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Masterful debut for reigning champs
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Posted on Sep 04 2017
A GSM Masters batter waits for a pitch from Saisei as Saipan Baseball League formally opened last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Jon Perez)
Defending champions GSM Masters had a winning debut after making short work of last year’s finalist Saisei, 20-2, as games in the Saipan Baseball League’s masters division finally started last Friday at the Francisco M. Palacios Ballfield.
Bad weather forced organizers to call off the games scheduled during last Monday’s opening and Wednesday. The scheduled match between the Pirates and Blue Jays last Tuesday in the Under-25 division also did not pushed through, while the Tanapag Falcons were leading against the Chalan Kanoa Cubs 4-0 after two complete innings when play was halted due to heavy rains. SBL coordinator Tony Rogolifoi said all rained-out matches will be played at the latter date after the regular season.
In the masters division, Walt Macaranas went 3-for-3 in leading the GSM Masters to the easy win, making a pair of singles and a double while scoring four times and having three RBIs.
Tom Diaz, who replaced Mark Flores at the bottom of the second inning, batted 2-for-3 with a run on Saisei’s consecutive errors.
Rep. Vinnie Sablan (Ind-Saipan) went 2-for-3 with two singles, two runs, and two RBIs. He was out on his second time at bat and reached first base on an Otis Olkeriil error at the bottom of the fourth, but was left stranded after Leo Bobai retired the next batter.
Joe Terlaje held Saisei to five hits in four complete innings while striking out nine with two walks. The GSM Masters’ defense also worked flawlessly as it forced opposing batters to flyouts and linedrives.
