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Flashback: From last to first
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Posted on Apr 27 2020
In this April 2014 file photo, Jets relief pitcher Kenji Yamagata rushes to pick up a bunt from the Braves’ Frankie Lifoifoi during the bottom of the sixth inning of their title game in the Senior League division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Saipan Tribune)
On this day, six years ago, the Jets made it on top after a long trip, as they stunned the Braves, 5-3, in the Senior League division finals of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
The Jets were the last team to reach the playoffs of the Senior League, as they finished fourth in the team standings after the regular season. The Jets then started their long journey to the championship with a 5-4 victory over the No. 3 seed Enforcers and followed it up with another upset against pennant champions Red Sox, 9-1, to advance to the finals against the No. 2 Braves.
In the title game, the underdogs Jets kept going and handed the Braves another bridesmaid finish, as pitcher Nathan Camacho towed the eventual champions to victory.
Camacho struck out 12 batters and gave up only one earned run in 5.1 innings before Kenji Yamagata took over the mound. The starting pitcher managed to redeem himself from a shaky start that saw him allowing a double to A.J. Evangelista, who went on to reach home and gave the Braves their first and only lead in the finals, as it was all Jets show after that.
The Jets huddle before returning to the field during their playoff game against the Red Sox in the Senior League division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball. (Saipan Tribune)
The Jets got two runs off sacrifice flies, while Jesse Brel and Franko Nakamura each hit an RBI single, and Frankie Lizama reached off a passed ball.
The Braves, as expected, attempted a comeback, but failed, as Camacho and the rest of the Jets defense hung on tight in the homestretch to win the division championship.
Meanwhile, several players of the Jets and the Braves made it to the CNMI Senior All-Star Team that year and the squad went on to top the Little League Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional Tournament held in the Philippines after beating Guam in the finals, 8-6.
Incidentally, Camacho worked the mound for the CNMI bets in 4.3 innings and got the two quick outs at the bottom of the last inning, while Nakamura closed out and recorded the last strikeout to help the Commonwealth advance to the World Series.
