Marlins beat Braves in finale

The Kagman Marlins’ Peyton Pangelinan slides home during the top of the fourth inning of their title game against the NSA Braves in the Minor division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Kagman Marlins bagged the Minor division championship in the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball after outclassing the NSA Braves, 6-3, in their title match last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Pitcher Nick Sablan was steady on the mound, Audie Iakopo scored two runs, Roque Pangelinan hit an one-run homer and was perfect at the plate, and the IT&E-sponsored Marlins had a three-run top of the fourth inning to prevail in the winner-take-all finale.

Roque’s first at bat resulted in an RBI triple—Iakopo scoring the run—for the Marlins 1-0 lead at the top of the first. Roque was stuck at third base, as Braves starting pitcher Javen Camacho struck out Santiago Seman and Nick Sablan. Austin Camacho flied out for the first out.

The Marlins went on to keep the shaky lead after one complete inning, as Sablan also fanned two NSA Braves batters and Iguel, who singled, was stranded at second after Javen Camacho went down on a 4-3 putout play.

Sablan continued his strong pitching performance, as he struck out three more Braves batters at the bottom of the second inning with his last strikeout leaving Aiken Norita stuck at third base. Earlier at the top of the second, the Marlins were also shut down when Javen Camacho grounded out David Apatang Jr. and fanned Jake Faisao and Peyton Pangelinan.

After being forced to a 1-2-3 in the second inning, the Marlins bounced back at the top of the third, thanks to Roque’s one-run homer. His dinger came with the Braves one out away from closing out the third. Roque brought with him Audie, who walked, stole second base, and advanced to third off a passed ball. After Roque’s roundtripper, the Braves went on to end the inning in the next play with Javen Camacho striking out Seman. Earlier, the Braves pitcher also fanned leadoff batter Stanley Iakopo Jr. and Austin Camacho.

With the Marlins now up, 3-0, with a little over 30 minutes left in the match that was limited to one hour (per league rules), the Braves were pressured to start scoring to remain in contention and they delivered at the bottom of the third, as they tied the match, 3-all.

Zion Cabrera finally put the Braves on the board when he singled, stole second and third, and slid home, as Marlins catcher Seman struggled to pick up the ball thrown from third base. The Braves also registered their two runs from the Marlins defensive meltdown with Iguel giving the former their second run and Javen Camacho scoring the equalizer with two outs.

Sablan got the two outs by fanning Arthur Magofna and Max Taitano and the Marlins pitcher went on to foil the Braves’ bid to steal the lead when he also struck out Norita after Javen Camacho reached home. Sablan’s third strikeout at the bottom of the third inning left Carl Hocog stranded at second. Hocog made it to first safely, as Marlins first baseman Audie was called for interference, nullifying the tag he did to Hocog and allowing Camacho to score the game-tying run. Hocog then stole second, but stayed there after Sablan’s strikeout on Norita.

Sablan got a dose of his own medicine when Javen Camacho fanned him and the Marlins were called for a quick two outs at the top of the fourth inning, as Apatang grounded out at first. Faisao was next at bat and boosted the Marlins’ chances for the championship when he doubled and eventually reached off the Braves’ throwing error for their 4-3 lead. Peyton Pangelinan made it a 4-2 cushion when he moved to first off another Braves’ boboo, marched into the second off a wild pitch from relief pitcher Iguel, and advanced to third and home off passed balls.

The Marlins then drew their third straight run from Stanley Jr., who walked, reached second and third off passed balls, and made it home off a fielder’s choice. The Marlin had a chance to earn one more run with Audie, who was hit by pitch to move to first and stole second base, in scoring position after a wild pitch, but Iguel finally got the third out by fanning Austin Camacho.

After the Marlins regained the lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Braves were left with seven minutes to go for one final push or surrender the division crown to their foes. Matthew Sablan led off for the Braves, walked, and stole second base, but was left there, as second batter Benjie Sablan was struck out by Nick Sablan. The Marlins pitcher went on to end the game and the Braves’ title hopes when he also fanned Cabrera, who came up with an empty swing right in the closing seconds of the one-hour match.