CMNI rallies for victory over Georgia Manalo sparks Asia-Pacific

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BANGOR – Less than 24 hours after eking out its first win, the Asia-Pacific team recorded another to stay alive in Senior League World Series pool play – and made a little history in the process.

The Saipan Little League squad from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands used a four-run, fourth-inning rally for a 5-4 victory over U.S. South representative Cartersville, Ga., Tuesday evening at Mansfield Stadium.

The win moves CNMI to 2-1 in Pool A. Manager Juan Tenorio said it is the first time an Asia-Pacific team has posted two pool-play wins in the Senior League World Series.

It also means CNMI is still very much alive in the tournament, with one more pool-play game left. They’ll face Canada at 1 p.m. today and have Thursday off.

“It’s nice for the boys,” Tenorio said. “I hope they can continue. … I’m proud of them. They made three errors but maintained their composure and kept it together.”

Cartersville falls to 0-2.

The CNMI team was tired after its Monday night game, a 17-12 win over Maine District 3’s Brewer that lasted nine innings and 3 hours, 28 minutes.

They went to bed relatively early – about 10 p.m. – and relaxed Tuesday morning. Catcher Vincente Cabrera said he even gave one of his teammates a back massage to work out some sore muscles.

“More relaxed, more power maybe,” said Cabrera, who doubled and singled. “It’s very exciting.”

CNMI managed just six hits to Cartersville’s nine, but clutch hitting proved key for the winners.

Philip Manalo, who earned the pitching win, had the big hit in the fourth, a two-run single that tied the game.

His bouncing hit to center field drove in Cabrera, who had a leadoff single and Ben Leon Guerrero, who was hit by a pitch. Manalo then scored on an Ofero Taitano groundout, and Taitano came home with the eventual winning run when Giovanni Ayuyu singled to right.

It was a stellar rally after Cartersville scored three runs and recorded four stolen bases in the top of the first inning.

“You get a little worried but I had confidence in the boys that they could come back and do what their supposed to do,” Tenorio said. ”

The team from Georgia left 10 baserunners, at least one in every inning and had the bases loaded in the fifth but couldn’t score. Zack Philliber did single and score on a Ben Bridges groundout in the sixth.

Cartersville’s Tyler Linn worked a two-out walk in the seventh but reliever Taitano induced a flyout to end it.

Manalo, who struck out four, said his curveball was key.

“I threw more curveball than fastball,” he said. “That’s what my manager was telling me to do.”

ASIA-PACIFIC 5, U.S. SOUTH 4

(Pool A, Tuesday)

Cartersville, Ga. Saipan, CNMI

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Boston, 2b 4 1 2 0 Taitno,3b-p 3 1 1

Pyne,1b-cf 4 0 1 0 Ayuyu, lf 2 0 1

Bridges, ss 3 1 0 1 Salas, ss 3 0 0

Stwrt,p-1b 3 0 1 1 Ada, 1b 3 0 0 0

Huth, 3b 4 1 1 0 Cabrera, c 3 1 0

Green, cf 3 0 1 1 Guerrero,cf 1 1 0

Linn, rf 3 0 2 0 Kintol, rf 2 0 0

Mntgmry,lf 4 0 0 0 Mnalo,p-2b 2 1 2

Williams, c 1 0 0 0 Tnrio,2b-3b 3 1 0

Greene, pr 0 0 0 0

Philliber, c 2 1 1 0

Totals 31 4 9 3 22 5 6 4

U.S. South 300 001 0 – 4

Asia-Pacific 100 400 x – 5

E-Payne 2, Huth, Williams; Salas 2, Taitano; DP-Taitano-Ada; LOB-U.S. South 10, Asia-Pacific 4; 2B-Payne; Cabrera; SF-Stewart; S-Ayuya, Guerrero; SB-Linn 2, Boston, Green, Bridges; Ayuyu, Tenorio

U.S. South IP H R ER BB SO

Stewart 3* 4 3 2 1 0

Mauldin (L, 0-1) 1 2 2 1 1 1

Green 2 0 0 0 0 1

Asia-Pacific

Manalo (W,1-0) 5 2/3 9 4 2 2 4

Taitano 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 1

*faced batters in the fourth

HBP-Guerrero by Mauldin; WP-Manalo; PB-Cabrera.

T-1:53; A-750 (est.)