CNMI eliminates Italy in heated game

The CNMI Senior All-Stars had a laser-like focus in eliminating Italy, 8-4, to advance to the loser’s “B” bracket finals of the 2015 Senior World Series yesterday at the Shawn T. Mansfield in Bangor, Maine.

Tempers flared in the 2015 Senior World Series game between the CNMI and Italy yesterday at the Shawn T. Mansfield in Bangor, Maine. The CNMI Senior All-Stars won 8-4. (www.worldseries.bangorinfo.com)

The CNMI team was able to tune out news of utter destruction back home where Typhoon Souledor’s furious winds pummeled the CNMI into submission last Sunday.

The champions of the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament last month won their debut against Italy Sunday before bowing down against host team Old Town the next day.

According to 2015 Senior World Series official website (www.worldseries.bangorinfo.com) communications staff Sam Coombs the game between the Asia-Pacific and Europe-Africa champions was an interesting one, to say the least.

In a game punctuated by an exclamation point with two outs in the seventh inning, Coombs said the CNMI came out on top and at the same dashed Lazio, Italy’s World Series championship hopes.

He said match started with the CNMI’s bats connecting with a few base hits early. Franklin Lizama, Nathan Camacho, and Richard Atalig got the Commonwealth going and helped the Asia-Pacific champs get an early 2-0 lead.

Camacho took the mound for Saipan, and despite walking two in the first inning came out unscathed, according to Coombs.

The CNMI went right back at it in the second inning, tacking three more runs on the board with hits from Virgil Secharmidal, Anthony Agulto, Roke Tenorio, and Franko Nakamura.

Coombs said the CNMI showed its balanced offensive attack in the first two innings by having seven hits by seven different batters while scoring five runs. The Commonwealth led 5-1 after two innings and would cruise throughout to capture a victory.

The official website’s communication staff said in spite of the loss, Italy put up a good fight and was well disciplined at the plate.

The Europe-Africa champs finished the game with eight hits and also walked eight times. In the fourth and fifth innings they tried to make a push at some runs, but they left the bases loaded in both innings and were not able to capitalize on the CNMI’s pitching miscues.

The Italians had a few infield hits in the game, but were never really able to get the bats going as well as they would have liked, said Coombs

He added that Italy appeared frustrated and upset after one ground ball to CNMI pitcher Nakamura when he fielded the ball and high-stepped the ball over to first and handed the ball to the first baseman rather than throwing it at the last second. He said this got the Italian team upset.

Lazio manager Fabrizio Piraino looked puzzled from his position in the third-base coach’s box. Sticking his arms out with palms up, he pleaded with the umpires to do something, according to Coombs.

Despite nothing major occurring during the incident, with two outs in the seventh inning, Italy batter Piero Cianfriglia smashed the ball to right field for a base hit. He then tried to stretch it into a double and was thrown out at second base by the right fielder.

After the play, a CNMI player attempted to give Cianfriglia a high-five. Cianfriglia didn’t appreciate the gesture and exchanged words with CNMI players. Coombs said this had tempers flying and eventually fists. Both dugouts cleared as players and coaches ran on to the field.

“I don’t think Italy has seen this type of baseball, where my kids are very enthusiastic in the way they play,” coach Juan Manibusan was quoted as saying. “Maybe they took things the wrong way, but we did not intend to do anything derogatory. It was just them cheering.”

In the end, Coombs said the umpires ejected three players from Italy and three players from the CNMI. The Commonwealth lost one of its leading hitters in Tenorio, along with Nakamura and Agulto, while Italy lost Leonardo Ceppari, Bulfone, and Cianfrigua.