Previous Story
SML finals to be decided on Friday, if power permits
|
Posted on Aug 19 2008
Organizers and players in the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League baseball tournament are keeping their fingers crossed that the finals series between pennant champion Rock Steady and Ford Rangers will be finished this Friday.
The best-of-five series started Aug. 11, but a week already past and the finals has yet to concluded.
The Joeten Motors-sponsored Ford Rangers are leading the series, 2-1, after winning Games 1, 15-10, and Game 3, 9-6.
Rock Steady prevailed in the twice-suspended Game 2 via forfeiture, as only eight Rangers sluggers showed up for the match.
Game 4 was played Monday night, but was suspended due a power outage at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
Rock Steady has a strong chance to even the series and force a deciding Game 5, as it was leading Game 4, 8-3, at the top of the ninth inning when the power went off.
The Rangers and Rock Steady somewhat played two games in one night as the continuation of Game 3 was also played Monday night with the match going into an extra inning.
Game 3 was first played Sunday, but after Rock Steady tied he match at 6-all at the top of the ninth, the power went off and organizers decided to suspend the game.
The Rangers finally took Game 3 Monday night and moved a win away from securing the championship with shortstop Jesus Iguel leading the victory after making a two-run single at the top of the 10th inning.
Twenty-minutes after Game 3 concluded, Game 4 started with Rock Steady still showing a lot of fight in them, controlling the game from the start, to boost its bid to extend the series.
The last inning of Game 4 will start at 6:30pm this Friday and if Rock Steady wins and there will be no power outage, Game 5 will be played on the same night.
An awards ceremony will follow shortly with organizers giving individual and team trophies to the top performers in the regular season and in the finals.
“We are hoping there will be no power outage this Friday so we can wrap up everything and the players can rest after playing successive games,” said SML coordinator Tony Rogolifoi.
