Sakudi returns to women’s finals

  Sakudi boosted its chances of clinching back-to-back championships after shutting out 670 Babes, 7-0, in the semifinals of the women’s division of the Chamolinian Softball Association’s 2nd Budweiser Softball League last Tuesday night at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

The big win gave Sakudi a twice-to-beat advantage in tomorrow’s finals. The defending champion, which advanced to the semis after blanking the Rookies last Monday, 13-0, will still have to wait for the results of two knockout matches to determine its finals foe. The first game last night was between Enamo Meta and Rookies with the winner meeting 670 Babes tonight for the second and last title berth tonight. Before losing to Sakudi, 670 Babes downed Check It Out last week.

Enamo Meta then eliminated Check It Out after pulling off a 7-4 upset in the women’s lower bracket elimination game last Tuesday. In the men’s division, Natibu ousted defending champion Man Amigos, 16-3, in their lower bracket knockout match. Natibu was scheduled to face the No. 8 ranked SaiPal (8) last night for the right to face Gagu Eyez for the last finals ticket.

WOMEN’S
Sakudi 7, 670 Babes 0

Sakudi had five hits out of the gate for an early 3-0 lead. Kikki Aldan ripped a two-RBI drive that was followed by an RBI single from Eileen Babuta.

The defending champion was hung up in a double play in the second inning, but later stuffed the 670 Babes with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning. Both teams played well defensively, but Sakudi eventually weaseled out four much-needed runs to close the fifth inning off an early error, four hits, and three fielder’s choices. Liz Lebria nailed a two-RBI single and Babauta bagged another RBI base knock.

From there, Sakudi went on to hold down its rival and kept the shutout victory intact.

Enamo Meta 7, Check It Out 4

Enamo Meta sprung out to an early 2-0 lead, thanks to a two-RBI base knock in the opening frame.

Check It Out then knotted the game off an error and a sacrifice fly from Keina Rogopes in the second inning.

However, Check It Out had trouble stringing together enough hits to make it home through the middle innings, allowing Enamo Meta to move in front, 4-2, in the fourth inning off three hits and a sacrifice fly by Felisha Brel. Enamo Meta got the other run off an RBI single.

Check It Out endured three strikeouts at the start of the fifth and Enamo Meta was gifted a run off errors in the bottom sign. Check It Out then tried to get its engine started for a late rally, but was held to only two runs in the final two side changes.

Enamo Meta secured a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, thanks to another error and an RBI single.

Sakudi 13, Rookies 0

Sakudi enjoyed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning of its opening playoff match on July 23, thanks to the Rookies’ early jitters out on the field.

The Rookies regrouped and landed a nice 1-6-3 double play to close the second inning, but Sakudi managed to get a runner to the plate in the third from a sacrifice fly by Thelma Mizer. Sakudi then went ahead, 6-0, in the fourth off a fielder’s choice, an error, and an RBI single.

The defending champion closed the bottom frame with a nifty double play by shortstop Juljen Ngeskebei, who snagged a liner and flipped to second base. That triggered Sakudi’s three-run surge in the fifth inning. Sakudi bashed five more hits, but scored mainly off errors. Eileen Babauta belted an RBI double.

The deathblow came in the sixth inning when Sakudi worked around four runs off two hits and more defensive blunders. Liz Lebria bagged an RBI single.

Though the Rookies had the ability to hit the ball, they stranded seven runners and failed to score a single run.

MEN’S
Natibu 16, Man Amigos 13

A pair of solo home runs and a fielder’s choice in the first two inning gave visiting Natibu an early edge, but Man Amigos’ Eric Palacios blasted a three-run bomb to lock it at 3-all in the third frame.

An inning later, the count shifted to 8-6, in favor of Natibu, which countered a two-run long ball from Man-Amigos’ Roy Celis and a sacrifice fly from Julian Camacho with six hits. Natibu got an RBI single from BJ Sablan, an RBI double from Oscar Sablan, and a two-RBI base rip from Dustin Quitano.

After both teams scored a couple of runs in the fifth inning, it became a one-run game in the sixth as Man Amigos answered the pair of two-run homers from Natibu’s Bruce Norita and Oscar Sablan with five runs in the top portion. Man Amigos’ five runs came off a three-run solo shot, an error, and an RBI single from James Fleming.

Natibu were then gifted with two big runs in the top of the seventh as Man Amigos committed some critical errors.

By Walter J. Sutherland
Reporter