Yankees take Big League title

Yankees players and officials are joined by Saipan Little League Baseball officers and guests during the awards ceremony for the Big League division last Tuesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. The Yankees defeated the Islanders in the finals, 8-2. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Yankees added another championship trophy to their collection after defeating the Islanders, 8-2, in the Big League division finals in the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball last Tuesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Yankees, who took the division pennant after topping the four-round robin regular season with their 8-4 record, leaned on the steady pitching of Peyton Lizama and their solid batting at the bottom of the fifth inning to sweep the top honors in the Big League this season.

Lizama pitched in 6. 2 innings, allowed only two hits, and gave up only one earned run. He also had five strikeouts and walked only four.

The Yankees pitcher added an RBI at the bottom of the first where the Yankees got two runs with Roke Tenorio making it home off Lizama’s sacrifice out and Jess Brel reaching from the Islanders’ error at first base. The Yankees then went without a run in the next three innings, while the Islanders tallied two runs to force the standoff 2-2.

Jerald Cabrera put the Islanders on the board off a sacrifice fly from Bradley Lieto at the top of the fourth, while the former’s RBI triple tied the match at the top of the fifth.

However, the Yankees quickly broke the deadlock and regained the upper hand at the bottom of the fifth after collecting six runs. Tenorio and Franklin Lizama each hit an RBI single in the pivotal inning and Peyton Lizama scored off a fielder’s choice. J.J. Chang, Angel Palacios, and Perry Celis also reached off passed balls from Nate Camacho to lift the Yankees to the 8-2 advantage.

The Yankees went on to keep the lead after shutting down the Islanders in the last two innings. Peyton Lizama continued to work the mound for the eventual champions, teaming up with Franklin Lizama for a 1-3 putout play on leadoff batter Lieto at the top of the sixth. Second batter Craig Aguon then flied out at shortstop, while Peyton Lizama was credited for back-to-back strikeouts (uncaught third strikes) before the Yankees got the final out at the top of the sixth on a 4-3 play against Henry Lizama.

The Yankees also failed to score at the bottom of the sixth, but that did not discourage the team, as they concentrated on defense in what turned out to be the last inning in the finale—the top of the seven. The Yankees got the first out of a 6-3 play on Vincent Leon Guerrero, while Peyton Lizama walked Camacho, who later moved to record after relief pitcher Brel also walked Cabrera. Camacho and Cabrera were eventually left stranded as the Yankees got the two remaining outs with Jang and Angel Palacios catching fly balls from Jhace Palacios and Lieto, respectively.