By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE defending champion Patriots started their title defense in the Majors division of the 2007 Saipan Little League Baseball with a bang whipping the Tanapag Braves, 12-1, last Saturday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.
After the Braves’ pitcher Peter Lieto prevented the Patriots from scoring a run in the first two innings and Tanapag led by one, 1-0, at the top of the third, Janeo Sablan scored a run to tie a game at one apiece.
The Patriots continued its uphill climb nailing four more runs at the top of fourth, while pitcher Brian Camacho prevented the Braves from scoring a run in the last two innings.
In the last inning, the Patriots had seven more runs.
In other results in the Majors, the As Matuis Twins clobbered the Pirates, 16-6, while the Hustlers edged the Toyota Matrix, 13-8.
The last game in the Majors last Saturday was halted due to haze cause by the gas and steam fumes emitted by the Anatahan volcano.
The Ol’Aces 1 were leading the Red Sox, 4-2, when the game was stopped.
In other division results, the Jets and the Falcons kicked off the action in the 2007 season of the SLLB last Friday with the former winning the Seniors game, 9-6.
In the Juniors, the Fielders won via a 10-run mercy rule over the Ol’Aces, 11-1.
Peter Tenorio started the match with aninfield home run to help the Fielders dominate the game.
Fielders pitcher Tom Agulto prevented the Ol’Aces from scoring a run in the first three innings. The Ol’Aces made it to the scoreboard on a run from Rocco Reyes at the bottom of the fourth.