CNMI All-Stars bow to HK

The CNMI dropped to a 1-2 win-loss slate, but still has a chance to advance to Thursday’s playoff round if it can overcome Guam in convincing fashion tomorrow. The CNMI has a bye today in Pool B.

The win was Hong Kong’s first in three tries.

In the other Pool B game, unbeaten Korea edged Guam, 4-3, yesterday and remains in the driver seat at 2-0 with two games to go to complete its round robin assignments.

Korea faces Hong Kong today at 11:30am, while Guam takes on the Philippines in the 8:30am opener. After three days, the CNMI and Hong Kong share identical 1-2 records, while the Philippines and Guam hold an even 1-1 card—making it a wide open race for the second playoff berth.

The Philippines defeated Hong Kong, 6-5, in Sunday’s matchup and not the other way around as reported in yesterday’s issue of the Saipan Tribune.

The Top 2 teams in each pool advance to Thursday’s playoff round where the top seed of one pool takes on the second place team of the other. The championship and consolation matches will be held on Friday followed by the closing ceremony.

In Pool A, defending champions Chinese-Taipei stretched its unbeaten streak to three with a 20-5 spanking of Singapore and is a virtual lock for a playoff spot.

Despite the loss, Singapore is still tied for second place with Thailand, which was upset by Australia (1-2), 11-4, in yesterday’s opener. Both squads hold a pair of wins and one defeat on their cards.

In addition, New Zealand (1-2) brushed off winless Indonesia, 11-0, in four innings to close out the day. There are six teams in Pool A so teams do not receive byes.

New Zealand kicks off Pool A’s Day 4 against Singapore at 9am today, followed by Taiwan against Thailand at 11:30am. Pool A closes today with Indonesia squaring off against Australia at 1:30pm.

The CNMI managed a couple runners in the top of the first, but left them stranded at first and second base.

Hong Kong broke the ice with two runs off three hits and an error in the bottom frame. Hong Kong’s Taiga Hayakawa and Alex Chan each ripped doubles before the CNMI escaped the inning with the bases loaded.

It was another rocky start for the CNMI, which was forced to make an early pitching change. Erik Cruz took the ball to start the match, but was pulled just five batters later and relieved by Juan Quitugua. The latter closed the inning, but Hong Kong continued to inflict damage in the ensuing innings.

The CNMI went 1-2-3 after a leadoff walk to start the second and Hong Kong pulled ahead, 5-0, off two hits a walk and an error in the bottom frame.

Then the CNMI drew another blank in the third and Hong Kong added three more runs off three walks and two hits in the bottom half of the inning.

Sensing time was running out, the CNMI woke up in the fourth, but left runners on the corners.

The CNMI’s Craig Aguon stepped to the rubber in the fourth inning and left Hong Kong with runners at second and third base.

The CNMI then mustered a five-run rally off four hits and an error in the top of the fifth.

Franco Nakamura led off with a walk and was driven home off a triple by Aguon. Rokie Tenorio singled in Aguon an out later and Quitugua bashed a triple to keep the streak alive and scored himself off an error. Jonathan Camacho also reached and scored off errors.

Hong Kong went 1-2-3 in the bottom frame, but hung tough and squeezed the last three outs.

Early in the game, Hong Kong’s Chihiro Karoki held the CNMI scoreless for the first four frames before the CNMI found a spark after he maxed out in the pitch-count.

At the plate, Hong Kong’s Sora Fukazawa batted 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs in the ninth spot and Taiga Hayakawa went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs.

The CNMI’s Tenorio batted 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run; the rest of the CNMI crew was held to just two hits. Tenorio continues to lead the CNMI’s offense, batting 6-for-8 for two RBIs and three runs.