Curacao captures
top seed
Pabao Little League
capitalizes on untimely Saipan mistakes to extend LLWS winning
streak to three-games
By David Graham-Caso
The Pabao Little
League fro Willemstad, Curacao came into its Tuesday morning game
against the Saipan Little League exuding confidence. The Caribbean
Regional Champions’ high spirits were justified: no matter what
happened in the game, they would advance to the single elimination
round as the first place team in pool D.
“We did not even tell
the kids that we had already qualified,” said Curacao manager
Vernon Isabella though interpreter Carlos Pagan. “We play each
game like it is important to win.”
Curacao (3-0) defeated
Saipan (0-3) 3-0 in front of 4,900 at Lamade Staduim Tuesday.
Saipan’s offense was
knocking on the door all game, but could not put together a series
of hits and get a runner home. Despite mustering six base knocks,
the Saipan squad was shut out by Curacao hurler Dimitri Eugenia.
With the help of
flawless defense, Eugenia did not allow a Saipan runner past
second base.
“Our defense has
always been a strong part of our team,” Isabella said. “We expect
to have good defense like that. It is rare if we make an error.”
Eugenia’s Saipan
counterpart, Antonio Rogolifoi Jr. also pitched a gem, even though
he got the loss. Rogolifoi was victimized by untimely mistakes by
his defense. The first run that the starter allowed came home when
centerfielder Anthony Tenorio dropped a fly ball with a runner on
third. The pop up would have been the final out of second inning.
“Antonio has talent,”
said Saipan manager Anthony Benavente. “He has a good release and
good speed, he was just unlucky today.”
Curacao recorded their
second run of the game in the third inning. After belting a triple
to right, Ryandel Walter was plated on a ground out by Sorick
Liberia.
Rogolifoi Jr.’s one
mistake came in the form of a fastball to Curacao slugger Carlos
Pineda. Pineda, already 2-for-2 on the day, hammered the Rogolifoi
Jr. offering beyond the left-center field wall, tacking on an
insurance run for his team in the top of the sixth inning.
“(Rogolifio Jr.) threw
a curve ball that he was hoping the hitter would chase,” Benavente
said. “The kid made contact and that was that.”
With its perfect 3-0
record in pool play, Curacao next advances to the International
semifinal to face either Taiwan or Panama. Isabella is optimistic
about his team’s next game.
“We have momentum
now,” he said. “A lot of teams can get a lot of hits, but you need
clutch hitting to win. That is what we have, clutch hitting.”
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