By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE Braves successfully defended their crown at Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield on Saturday, fending off the resilient Dodgers, 7-4, to capture the Majors Division title of the 2026 Saipan Little League.
The Dodgers entered the matchup determined to dethrone the reigning champions and struck first in the top of the second inning. After a quiet opening inning from both sides, they capitalized on a series of opportunities to drive in two runs, highlighted by Carlos Rivera’s RBI single, taking an early 2-0 lead.
They built on that momentum in the top of the third inning. Backed by hits from Jo’ell H. and Elijah P., the Dodgers plated another two runs to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Braves, seasoned by championship experience, did not panic. In the bottom of the third, their bats came alive in spectacular fashion as they erupted for five runs to erase the deficit and seize the lead. Key extra-base hits from N. Neth and N. Nekai ignited the dugout, while C. Reyes delivered a clutch performance with two RBIs. By the end of the inning, the Braves had turned the game around, taking a 5-4 lead.
The Braves then turned to their bullpen and tightened their defense to stifle any hopes of a Dodgers comeback. Relief pitcher R. Camacho delivered a masterclass performance, throwing four shutout innings while striking out four to silence the Dodgers’ offense.
While Camacho held the line, the Braves added insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 7-4.
The Dodgers struggled with defensive miscues down the stretch and were unable to recover.
“Man, it feels great,” Braves manager Niko Nekai Jr. said. “Counting now, it’s been four championships in a row. I’ve had these boys since they were nine. Every day, every week, every year, we put in work. We strive to get this championship, and I’m glad that we got the fourth one.”
When it comes to big games like this, Nekai said the coaching staff focuses on keeping players confident rather than applying pressure.
“We don’t yell at them; we actually reassure them. We make sure that their confidence, motivation, and drive are there for them to win,” he said. “It’s hard to win a game when the boys are thinking about a lot of other stuff. We work on everything — conditioning, defense, offense, and the mental game too. We make sure the boys are prepared for every scenario, whether it’s mental, physical, or high-pressure situations.”
Although the season was cut short due to the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Nekai and the team were grateful for the opportunity to complete the season with a championship title.
“Even though the boys didn’t really get to fully display what they trained for, Saipan Little League still managed to give them a season to play despite the typhoon,” he said. “A big round of applause to them and everyone who made it happen.”
While a fifth consecutive championship next year remains the goal, the team is keeping expectations grounded.
“Oh man, I can’t guarantee that,” Nekai said with a laugh when asked about a potential fifth crown. “We’ll go back and start working again to make sure it happens. Stay tuned!”
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
