Natibu, 670 Babes catch last bus to finals

Natibu secured the second and last finals berth in the men’s field after knocking out Gagu Eyez, 10-7. The men’s finale was played last night with Natibu scheduled to face Your Balls, which held a twice-to-beat advantage in the title duel.

The women’s championship was also set last night with 670 Babes and Sakudi battling for the crown. 670 Babes ousted Enamo Meta, 14-12, last Thursday for a finals date against defending champion Sakudi, which held a twice-to-beat edge in last night’s title showdown. Before losing to 670 Babes, Enamo Meta won and eliminated the Rookies, 14-7.

Natibu 10, Gagu Eyez 7

Natibu postured a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the second inning after both teams moved around three runs out of the gate. Ken Kalen provided the go-ahead single.

Gagu Eyez awoke at the start of the fourth inning and took a brief 6-4 lead off a three-run blast from Mike Iguel, but Natibu quickly tied it up in the bottom portion off an error and an RBI base rip from Jerry Guerrero.

Natibu then trolled ahead, 10-6, in the fifth inning off a pair of two-run homers from Ned Norita and Guerrero.

Gagu Eyez’s JR Brel managed a solo shot in the top of the seventh, but it did not ignite a late rally.

Natibu’s Guerrero batted 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while teammate John Welson also swung 3-for -3 with three runs.

670 Babes 14, Enamo Meta 12

Enamo Meta had a promising start for a 5-3 lead. It bashed four hits and hustled out some errors, while drawing two-RBI base knock from Julie Guerrero and an RBI single from another batter. The two other runs came off an infield error and a fielder’s choice.

670 Babes countered with three runs in the bottom side off four hits, including an RBI single from Tani Masga, and then assumed control in the second inning, 7-5.

Enamo Meta’s defensive breakdowns gave 670 Babes two early runs and two more came from Mel Benjamin and Erlinda Naputi’s RBI singles.

The count shifted to 9-6 in the third inning, as Mel Benjamin answered Enamo sacrifice fly in the top half with a two-run bash in the bottom frame.

Three more runs were added to 670 Babes in the fourth inning, thanks to a booming two-RBI triple from Edilynn Benjamin, who then scored on a sacrifice fly from Popo Tudela.

Enamo Meta clawed back to within a run in the top of the fifth with a handful of runs off four hits and some extra throws around the field.

However, 670 Babes managed a pair of insurance runs to close the sixth inning and held its rivals to just one run in the final stand. Naputi delivered a two-RBI double in the clutch and went on to hit 4-for-4 at the plate.

Enamo Meta 14, Rookies 7

The Rookies trotted out to a 5-2 lead in the first inning off six hits, including the RBI singles from Emma Tenorio, Maridel and Brenda Camacho, and Abby Atalig. They also received an RBI walk with the bases loaded.

Enamo Meta managed two runs in response off an RBI walk and an RBI base poke from Vanessa Mobel in the bottom frame and later claimed the lead, 7-5, in the third inning. Enamo Meta connected with four hits, including an RBI single from Felisa Brel and a two-RBI base smash from Mobel.

The Rookies were skunked through the middle innings and Enamo Meta pulled away, 12-5, in the fifth inning off some errors, another RBI single from Brel, and a two-RBI double from Evelyn Kani.

By Walter J. Sutherland
Reporter