Brewers drub Fielders in playoff opener

Jun Rabauliman blasted his first postseason homer to power the GSM Brewers to a 16-2 victory over the IP&E Fielders in a rain-soaked opener of their best-of-three playoffs in the Saipan Baseball League last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” M. Palacios Baseball Field.

The GSM Brewers celebrate their win against the IP&E Fielders in Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinals series last Friday night.
(Jon Perez)

Rabauliman belted a three-RBI inside-the-park homer to highlight the defending champions’ seven-run sixth inning barrage as the Brewers to a return trip to the finals. A win on Wednesday would secure the Brew Crew the first championship spot.

The Saipan Stevedore Yankees and the Falcons are the other half of the semifinal pairing. The Yankees, who finished second after the elimination round, were playing against the Falcons at press time.

Rabauliman, who struck out twice against Fielders pitcher Ton Tenorio, went 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs. He walked in the second inning scoring one of the Brewers’ six runs and had an RBI single in the third.

Lancaster Secharmidal, who tossed a complete game, shut down the Fielders in the top of the seventh to complete the win. The lefty hurler was tagged with two earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Secharmidal completed his job on the mound in the top of the seventh, shutting down the Fielders, despite enjoying an almost insurmountable lead. He forced Cody Kaipat to an infield fly, which was caught by catcher Manny Sablan for the first out.

He retired Robert Guerrero before giving up a double to Ton Guerrero, and forced Quimson Blas to ground out in a game-ending putout play that was fielded cleanly by third baseman Rabauliman to Byron Kaipat at first base.

Sablan, Diego Camacho, and Tyron Omar all also went 2-for-4 in batting with the former scoring twice. Camacho both had RBI singles and had two runs, while Omar had a two-RBI double in the second inning and touched home plate twice.

Tenorio gave up three earned runs on nine hits fanning four and walking six. He hit two batters by pitch, Sablan and Nokki Saralu in the sixth.

Kaipat, who had a lead-off single in the second, and Verlance Secharmidal scored the Fielders’ two runs.

The game was almost rained out as the game was delayed for almost 30 minutes with the Brewers holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The infield was quickly covered with a tarp to avoid getting wet.

Play being halted did not slow down the Brewers’ offense as they managed to pile up the runs that resulted in the shortened match.