Tindin’s walk-off lifts NMI Juniors

It was only the CNMI Junior League team’s second game, but it was like a finals atmosphere as the home team did not disappoint their families and fans that cheered for them non-stop.

Tindin Leon Guerrero had a walk-off hit to lift Team CNMI to a 10-9 win over Hong Kong in the Junior League division of the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Regional Tournament yesterday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

It was the home team’s second win after pummeling Guam, 15-1, last Saturday.

The CNMI players used a seven-run third inning to beat their Southern neighbors.

It was also the third nail-biting game for the hosts, as the Seniors squad needed 10 innings before beating Guam, while its Big League division team also had to squeeze past their Southern neighbors in separate matches.

The home team trailed against Hong Kong in their Junior League game as the visitors opened with a 6-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings. The CNMI Junior leaguers were still down, 7-9, entering the bottom of the seventh and Hong Kong needing only three outs to complete the win.

The wards of manager Manny Evangelista, and coaches Bernard Cabrera and Thomas Guerrero, however, won’t go down that easily.

Henry Aguon had a leadoff triple and scored on a Kimo Angailen forced play for the first out to make it 8-9. Angailen grounded out to Hong Kong first baseman Bryan Tan, while Aguon ran towards home.

Hong Kong then made a pitching change with manager Thomas Hill and coach Robert Drapeau choosing to have Jay Fong closed out the game.

CNMI’s comeback was nearly put to waste as Leo Salalila, with a 1-1 count, took Fong’s third pitch to left where Bryan Lee caught the high fly ball for out number two.

Tyrese Camacho doubled to left and Neldreyton Skerei had a single to keep the CNMI’s comeback hopes alive.

Leon Guerrero—with two outs and runners on base—gifted Team CNMI the win after taking Fong’s fourth pitch to deep left field to bring in Camacho and Skerei, who scored the game-winning run.

Hong Kong scored six runs in the top of the first with Jay Fong, Ian Lo, Anthony Fong, Jonathan Drapeau, Shu Furukawa, Arnold, and Yoki Tomiyama getting on base on a hit, walk or hit by pitch.

Drapeau, after Hong Kong loaded up the bases against CNMI starter Jayden Tenorio, was hit by pitch to score one run with Furukawa bringing in two more on a two-RBI single. It took the CNMI almost 40 minutes to get three outs in the first inning.

Team CNMI was still trailing, 4-9, in the bottom of the fifth when Angailen, with runners at the corner and one out, had a two-RBI triple.

Salalila made it 7-9 with an RBI single as he took Furukawa’s fourth throw to the gap between shortstop and left field to bring in Angailen.

Hong Kong managed to preserve the lead after Furukawa forced Cabrera to ground out to first and only needed three pitches in retiring Skerei, who struck out swinging.

Neither team scored after that with Angailen, who closed out for Team CNMI, preventing Hong Kong from getting any insurance runs in the top of the seventh to set up their amazing finish in the bottom half.

It was Hong Kong’s second straight loss after it suffered a 3-24 thrashing from defending champion Chinese-Taipei last Saturday.

SENIOR LEAGUE
CNMI 3, Philippines 0

Team CNMI’s bullpen held Philippines to one hit in completing the shutout victory and their second in as many games.

Ethan Babauta, Nathan Camacho, Franko Nakamura, and Franklin Lizama alternated on the mound where they combined for five strikeouts and four walks, and forced the Filipino batters to hit grounders and fly balls.

Both teams were coming off wins over separate opponents with CNMI squeezing out a 5-4 10-inning thriller against Guam and the Philippines cruising to a 15-5 decision over Hong Kong.

BIG LEAGUE
CNMI 3, Guam 2
CNMI scored three runs in the bottom of the third then relief pitcher Jose Lizama Jr. held his own against the Guam hitters.

J.J. Lifoifoi singled and scored on an RBI single by K.J. Deleon Guerrero, who also reached home on a Jhace Palacios triple.

Michael Concepcion and Daniel Cruz made Guam’s runs in the first and fifth innings.

Lizama, who relieved Frankie Lieto in the top of the fifth, shut them down the rest of the game.

Lizama, after giving up a double to Kel Francisco, struck out Guam designated hitter Napu San Miguel and T.J. Leon Guerrero. Team CNMI’s celebration was delayed after Vandrew Naputi got on base on an error by third baseman Khobby Kaipat.

Lizama then sealed the CNMI’s win after he forced Kaimana Bamba to an infield fly that Bradley Lieto caught.

Meanwhile, action in the annual tournament that awards World Series berths to the champion teams continues today with Chinese-Taipei taking on Australia at 9am in the Juniors. At 11am, Guam will duel the Philippines in the Senior League match. Guam and the Philippines will also play at 1pm this time in the Juniors, while the CNMI battles Hong Kong at 3pm in another Senior League game. The Big league division matches will be between Guam and Philippines at 5pm and CNMI against Chinese-Taipei at 7pm.