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Lieto, Lizama help Falcons take opener
Peter Lieto tossed three shutout innings in relief, while A.J. Lizama drove in two runs to help the Falcons pull-off a 5-2 decision over the defending champion GSM Brewers in Game 1 of the Saipan Baseball League finals last Friday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” M. Palacios Baseball Field.
The Falcons’ Lamarc Iguel, right, runs toward third base while being followed by GSM Brewers second baseman Nokki Saralu in Game 1 of their best-of-five championship series in the Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (Jon Perez)
Lieto came in bottom of the seventh with the Falcons holding on to a 4-2 lead. He had quick 1-2-3 innings and quickly retired the first three batters he faced in the seventh.
After Lamarc Iguel scored on Lizama’s sacrifice fly for the final count, Lieto ended the Brewers’ comeback hopes in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out Pat Alepuyo then forced Marvin Kaipat to an infield fly.
The game ended when Lieto forced Lancaster Secharmidal to fly out to left fielder L.J. Norita as the Falcons took the opener of the best-of-five title series.
Lieto gave up a lone hit, an infield single to Manny Sablan in the bottom of the eighth, while striking out six and walking none. Lizama pitched six innings in the start surrendering two unearned runs on four hits fanning eight and walking three.
Lizama scored one run on a 2-for-4 batting with an RBI double in the top of the third that allowed Juan Iguel to reach home plate. He had two RBIs.
Lieto and Lizama held the Brewers to a combined 5-for-32 batting or .156 and had runners left on base eight times.
Batting champion Nokki Saralu went 0-for-4 striking out in the eighth with one RBI, while Marvin Kaipat had a 1-for-3 appearance at the plate with one run and led off the fifth with a double. Jessie, who walked, scored the Brewers’ other run.
The Falcons, the 2007 titlists, enjoyed a 4-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings with Peter Lieto scoring their first run in the top of the second.
ERA and strikeout king Vince Cepeda only lasted 2.1 innings after giving up three runs, two earned, on one hit while fanning two and walking three batters.
Roy Celis pitched 6.2 innings in relief and was tagged with two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2 will be played on Wednesday, April 15, after Brewers center fielder Tyrone Omar’s father passed away. Both teams agreed to reschedule the match.
