Short stop Lamarc Iguel went 2-for-4 with two runs, Leroy Regis struck out five, and the newly crowned champs overthrew the Tan Siu Lin Foundation Fielders, 5-3 at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
“They did great, they hammered them (Fielders) with some runs in the first few innings,” recalled Lions’ manager Sylvio Ada after the game.
An early game boost was all the Lions needed to stay at the top, with lead-off batter Tim Deleon Guerrero and Arthur Jebhen scoring runs on sacrifice flies. Iguel and Ricardo Dela Cruz posted two more runs on errors at the top of the third to hand the team a 4-0 lead.
With three scoreless innings under their belt, the Fielders mustered three runs to catch up. Jonathan Rangamar was hit by a pitch from Regis before scoring a run, and Joe Kileleman returned home on an error. Center fielder Patrick Tenorio delivered another run on Alonso Pedro’s sacrifice bat.
Kileleman came in as Jacob Tomokane’s pinch runner, but got as far as second base in the bottom of the sixth.
Russel Hocog drove Greg Iskawa in with a sacrifice fly to lift the Lions, 5-3 in the seventh inning. Regis allowed only three hits and walked none to shut the Fielders down.
The Lions scored 10 regular season wins with two losses to gain the second seed in this year’s playoffs.
Maratita, Jets down Red Sox for Little League title
Benjamin Maratita pitched six scoreless innings to help the Juan S. Tenorio Jets win their Majors Division championship game against the Bank of Saipan Red Sox at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Baseball Field.
First baseman TJ Dela Cruz hit a three-run triple and returned to home plate on Mal Celis’ double to jumpstart the Jets in the first inning.
Maratita bagged 11 strikeouts and allowed one hit with only two walks to suppress the Red Sox. Nathan Camacho went 2-for-4 and helped the Jets’ offensive with one run and two singles.
Two strikeouts and an out at first base by Reno finished the Red Sox at the bottom of the sixth.
Maratita rallied with two RBI singles at the top of the second. Anthony Guerrero took over Celis and delivered a run-scoring single three innings later. Harvey Matagolai scored the Jets’ seventh run on an error.
Fielders 9, Stars 4
Jon Celis and Juan Maratita went 3-for-4 with two runs apiece and the IT&E Fielders won, 9-4 in their Big League consolation game against the Natibu Sports Association Northern Stars on Saturday morning.
Starting pitcher KJ Villagomez struck out eight to silence the Stars, who were eliminated in last week’s semis by the Hustlers. A five-run fourth inning was all the Fielders needed to secure the game. Robert Guerrero scored their ninth run with a stolen base to home plate.
Isaiah Lizama went 2-for-4 and led the Stars’ offense with one run, one single, and a triple.
Fielders’ Marvin Ngeskebei, Celis, Eldred Sanchez, and JD Sablan each posted one RBI in the first and fourth innings.
Stars’ Ben Lizama struck out five but gave up eight runs on eight hits before switching out for Tomas Camacho.
