Hustlers snap two-game skid

A Kagman Little Legals runner heads to home plate, as the Ol? Aces fumble on defense during their make-up game in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball last week at the Miguel ?Tan Ge? Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

The Hustlers are back on track, following a 15-13 victory over the IP&E Rockies in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball League last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfiled.
The Hustlers, who won their first three games before dropping the next two, played consistent offense in the first four innings and withstood the Rockies’ rally in the sixth to snap their losing skid. The Rockies absorbed their fourth defeat in a row, falling to a 3-6 record.

Closer Juan Lizama led the Hustlers’ win, as he went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored six RBIs and three runs. He pitched 2.7 innings and struck out seven.

A Juan Lizama two-run single, quickly put the Hustlers on the board at the bottom of the first inning and they got two more runs off an error and a passed ball for a 4-0 lead. The advantage went up to 7-0, as the Hustlers nailed three runs in the second, while second pitcher Donovin Lizama stranded three Rockies runners, as he started his shift late at the top of the second with back-to-back strikeouts.

Donovin continued to pitch for the Hustlers, but after a good start, he gaves up five earned runs in the next two innings where the Rockies racked up nine runs. Fortunately, for the Hustlers they also scored in the third and fourth with Darvinco Manalo hitting a two-run single and Juan Lizama contributing a two-run double. The Hustlers also notched four unearned runs in the exchange to remain in control, 15-9, after five innings.

At the top of the sixth and last, Rockies tried to mount a comeback, as three of their first four batters reached home with only one out and a runner on second base. However, Juan Lizama saved the day for the Hustlers, as he struck out the Rockies’ next two batters.

McDonald’s 13, Laolao 3
McDonald’s extended its winning run to five after topping Laolao Bay.

Laolao committed one error after another early in the game, allowing McDonald to open a 10-1 lead after three innings. McDonald’s turned Laolao’s miscues to seven unearned runs in the first and second inning, while the latter only got one from the former’s lapse in the first inning.

After making it to the board first, Laolao struggled in the next three innings before scoring anew in the fifth with two runs. However, McDonald’s retaliated with three runs at the bottom of the fifth to secure the win one inning early.

Jets 13, Twins 3
The Jets also made short work of the Twins, prevailing in the battle of the cellar dwellers after only four innings.

The Jets bagged their first triumph after a 0-6 start, while the Twins remained winless in six matches.

First baseman Steven Kileleman anchored the Jets’ first trip to victory lane, as he hit 2-for-3 at the plate, made two runs, and recorded four RBIs. His three-run triple helped the Jets open a 6-0 lead at the bottom of the first.

Three unearned runs in the second inning moved the Twins closer, but that was also the only time they scored, while the Jets logged seven more runs in the last three innings to nail the easy win via 10-run mercy rule. The Jets collected on runs apiece in the second and fourth inning and five in the third.

James Salalila was the winning pitching, allowing only two hits, while striking seven in three innings.

Meanwhile, the Little Legals were ahead in a make-up game against the Ol’Aces, 13-1.
The match was suspended after two innings due to rain.

The Little Legals threatened an early breakaway behind the grand slam of Pedro Maratita right in the first inning. The rare grand slam was recorded in the Little Legals catcher’s second trip at the plate in that inning. He earlier advanced to first off an Ol’Aces error and made it all the way home off Sean Rabauliman’s single. The Little Legals tucked on 11 runs in the first inning with four batters drilling two runs each.

The Ol’Aces had a shutout at the bottom of the first, as they had two stranded runners after the Little Legals got back-to-back outs. Leadoff batter Shane Borja was called for the first out with his fly ball landing on the hands of Little Legals second baseman Lucio Aldan.

An RBI single in the second inning put the Ol’Aces on the board, while the Little Legals took two runs earlier at the top of the second to still lead by double digits.