Kaipat’s walk-off single lifts Fielders

Former Saipan Little League standout Cody Kaipat played big on Monday night, hitting a ninth-inning walk-off single to lift the IP&E Fielders to a 10-9 win over the GSM Brewers in the Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

The GSM Brewers’ Byron Kaipat passes third base on his way to scoring following a throwing error by IP&E Fielders first baseman Cody Kaipat in their Saipan Baseball League game on Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Baseball Field. (Jon Perez)

The win was the third straight for the Fielders and its fourth overall to improve to 4-3, while ending the reigning champion Brewers’ string of five consecutive victories.

The Brewers, despite suffering their first loss of the season, remains on top with a 5-1 record followed by the Saipan Stevedore Yankees’ 4-1 slate, while the Fielders are at third. The Falcons (3-2), North Starz (1-4), and the Jets (0-6) complete the standings.

The Fielders also avenged their 13-3 loss to the Brewers at the opening of the 2015 season on Jan. 12.

It was a thrilling match with the Brewers holding on to a slim 9-7 lead in the bottom of the ninth after Fielders catcher Verlance Secharmidal scored on a Cedric Ada RBI single.

Secharmidal led off for the Fielders and got on first on an error by Brewers third baseman Manny Sablan. He advanced to second after Ton Leon Guerrero was hit by pitch before moving to scoring position on Ton Tenorio’s fielder’s choice.

Secharmidal, before Tenorio’s fielder’s choice, was left momentarily stranded on base after Leon Guerrero was tagged out on a putout play by second baseman Diego Camacho to shortstop Jesse Brel, while Jose Lizama struck out against Brewers closer Lenny Sablan.

Ada singled to bring in Secharmidal to move the Fielders within one, 9-8. Kaipat then stepped up and delivered the winning hit.

K.J. Villagomez also played a big part on the Fielders’ win pitching half of the ninth, relieving Jimmy Brel when Camacho was about to bat.

Brel, with the score tied at 7-all, was in a jam in the top of the ninth after losing Sablan with a lead-off walk and the GSM veteran later moved the Brewers ahead after scoring on a wild pitch.

The Fielders starter, still with no outs, then gave up consecutive singles to Pat Alepuyo and Marvin Kaipat, prompting manager Pat Tenorio to bring in Villagomez.

Villagomez shut down the Brewers’ batters after that striking out Camacho, Danny Agulto, and Jesse Brel setting up the thrilling finale in the bottom of the ninth.

Jimmy Brel pitched 8 1/2 innings for the Fielders allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Kaiapt went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs, while Secharmidal, despite a 1-for-4 plate appearance, made two runs and drove in three more—a bases-clearing three RBI triple in the Fielders’ four-run fourth-inning barrage.

The Brewers’ loss wasted Alepuyo and Jun Rabauliman’s 2-for-5 performances at the plate with the former scoring one run and the latter making two runs and an RBI single in the top of the first.

Last Friday, the Fielders coasted to a 15-1 decision to keep the Jets winless after six matches.