Falcons take Major division pennant

The Falcons’ Keoni Serrano catches the ball during the top of the second inning of their playoff game against the Braves for the pennant in the Major division of the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Falcons won the Major division pennant in the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball following a 5-2 victory over the Braves in a playoff game last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The Falcons scored in the first two innings to prevail in the battle for the pennant and the top seed in the division between the teams from the northern side of the island.

Second baseman Achilles Evangelista helped the Falcons gain the needed runs early as his single drove home leadoff batter Jon Riungel for their first run at the bottom of the first inning. Then in the second inning, Evangelista blasted a two-RBI double. The Falcons registered two more earned runs at the bottom of the second inning off Clarence Pangelinan and Chris Gonzales’ RBI single each for their 5-1 advantage.

Earlier at the top of the first inning, leadoff Joel Borja put the Braves on the board as he was driven home by Heath Camacho’s single. However, the Braves were silenced in the next three innings before saving only one run in the fifth, as they had a lot of missed opportunities in the last five innings with the Falcons stepping up on defense to take the win and the pennant.

The Braves had a chance to score in the second inning when they had runners on third and second with only one out, however Falcons starting pitcher Keoni Serrano fanned out Borja, while Taisei Desebel was booted out on a 5-3 play for the third out. In the fourth inning, Jylon Sablan was in scoring position, but the Falcons stranded him when Serrano struck out Angelo Igitol.

Then in the fifth inning, after Igitol’s single drove home Sablan, the Braves loaded the bases with two outs. However, the Falcons frustrated the Braves anew when Evangelista picked up the shot of Tristan Norita and threw to first baseman Gonzales for the third out.

After the big defensive stop, the Falcons were called for a quick 1-2-3 inning, putting more pressure on the Braves at the top of the sixth. The Braves must score three runs to extend the game and keep their pennant hopes alive. However, the Braves got off to a bad start when its leadoff batter flied out. Borja stepped into the plate next, was walked by relief pitcher Riungel, and left stranded at first when Desebel field out to center and Riungel fanned out Camacho.

The Falcons’ victory against the Braves completed the squad’s sweep of all three divisions this season as the former took the pennant in the Junior and Senior League competitions, too.

Meanwhile, after the rubber match for the pennant, the playoff round for the Major division also started last Saturday.

No. 3 seed Comets played against No. 6 McDonald’s in the first game with the former posting a 4-2 victory. However, McDonald’s placed the match under protest, saying the Comets used an illegal bat. Saipan Tribune inquired with SLLB officials about the protest, but has yet to get a response at press time.

One more playoff match took place yesterday with No. 4 Little Legals scheduled to meet No. 5 Pirates-2. Results of last Saturday’s game along with the playoff matches yesterday will be reported this week. The playoff pairings yesterday were the Falcons versus Bank of Saipan and Braves vs Docomo Ol’Aces.