Yankees, Comets nose out opponents

Yankees, left, and Islanders players exchange high-fives before their make-up game in the Big League division of the SLLB yesterday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Pitcher M.J. Sakisat flirted with a no-no in the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Braves in the Big League division game in the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Sakisat tossed a one-hitter to shut down the Braves. He also tallied five strikeouts, allowed no walks, and had one hit by pitch in a no relief job.

The Braves’ lone hit against Sakisat came at bottom of the fifth inning with Jeff Cruz nailing a single. The Braves second batter, however, was left stranded at first, as Sakisat fanned out James Kintol and Frankie Lieto flied out at centerfield. Sakisat earlier picked up a shot from leadoff batter Juan Quitigua and threw to first base for the first out at the bottom of the fifth, which ended with the Yankees still ahead by one run.

The Yankees made it to the board way back at the top of the first off Roke Tenorio’s RBI single. The Braves had the best chance to also light up the board and tied the match at the bottom of the third with Cruz reaching third base of a fielder’s choice with two outs and Lieto at second. However, a 4-3 putout play on Franklin Lizama foiled the team’s bid for a deadlock.

The third inning was the closest that the Braves could get home, as in the last four they called for a 1-2-3 inning twice and advanced to as far as second only once.

In the other Big League game last Saturday, the Comets withstood the Islander’s rally to escape with a 7-6 win.

The Comets led, 7-2, after four complete innings behind the three RBIs of starting shortstop Franco Nakamura. Nakamura had a two-run single at the bottom of the fourth inning where the Comets collected two more runs to widen their lead. Nakamura, earlier in the third hit an RBI single and had also two runs in the first four innings to give the Comets the upper hand.

However, the Islanders mounted a comeback in the fifth after knocking in three runs off Craig Aguon’s RBI single and the Comets’ miscues. A Nate Camacho run off an error from Nakamura, who closed out for the Comets, moved the Islanders’ within one with two outs at the top of the seventh and last inning. The Comets then remained in contention when Bradley Lieto singled, however not for long as centerfielder E.J. Castro caught a fly ball from Vincent Leon Guerrero in the ensuing play to end the game.

Nakamura went 3-for-4 in the Comets’ close win, while Ton Ilo matched the latter’s two runs. Justin Lisua, Matt Hamilton, and Greg Sablan scored the three other runs for the Comets.