cabrera’s go-ahead run.

Chief umpire Roy Celis, however, explained that it was a dropped ball strike meaning that catcher Camacho should have either tagged Yaguel or threw to first baseman Dai Podziewski to get the third out.

The Fielders got the third out after Spencer Dickerson grounded out to third.

The 14-year-old Kintaro then shut down the Fielders in the bottom of the eighth forcing lead off batter Tyrese Camacho to a line drive that went straight to second baseman Andres Camacho’s glove.

The Saipan Southern High School freshman worked on a full count against Neldreyton Skerei but got the Fielders’ center fielder to an empty swing for the second out.

Kintaro, who only needed four pitches to retire Don Ada, jumped and celebrated with his teammates after getting the game-ending out.

Cabrera went 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Falcons while Evangelista and Dickerson both had an RBI each.

Kintaro held the Fielders to one hit in three shutout innings, fanning two and no walks.

Cabrera pitched 4 2/3 in start surrendering two runs, including an Ada solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Napu Pua, who got on base on a single in the bottom of the fifth, scored the Fielders’ other run on a Jose Camacho RBI single.