Pennant within Falcons’ reach

A Falcons runner gets ready to head to third during an earlier game in the Majors division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield. The Falcons are undefeated in seven games after beating the Kag- man Little Legals last Sunday. (Jon Perez)

Chris Gonzales pitched a complete game, while Noah Aguon, Achilles Evangelista, and Chris Pangelinan drove in two runs each, as the Talaabwogh Falcons defeated the Kagman Little Legals, 10-2, in the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball last Sunday at the Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield.

The win was the seventh in as many games for the Falcons and it moved them closer to clinching the pennant in the Majors division. It was the Little Legals’ first loss in seven matches. The Falcons and Little Legals were tied atop the standings with similar 6-0 slates before their much-awaited clash which could be a preview of this season’s title match.

Gonzales surrendered eight hits with the Litle Legals’ two runs both earned. He also struck out four batters, while walking none.

Benji Palacios, who had a triple with two outs at the top of the second inning, reached home on Reed Camacho’s RBI single and the latter scored on Derrence Diaz’s RBI single.

Gonzales retired the Little Legals’ first three batters, including G-Boy Pangelinan, the current second placer in the batting leaders, but went 0-for-3 in last weekend’s game. Batting leader Cardi Borja also failed to get a hit against Gonzales, going 0-for-3.

Palacios and Gunner Sablan each had two of the Little Legals’ eight hits. Jon Diaz and Derrence Diaz doubled, while Camacho and Jesse Norita had singles.

Aguon, the lone Falcons player in the batting leaders, went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI single in the third and scored a run. Evangelista reached home twice in a perfect performance at the plate, 4-for-4, and had RBI singles each in the first and fifth inning.

Pangelinan had a two-RBI single also at the bottom of the first and was struck out in the third before being replaced by Andre Iguel in the fourth.

Pirates 16, McDonald’s 2
Deandrey Cruz belted a three-run homer in the third, as the Bridge Capital Pirates made short work of McDonald’s in the other Majors division game last Sunday.

Joey Dela Cruz had a leadoff walk, while Josh Atalig had a free ride on base that set up Cruz’s second round-tripper this season to join teammate Charles McDonald on the list of players with two homers.

Cruz, who was hit by a pitch in his first at bat, scored three times and had a two-RBI double in the Pirates’ 11-run first inning. He finished with five RBIs.

Atalig tossed four innings of one-hit game with one earned run, while fanning six and walking five.

MINOR LEAGUE
Marlins 4, Comets 1
Nick Sablan had 10 strikeouts in a no-hit job to lead the Kagman Marlins past the Comets. He also had four walks and scored two of their team’s four runs.

Sablan belted a two-run inside-the-park homer at the bottom of the third to bring Roque Pangelinan home. Pangelinan earlier singled with one out.

Derelle Abraham scored the lone run for the Comets.

Games in the Minors division are played in a one-hour time limit.

SENIOR LEAGUE
Fielders 15, Comets 2
Jordan Babauta fanned eight and held the Comets to two hits in the Fielders’ easy win.

He was hit by pitch twice in his three plate appearances and grounded out to first at the bottom of the third.