Twin victories for Falcons

Spencer Dickinson hurls for the Falcons at the top of the fourth inning of their game against the Blue Jays in the Senior League division of the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Falcons made short work of the Blue Jays, cruising to a 12-2 win in their Senior League game in the 2017 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Falcons took the victory after only five innings via 10-run mercy rule.

Spencer Dickinson threw a four-hitter and struck out six batters to help the Falcons dispatch the Blue Jays early. He also scored three runs and stole home twice. His steal at the top of the fifth inning gave the Falcons one of the five runs they needed to wrap up the match two innings early. Kobe Lifoifoi had a two-RBI single and one run, while Noel Cabrera hit an RBI single at the top of the fifth to hand the Falcons the double-digit lead.

At the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Jays just had to score one run to stay in the game, but they did not stand a chance against the Falcons’ defense as the former were called for a 1-2-3. Dickinson fanned out Blue Jays leadoff batter Shawn Cruz and the former also picked up a short shot from Jayden Tenorio and threw to first baseman Jester Kintaro for the second out. The third out came off a 6-3 putout play on Sho Taguchi.

The Blue Jays fell behind in the match right from the start as they only scored in the second inning, while the Falcons hit the board in the first three before scoring their most runs in the fifth.

Meanwhile, the Falcons were also victorious in the Junior League division after outclassing the NSA Braves, 5-1.

The Falcons blanked the Braves in the first four innings with Joel Norita working the mound and striking out six. With Norita pitching and the rest of the Falcons defense on point, the Braves made it to scoring position only twice and had five runners stranded in the four-inning shutdown. The Braves’ lone run came in the fifth as Jordan Babauta reached home off a sacrifice out.

The Braves scored after the Falcons built a 5-0 lead. The Falcons got a solo homer from Froilan Camacho and made three runs off two wild pitches and a Braves error at the bottom of the fourth, while their first run was recorded in the first inning with Aven Evangelista reaching home off a sacrifice fly.

After ending their silence, the Braves were called for a 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh, allowing the Falcons to keep the driver’s seat and the win.

In the other Junior League game, Bank of Saipan slipped past the Comets, 5-4.

Bank of Saipan lit up the board in the fourth and fifth inning to overhaul a 0-3 deficit and then held the Comets to one run in the last three frames to steal the victory.

Orren Cruz and Alexiana Tyquenco made it home off wild pitches at the bottom of the fourth, while Dominic Torres stole home and Rexon and Chase Tenorio scored off a passed ball and sacrifice out to put Bank of Saipan on top, 5-3.

The Comets recorded their three runs at the top of the third off Bing Nakamura’s RBI triple, Zeph Limes’ stolen base, and a Bank of Saipan error at short stop to take the lead. However, the Comets failed to regain the upper hand as they scored only one run (off a Bank of Saipan booboo at third base) in the fifth and were called for a 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh inning.

Cruz closed out for Bank of Saipan after relieving Devon Pangelinan late in the sixth and the former went on to strike out three batters. He fanned out the Comets’ first two batters at the top of the seventh and then teamed up with Rexon Tenorio for the 1-3 putout play to end the game.

Managers/coaches meeting
SLLB, Inc. president A.J. Murig is calling on all managers and coaches of the participating teams in the Majors, Junior, and Senior League divisions to attend a meeting on March 27 at 5:30pm at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The officials will be updated on the ongoing season and the district and regional tournaments during the meeting.