Braves Jr.’s Ziah Sablan beats a runner for the pickoff during a junior division game of the 2025 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
THE Braves Jr. remain unscathed in the junior division of the 2025 Saipan Little League Baseball, notching their fifth straight win by trouncing the Blue Jays Jr., 12-2, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Sunday.
The Braves Jr.’s excelled both offensively and defensively. In the top of the first inning, they quickly dispatched the Blue Jays Jr. with a 5-3 groundout by Kayden Lizama, followed by two strikeouts from pitcher Damian Marchadesch.
In the bottom half of the inning, leadoff hitters Marchadesch and Aiken Nortia caused chaos on the basepaths, advancing on multiple stolen bases and eventually crossing home plate to score two early runs for the Braves Jr.
The Blue Jays Jr. tried to stop the bleeding by recording the Braves Jr.’s first out, but before they could close the inning, Kayden Lizama turned a grounder into a sacrifice play, giving teammate Donray Barcinas just enough time to slide home for an RBI and extend the lead to 3-0.
In the top of the second inning, the Blue Jays Jr. broke the silence with a double by Ethan Dikito, who then stole third. However, the Braves Jr. responded with three consecutive outs to stay in control.
The Braves Jr. then unleashed eight runs, with Barcinas, Phillip Seman, and Zekiel Falig each earning an RBI to build a commanding 11-0 lead.
With the 10-run mercy rule in effect, the Blue Jays Jr. needed to turn the momentum around — and nearly did, holding the Braves Jr. to just one run in the third inning. However, they remained scoreless themselves.
In the top of the fourth, the Blue Jays Jr. finally broke through with two runs, sparked by an RBI single from Jeremiah Villagomez. But before they could build any rhythm, the Braves Jr. shut the door, securing the third and final out to end the game early with a 12-2 win after just four and a half innings.
Other games
Joining the celebration were the Ol’Aces Jr., who slipped past the Cobras Jr., 10-9 while in the senior division, the Braves Sr. outplayed the Ol’Aces Sr, 8-4.
