Held at the Major League Baseball Field in San Jose, Tinian the district tournament ran more exciting than ever with the Tinian and Rota showing great progress in the CNMI Little League family.
Rota fielded teams in major, junior and senior leagues while Tinian which only had majors in the previous events, finally had an All-Stars team in big league this time.
In the junior division, Jared Sablan allowed only one base hit and four walks, striking out seven batters to help Saipan All-Stars nail Rota All-Stars to one run for their 10-run rule victory.
First baseman, Jeffery Lizama had an excellent working ties with Sablan and short stop, Joe Lizama depriving three batters the first base.
Keene Deleon Guerrero knocked in a two-run single and Jared fired a solo shot and Saipan All-Stars took the lead in the second inning.
Centerfielder Jonathan Cabrera and third baseman Khobby Kaipat scored runs on a wild pitch and passed ball respectively to stretch their in the third.
Jeffery Lizama hit an RBI single before Jeremy Lizama fired a two-run single and the Saipan All-Stars won the game, 11-1.
Felix Ogo singled and stole his way to the home plate to secure the only run for Rota All-Stars. Daniel Taitano was a trot away to their second run in the second inning when Saipan All-Stars, Cabrera caught Roque Lizama’s fly ball for the third out.
In the senior league, the Saipan All-Stars lambasted the Rota All-Stars with 10 base hits for a 17-2 rout.
Starting pitcher, Joseph Palacios had three strike outs in two innings before he was replaced by Greg Iskawa who had two, then, Jeremy Lizama took over the mound in the fourth and struck out three.
Both Harry Nakamura and Leonard Sablan drove in run with a walk in the top of the first.
With starter, Austin Masga striking out one, the Rota All-Stars held Saipan All-Stars scoreless in the second.
Iskawa hit an RBI double, Palacios and Nakamura had two-run single apiece. Jesse Yamagishi drove in a run and Iskawa had another turn at-bat to drive in one run and the Saipan All-Stars pulled away in the third inning.
The Saipan All-Stars showed no mercy in the fifth with Richard Dela Cruz firing an RBI double while Nakamura and Yamagishi scored runs on an error by the catcher.
In the big league, Chad Atalig, Nick Cruz and Jimmy Brel had run-scoring single apiece in the second inning and the Saipan All-Stars took the lead all the way to their 7-3 victory.
The Tinian All-Stars showed fighting stance in the fourth inning pounding the Saipan All-Stars with three consecutive base hits two of which scoring runs that cut Saipan’s lead big time.
JD Santos and Dalwin Cepeda had an RBI single apiece.
With Wally Emul firing an RBI single and Chad Atalig driving in a run, the Saipan big leaguers widen the gap and assured themselves of the mercy-rule win.
In the major division, Mike Muna allowed only one hit and one run—KJ Nabors’ solo shot, to secure Saipan All-Stars’ 4-1 win over the Tinian All-Stars.
Right fielder MJ Sakisat’s long-distance throw to the first base after catching a grounder, added highlight to the Saipan All-Stars’ strong defense.
The district tournament organizing committee headed by district administrator, James Ada extends its huge appreciation to all the businesses, the community, government agencies, individuals, volunteers and the Office of the Municipality of Tinian for all the contributions rendered to the success of the district level of competition—the road to the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament.
