Asia-Pacific, U.S. East victors CNMI rallies past Brewer in ninth

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BANGOR – Two teams doggedly in search of their first victory in this year’s Senior League World Series battled into extra innings at Mansfield Stadium on Monday night.

Finding the magic formula to put away the opponent was a difficult task, but ultimately the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island scored five runs in the top of the ninth to outlast Brewer 17-12.

“I’ve been coaching for 14 years, and even in Little League I’ve never been in a game like this,” said Brewer coach Dave Perry.

The teams, both coming off losses in their tournament openers Sunday, combined for 29 hits and 14 errors before the Asia-Pacific champions capitalized on two Brewer errors and a two-run double by Juan Iguel in the ninth to put away the stubborn Maine District 3 champions.

“I don’t know what to say,” said CNMI manager Juan Tenorio after the marathon contest that lasted more than three hours. “I think both teams played their best. I give credit to Brewer, and our boys also worked extra hard. Both teams gave extra effort and should be commended for a job well done.”

Brewer trailed 10-3 after four innings and 12-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh before scoring five runs in its final at-bat of regulation play to force extra innings.

The host team capitalized on three CNMI errors to fuel that comeback, which was capped off when Eric White singled to left with two outs to drive home Billy Bissell with the tying run.

Bissell, the third of three Brewer pitchers, picked two different CNMI runners off second base in the top of the eighth to thwart a potential counterattack by the Asia-Pacific champs.

But a defense coming off an errorless performance in its opener against Canadian champion Surrey, British Columbia, committed its eighth and ninth errors of this afternoon-turned-evening game, and CNMI turned them into a game-winning rally.

A walk to Nathan Kintol and a bunt single by Ofero Taitano – CNMI’s fifth bunt hit of the game – was followed by a one-out intentional walk to Jonathan Salas that loaded the bases.

Anthony Tenorio, the manager’s nephew, then hit an infield grounder, but a throw home for a forceout was too high, allowing Kintol and Taitano to score and give CNMI a 14-12 lead.

After another intentional walk, Marley Techur hit his second sacrifice fly of the game before Iguel doubled to deep left to drive home the game’s final runs.

Tenorio, who earned the pitching win with five innings of relief, yielded a double to Bissell and an infield single by Joey Cox in the bottom of the ninth, but with runners on first and third he retired the next two batters to end the game.

“I’m proud of them,” said Perry. “They could have given up in the seventh inning but they came back.

“But that crooked number at the end of the scoreboard [errors] shows why we didn’t come through.”

Taitano led CNMI’s 15-hit attack with three singles, while Iguel and Vicente Cepeda each doubled and singled and Techur and Salas singled twice apiece.

White had a double, two singles and three RBIs for Brewer, while Bissell tripled and singled twice with two RBIs. Cox and Matt Helfen also singled twice apiece for Brewer, which finished with 14 hits.

Brewer (0-2) is idle Tuesday before resuming play at 5 p.m. Wednesday against U.S. South champion Cartersville, Ga. CNMI (1-1) continues pool play at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Cartersville, Ga.

ASIA-PACIFIC 17, ME. DISTRICT 3 12

(Pool A Monday, 9 innings)

CNMI Brewer

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Taitano, 3b 6 3 3 0 Bissell,cf-p 4 2 2

Rglofoi, rf 4 3 0 0 Cox, 3b 3 1 2 0

Salas, ss 5 2 2 2 McNlly,p-3b 1 0 0

Ada, p 2 1 1 2 White,ss-3b 5 1 3

Tenorio, p 3 2 1 0 Ftzptrk, rf 5 1 0

Manalo, 2b 4 2 1 0 Dniels, p-ss 4 1 1

Techur, 1b 3 0 2 2 Bush, c 1 0 0 0

Iguel, cf 4 0 2 2 JoePerry,pr 0 2 0

Nedlic, c 5 1 1 1 Thoms, c 2 0 1

Cepeda, lf 2 2 2 0 Helfen, 1b 5 2 1

Kintol, lf 1 1 0 0 JosPerry, lf 1 0 0

Murphy, lf 4 1 1 1

O’Connll,2b 4 1 1 1

Totals 39 17 15 9 Totals 39 12 14 10

Asia-Pacific 006 402 005 – 17

Me. District 3 120 040 500 – 12

E-Techur, Manalo, Iguel, Kintol, Salas; Daniels 2, White 2, Bissell, Cox, Fitzpatrick, Helfen, O’Connell; DP-CNMI 2, Brewer 1; LOB-CNMI 10, Brewer 10; 2B-Iguel, Cepeda; White; 3B-Bissell; SF-Techur 2, Ada; S-Rogolofoi, O’Connell, Cox, Bush; SB-Taitano

Asia-Pacific IP H R ER BB SO

Ada 4 7 6 6 3 0

Tenorio (W, 1-0) 5 7 6 1 2 6

Me. District 3

Daniels 4 8 10 3 1 4

McNally 1 2/3 2 2 2 5 0

Bissell (L, 0-1) 3 1/3 5 5 1 4 1

HBP-Bissell (by Tenorio); WP-McNally 3, Bissell.

T-3:28; A-750 (est.)