Tanapag forces second place tie with Rangers

Police officer Ned Norita’s theft in the 10th coupled by Darson Camacho’s save in the bottom of the inning allowed Tanapag Falcons to nip Ford Rangers, 8-7, in the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League Friday night at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

After the first nine innings ended in a 7-7 deadlock, Norita gave the defending champions a lead-off runner in the 10th when he singled off Mel Sakisat.

He reached second when B.J. Sablan was forced out at first and went to third when Camacho grounded out to shortstop.

With Mike Pangelinan advancing to first base on a base on ball, Norita put on his running shoes and headed toward home plate where he scored to make it 8-7.

Norita’s run proved to be the marginal score as Camacho worked wonders from the plate, forcing Rangers slugger Benwachi Taisacan to fly out to centerfield for the first out, inducing Franco Flores to ground out to third base, before getting some help when Dustin Quitano caught Dung Tenorio’s fly ball to third.

The win allowed Tanapag to tie their victims in second place, behind the unblemished mark of pennant champions Rock Steady, at 8-4.

Falcons actually started out strong, as Quitano, Junior Suel, J.D. Dikito, and Norita all crossed home plate following consecutive hits off the normally reliable Sakisat.

Suel would make it a 5-0 lead when he batted in Henry Iguel in the fourth.

Rangers finally scored in the bottom of the fourth inning when Robert Bansil, Flores, and Ben Tagabuel pelted Pete Teigita with hits that resulted in runs by Bansil, Taisacan, and Tagabuel.

Both teams wouldn’t score in the next three innings but in the ninth Rangers finally caught up and eventually took the lead on a three-run home run by Taisacan, his second of the season.

Taisacan’s three-run round-tripper, which was off Camacho, made it 7-5 as it followed a J.J. Laniyo run on an error by Iguel.

The Falcons only averted a complete collapse when they scored two runs in the ninth and Camacho finally worked his magic from the plate by retiring Laniyo, Pete Tomokane, and Bansil in consecutive order in the ninth.

Camacho took the save after striking out one batter, while surrendering the Taisacan home run and four walks.

Suel was a hitting machine for the Falcons, as the leftfielder went 4-for-5 including four RBIs, and one run.

Quitano also hammered the Rangers’ pitchers with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate. He also added a double and a run.

Taisacan was phenomenal in the loss, bringing in three runners after going 2-for-4, including the homerun in the ninth. Sakisat took the loss despite pitching a complete game.