By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE 2026 Saipan Little League Inc. officially kicked off Saturday at the Capital Hill ball field, opening with a majors division matchup that lived up to the hype as the Cubs secured a hard-fought 8–5 victory over the Mariners.
The Cubs wasted no time asserting themselves. In the opening inning, they put on a defensive display led by the strong throwing arm of pitcher Legend Coldeen, who struck out the first three batters.
On offense, the momentum continued to build as Cubs runner Skyler Leon Guerrero wreaked havoc on the basepaths, turning a single into stolen bases and eventually crossing home plate before the Mariners stopped the bleeding, 1–0.
The next two innings showcased a duel between the two starting pitchers. Coldeen remained effective on the mound, striking out four more batters, while Mariners pitcher Sam Ngiraked matched the effort with seven strikeouts through three complete innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Mariners finally broke through, stringing together three consecutive runs to take the lead. Their momentum, however, was short-lived as the Cubs responded quickly in the bottom half with five runs of their own to reclaim control, 6–3.
The Mariners continued to battle, adding a solo run in the top of the fifth inning, but once again the Cubs answered with two runs in the bottom half to maintain their advantage.
The Mariners had one final opportunity to mount a comeback, but despite their efforts, they managed only one more run before the Cubs recorded the final out to secure the victory without needing to play the bottom of the sixth inning, 8–5.
Other games
Joining the winners’ circle were the Cobras, who defeated the Comets, 17–14, highlighted by Denzel Kaipat’s two-run homer. The Braves also picked up a win, routing the Dodgers, 11–1, behind Damian Sablan’s solo home run.
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.
