D-9ers keeps playoff hopes alive

The D-9ers players and coaches huddle before the start of the seventh inning of their game against the BSI Aces in the 2017 Saipan Baseball League last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Two straight victories brought the Saipan Stevedore D-9ers back into contention for a playoff berth in the 2017 Saipan Baseball League.

The D-9ers first pulled off an 8-7 upset over the second-ranked BSI Aces last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field and then had a similar close win against the Comets last Monday, 14-13, to remain in the hunt for one of the last two semis seats in the eight-team field.

The D-9ers, which last Wednesday had its one foot on the exit door after losing to Go See Mark, now has a 6-7 record to tie the Falcons for the fifth to sixth spot in the team standings, pending results of last night’s game between the defending champions Chalan Kanoa Bears (7-6) and Blue Jays. The D-9ers and Falcons (6-7) will play in a make-up game today and the winner will force at least a playoff for the last Final Four slot. A Bears victory last night would secure the defending champions a third semis ticket, leaving Titanium (7-7) and the winner in the Falcons-D-9ers tiff to fight for the final playoff berth.

The D-9ers scored six runs in the first two innings of their April 23 game and matched the Comets’ six runs in the sixth inning during the continuation of their duel to cling to its lead en route to win No. 6. Relief pitcher M.J. Sakisat helped the D-9ers preserve its slim advantage after fanning out two batters at the top of the ninth and last inning. Sakisat first walked leadoff batter Vince Cabrera before striking out Eli Miwata for the first out. J-Boy Mendiola was next at bat, but his fly ball was caught by leftfielder Ben Lizama, moving the D-9ers one out away from wrapping up the match. The D-9ers quickly got the last out when Sakisat struck out Brandon Pua.

Roke and E.J. Tenorio combined for seven runs in the D-9ers victory over the Comets with the former going 3-for-6 at bat and adding two RBIs.

Meanwhile, against the BSI Aces, the D-9ers recorded six runs in the last two innings to steal the win. The D-9ers were behind after the first six innings, 2-5, before going for a strong finish to stun the BSI Aces. Robert Tudela made two runs in the final three innings with his last off a D-9ers error at the top of the ninth giving the team enough cushion. Roke Tenorio added one run off a passed ball and drove in Richard Atalig with his double in the seventh inning to start the D-9ers’ comeback bid. Designated hitter Jesse Sablan then had an RBI single and also reached off a passed ball, while Atalig knocked in an RBI single, too at the top of the eight to put the D-9ers in the driver’s seat, 7-6.

Tudela’s run at the top of the ninth gave the D-9ers more breathing room, 8-6. However, a Ben Jones run off a fielder’s choice in the last inning threatened the D-9ers as the BSI Aces only had one out with John Tudela on first base. The BSI runner was eventually left stranded at first, as the D-9ers got the last two outs with first baseman John Acosta catching a fly from Juan Iguel and then teaming up with shortstop Roke Tenorio for a 6-3 putout play.