NMI Senior leaguers now 3-0

Left photo, Philippine Junior League pitcher Marthy Ranada prepares to throw to the plate in their game against Guam yesterday at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. Right photo, Ethan Babauta, left, waits for the pitch in the CNMI’s game against the Philippines last Sunday in the Senior League division of the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Tournament. (Jon Perez)

Nathan Camacho tossed two innings in relief to help Team CNMI complete a 5-4 win over Hong Kong in the Senior League division of the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, Big League Baseball Regional Tournament last night at the packed Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Camacho held his own against a persistent Hong Kong side to secure the defending Asia Pacific regional champions’ third straight win while keeping the visitors winless in as many games. The lefty pitcher even survived a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth to the delight of the hometown crowd.

Lorenzo Sebaklim had a leadoff walk in the top of the third, stole second, and later scored on a Brandon Pua RBI triple to put the CNMI on the board and break two scoreless innings.

Anthony Agulto had an infield fly for the first out before Sebaklim reached home plate.

Pua made it 2-0 on an RBI single by Roke Tenorio, while Franko Nakamura also singled but was got caught in a 1-6 play for the second out.

In the next play, Nathan Camacho tacked a single then Henry Lizama also had a base hit to bring in Tenorio. Craig Aguon loaded up the bases, while Richard Atalig had a two-RBI double, bringing in Camacho and Lizama for a 5-0 CNMI lead. Aguon failed to beat the throw of Hong Kong catcher Taishi Ono to shortstop Wilson Yiu at third base to end the inning.

Hong Kong scored one run in the bottom half of the third then added three more in the bottom sixth before Nakamura foiled the visiting team’s comeback in the seventh.

In the other Senior League game, Guam scored a 12-6 win over the Philippines to follow up its 10-5 triumph over Hong Kong last Sunday night.

JUNIOR LEAGUE

Chinese-Taipei 23, Australia 4

The defending division champion peppered the Australian bullpen with 19 hits for its second straight win.

Liu Ji Hong and Chiuh Chih Heng went 3-for-4 each with both batters missing only a home run in order to hit the cycle. Liu also had three RBIs, while Lee Meng Che had a two-RBI triple in an eight-run second inning barrage.

Chinese-Taipei also tallied 20 RBIs.

Philippines 16, Guam 4

The Philippines used a pair of five-run innings in beating Guam to somehow eased the pain of its opening-game loss to Australia, 5-7, last Sunday.

The batters of Team Philippines, represented by Tanauan City, tallied 15 hits and walked 12 times.

The Philippines and Australia now have similar 1-1 records to tie for second place behind undefeated Chinese-Taipei and hosts CNMI, while Guam and Hong Kong remain winless.

BIG LEAGUE

Chinese-Taipei 5, Guam 0

Zeng Sheng Chun had a no-relief job on the mound as Chinese-Taipei blanked Guam for its second straight win.

Zeng held Guam to four hits and had 13 strikeouts with one walk, while hitting two batters—Guam second baseman Michael Concepcion and shortstop Tristan Aguero—by pitch.

Philippines 10, CNMI 2

The Philippines frustrated the home team in a match that stretched all the way to 1am Monday morning.

Tournament organizers opted to stop the game, which was initially scheduled to be continued today with the Philippines enjoying the eight-run lead in the top of the sixth.

The win, however, was awarded to the visiting squad after organizers consulted Little League headquarters in South Willamsport in Pennsylvania.